Beijing has many famous buildings which are worth seeing but one of the best is Yonghegong, a lamasery (monastery) in the north-eastern part of the old city.

The temple is made up of five main buildings which lie on the north-south axis, with annex halls on both sides.

Originally a palatial residence when it was built in 1694 by the Qing Emperor Kangxi for his fourth son, it is now listed by the Chinese government as one of the country's most important historical monuments.

That son, Prince Yongzheng, later became emperor himself, however when he did he moved to the Forbidden City.

It was then that the compound received the name Yonghegong, meaning the palace of harmony, and in 1744 the next emperor, Qianlong, turned it into a lamasery.

The temple was opened to the public in 1981 but is still used as a place of worship by Buddhists.


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