Located in the north east part of Beijing, the Lama Temple (Palace of Peace And Harmony) was constructed in 1694 by the Qing dynasty and used as the official residence of court castrates. Lama temple had been closed for several years during the Cultural Revolution and it was reopened in 1980.
The beautifully decorated large courtyards welcome tourists to enjoy the treasury on Buddhist arts. This is where the sculptures of gods were worshipped in the historic days. The five courtyards of the temple are bound by walls with murals carved into them.
Statues and decorated archways punctuate the vast space. At the rear of the temple there are rows of buildings and pavilions with interwoven facades that make for an unconventional, interesting architectural application.
Halls of the palace bear intriguing names such as Wheel of the law with several Lama pagodas hanging from the ceiling and the Boundless Happiness Hall, in which is erected the largest wooden statue of the Buddha – 26 metres of pure sandalwood sculpture. The custom of burning joss sticks to worship the Buddha is followed by the monks in the temple to this day.
