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Yonghegong Lamasery
 The Yonghegong Lamasery is located at the northeast
corner of Beijing City. It was originally used as official residence
for court eunuchs of the Ming dynasty and was converted to the royal
court of Prince Yongzheng during the 33rd year (1693) of Kangxi's
reign of the Qing dynasty. In the 3rd year of Yongzheng's rein (1725),
it was elevated to imperial palace for short stays away from the
capital with the name changed to Yonghe Palace of Peace and Harmony.
During the 9th year of Emperor Qian Long's reign (1477), it was change
into Lama Temple.
The dimensions of the temple are magnificent, which
have five courtyards in a row. The front structural layout in the
temple is bright and spacious dotted with screen walls with carved
murals, lifeless things and decorated archways. The interior pavement
leading to the main halls and the evergreen pine and cypress appear to
be rather peaceful and secluded in the environment. The back
structural layout is composed of a cluster of building, halls and
pavilions intermingled with each other, and upturned eaves and ridges
beautifully interwoven presenting a picturesque sight.
 Palace of the Heavenly King, Yonghe Palace, Eternal
Blessing Hall, the Hall of the Wheel of the Law and Hall of boundless
Happiness are the main structures. Amongst which the Hall of the Wheel
of the Law is extremely imposing; the overall arrangement of its plane
diagram forms a cross sign and there are five petty garrets on the
ceiling decorated with small lama pagodas, which are characterized by
the style of lamaism. The Hall of Boundless Happiness is the biggest
building in the Lama Temple of Peace and Harmony flanked by the Hall
of Everlasting Health and the Hall of Peace. They are connected by a
corridor of the Suspension Hall, which form a cluster of majestic
dignified buildings. In the Hall of the Boundless Happiness, stands a
famous huge statue of Buddha, 26 meters high carved out of a whole
piece of sandalwood; it is the biggest wood-carving Buddha in the
world.
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