The Yonghe Gong is a temple and monastery of the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism located in the northeastern part of Beijing. It is one of the largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world. The building and the artworks of the temple combine Han Chinese and Tibetan styles. Building work on the Yonghegong Temple started in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty. It originally served as an official residence for court eunuchs. It was then converted into the court of the Prince Yong (Yin Zhen), a son of the Kangxi Emperor and himself the future Yongzheng Emperor. After Yongzheng’s ascension to the throne in 1722, half of the building was converted into a lamasery, a monastery for monks of Tibetan Buddhism. The other half remained an imperial palace.
| Address: | No. 12, Yonghegong Main Street, Beijing |
The Fayuan Temple, situated in the southwest quarter of Beijing, is one of the city’s most renowned Buddhist temples. According to local record, the temple was first built in 645 during the Tang Dynasty by Emperor Li Shimin, and later rebuilt in the Zhengtong Period (1436-1449) of the Ming Dynasty. The temple occupies an area of 6,700 square meters and contains a large number of cultural relics, including sculptures of ancient bronzes, stone lions, as well as gilded figures of the three Buddhas-Vairochana.
The Guangji Temple, also known as “Hongci Guangji Temple”, was originally Xiliulin Temple in the Jin Dynasty; and was rebuilt in the Tianshun Era of the Ming Dynasty. It is an ancient Buddhist temple where the China Buddhist Association is now located. The temple is surrounded by the tranquility of old cypress trees and lush greenery along the deep winding paths. The Beijing Buddhist Culture Research Centre was established here in 2002.
The Tongjiao Temple is a renowned Buddhist temple in Beijing. It is located in a deep alley off a street of the Inner Dongzhimen area. It was recognized as a national key Buddhist establishment in the Han area by the State Council in 1953. It is an institution for Buddhist nuns and a venue for religious events.
The Guanghua Temple, built around the Yuan Dynasty, is a famous Buddhist temple in Beijing where the Beijing Buddhist Association is located. It is situated at the north bank of Houhai Lake in the scenic Shishahai area.