Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple)

Beijing, China

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The Lama Temple, or Yonghe Temple, rises like a serene flame in the heart of bustling Beijing, a vivid remnant of the city’s imperial and spiritual past. Originally built as a residence for a Qing dynasty prince, it was later transformed into a lamasery and remains one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist temples outside Tibet.

Its golden roofs and red walls are both stately and welcoming, an invitation to step out of modern Beijing and into a quieter, more contemplative realm. As you walk through its five majestic halls, each more ornate than the last, the air is thick with the scent of sandalwood and the whisper of age-old chants. The temple is a living paradox—teeming with devout worshippers and curious tourists, yet exuding an almost monastic stillness.

At its heart stands the awe-inspiring 18-meter-tall statue of the Maitreya Buddha, carved from a single block of white sandalwood, an embodiment of serenity towering silently beneath the eaves.