China 2012: the Yonghe Temple

This temple is also called as the Yonghe Lamasery, or Palace of Peace and Harmony Lama Temple, or in a common and popular way the Lama temple.

As wikipedia recalls, this temple 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 is a combination of Han Chinese and Tibetan styles.

For further information, I shall advise you to click on following wikipedia link.

Now, the pictures.

the main entrance

then we walk a bit around gardens where some peace and serenity can be felt

to finally arrive at this gate

a detail of the gate

After 'paying' for incense sticks, believers stop in front of the main temple, and start praying.

The Hall of Harmony and Peace

The Buddha (I was not supposed to take a picture, but I couldn't resist...I took it from outside)

 I had to make some corrections with Lightroom to get this picture of the Buddha clearer

Some part of the temple has been restored

but it still remain some pieces to be renovated, like the above picture illustrates it

Another bodhisattva