Beijing - Lama Temple

(Local Name: Yonghe Gong) The Lama Temple in the northeast of Beijing is one of the city's most attractive and best preserved temples. Built in 1744/45 by transforming a prince's residence, this was an imperial project which explains the roof tiles in imperial yellow. Its political purpose was to give Lamaism, the religion of recently annexed Tibet, an official seat in the capital. Accordingly, the complex has been built to generous proportions and equipped with valuable and monumental works of art. The entrance to the temple grounds is the south gate. On the way through the gardens is a courtyard with a drum tower (Gu Lou) on the left, and on the right a bell tower and two stele pavilions.