The 18-Metre Maitreya Buddha
Carved from a single sandalwood trunk, this towering Maitreya in the final hall is the temple's masterpiece and one of the largest wooden statues in the world. Look up — it occupies the full height of the pavilion.
Temples & Cultural Sites
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Lama Temple (Yonghegong): Complete Visitor Guide
Beijing's grand Tibetan Buddhist temple and its 18-metre sandalwood Buddha
The Lama Temple, or Yonghegong, is the most important Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing and one of its most atmospheric. Once a Qing princely mansion and then an imperial lamasery, it is now a working monastery where incense hangs in the air. Its centrepiece is an 18-metre Maitreya Buddha carved from a single sandalwood trunk. This guide covers the ticket, incense etiquette, the metro approach and the surrounding hutong streets.
Quick Facts
- Opening hours
- 09:00–16:30; confirm on the official account
- Last entry
- 16:00; confirm on official account
- Closed
- Open daily
- Suggested time
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Ticket price
- Around CNY 25; confirm on the official WeChat account
- Best season
- Year-round; quietest on weekday mornings
- Booking
- Not required — walk in (passport ID may be checked)
- Entry point
- South Gate on Yonghegong Dajie, beside the metro station
Do You Need to Book?
The Lama Temple sells tickets at the gate with no advance booking for foreign visitors. You pay on arrival and walk in, though a passport check can apply on busy festival days such as Tibetan New Year and Lunar New Year when the temple is at its most crowded.
- Take Metro Line 2 or 5 to Yonghegong Lama Temple station; the South Gate is a short walk from the exits.
- Buy your ticket at the gate window or scan the on-site code; foreign cards are often rejected, so carry cash.
- Show your passport if staff request ID — real-name entry is occasionally enforced on peak days.
- Enter and move north through the sequence of halls; the route is one-way toward the Maitreya hall.
Getting There
By metro
Metro Line 2 or 5 to Yonghegong Lama Temple. From Line 2 use Exit C; from Line 5 the interchange is a long walk, so follow signs carefully to the temple exits.
By taxi
雍和宫 南门 (south gate, on Yonghegong Street).
Entrances
Enter at the South Gate and follow the one-way route north through the halls to the final Maitreya hall; there is no backtracking along the main axis.
What to See Inside
The Hall of Harmony (Yonghe Dian)
The former main hall now holds three bronze Buddhas and is the spiritual centre of the working monastery. The scent of incense and the low chant of monks make it the most atmospheric room.
The Five Topped Archways
A series of red-and-gold archways and a decorative glazed 'Disc of the Moon' screen mark the approach, blending Han and Tibetan styles. They are the best external photo frame of the whole temple.
Incense and Prayer Wheels
Devotees light vast coils of incense in the courtyards and turn the lined prayer wheels. Joining respectfully — or simply watching — gives a vivid sense of the temple as a living place of worship.
Photo Gallery
From Princely Mansion to Imperial Lamasery
The site began in 1694 as the residence of the Kangxi emperor's son, the future Yongzheng prince, and takes its name from him. When Yongzheng became emperor the eastern half was converted into a lamasery, blending royal mansion and Buddhist monastery in a single compound.
Under Qianlong the temple was expanded and elevated as the court's principal Tibetan Buddhist institution, staffed by Mongolian and Tibetan lamas and used for major state religious rites. It survived the 20th century's upheavals better than many monasteries and was reopened for worship in the 1980s after restoration.
Today the Lama Temple is an active monastery and a protected national monument, attracting both pilgrims and travellers. Its sandalwood Maitreya, a gift from a Tibetan region in the 18th century, remains the largest of its kind, and the temple is considered the finest example of Han-Tibetan architecture in the capital.
Suggested Route
- 1. South Gate and archways Enter through the decorated archways and the glazed screen. Buy incense if you wish; the outer courtyard is where devotees light the great coils.
- 2. Hall of Heavenly Kings Pass the first hall with its protective deities, then the Drum and Bell towers. This is the gentle warm-up before the larger halls.
- 3. Hall of Harmony (Yonghe Dian) Reach the spiritual centre and the three bronze Buddhas. Pause here — the incense and chanting are at their densest.
- 4. Esoteric and Falun halls Continue north through the teaching halls with their rich iconography. The route is one-way, so read each hall before moving on.
- 5. Maitreya Hall and exit End at the towering sandalwood Buddha, then exit north toward Wudaoying Hutong for food and cafés, or back to the metro.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not photograph monks or worshippers up close without permission.
- Bring cash; the gate reader often rejects foreign cards at this temple.
- Avoid festival days unless you want crowds — weekdays are calm.
- Do not skip the one-way rule; backtracking along the axis is blocked.
- Allow extra time changing to Line 5 — the transfer is long.
Combine It With
Confucius Temple & Imperial College →
A 5-minute walk north; the scholar's counterpart to visit.
Wudaoying Hutong
Just south; cafés and shops for a slow finish.
Guide coming soon
Nanluoguxiang →
15 minutes west; a busy hutong street for food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book the Lama Temple in advance?
No. Tickets are sold at the gate with no advance booking for foreign visitors; pay on arrival and walk in. Carry your passport, as a real-name check can apply on crowded festival days such as Lunar New Year.
How much does it cost?
Around CNY 25, though confirm the current figure on the official account before you go. The ticket includes all the halls; free incense is offered at the entrance, and there is no separate charge inside.
How long should I spend there?
Allow one and a half to two and a half hours to move through the halls at a calm pace and reach the Maitreya Buddha. Add time for the surrounding Wudaoying Hutong if you want food or cafés afterward.
When is the best time to visit?
Weekday mornings are quietest and most atmospheric, with monks chanting and thin crowds. Festivals are vivid but packed. The temple is indoors enough to visit year-round, though winter mornings are cold in the unheated courtyards.
How do I get there by metro?
Take Line 2 or 5 to Yonghegong Lama Temple station; the South Gate is a short walk from the exits. From Line 5 the interchange is a long corridor, so follow the temple signs and allow extra minutes if you are changing lines.