On arriving at the southern end of the temple complex, visitors will find themselves in a courtyard containing a screen wall with three Paifangs or gateways. Within this space the walls of red are accompanied by stone lions that contain symbols that signify the dwelling was originally a residence of the Chinese Imperial Family. To the north of the three gateways is a wide straight road, which was used by the carriages transporting the emperors and their wives during the Qing Dynasty of 1644-1911.
Zhaotaimen
At the northern end of the road is Zhaotaimen or Zhaotai Gate. In English it means the Gate of Peace Declaration. The gate itself contains three large archways with the central arch being for the exclusive use of the emperor. When visitors pass though the Zhaotai Gate, they enter into a second courtyard. Within this courtyard are the Drum Tower to the west and the Bell Tower to the east. To the front of the two towers are Stele Pavilions. The octagonal shaped structures contain the words of Emperor Qianlong carved into the stele. These messages explain the historical and traditional reasons why the former residence of the Imperial Family was transformed into the lama temple.
Yonghe Gate (Devaraja Hall)
The Yonghe Gate was at one time the temple’s main entrance before it was enlarged. It is now also known as Devaraja Hall or the Hall of the Heavenly Kings. Inside, it houses statues of four powerful Heavenly Kings located on either side of the palace’s inner walls. The northern Heavenly King (located on the eastern side) holds a snake and some treasure. The southern statue on the eastern side is in possession of an umbrella and a silver mouse. On the western side of the building the southern Heavenly King is holding a sword, while the northern one on that side is holding a Pipa, an ancient Chinese musical instrument. In the centre of the hall is a smiling Maitreya or future Buddha. Great Stele PavilionAs visitors leave the Devaraja Hall, they will see an ancient cooking vessel dating from 1747. The cooking vessel has a seat of black and white marble and its artistic value has placed it among the three rarest things in Beijing. Six panels are inset into the cooking vessel and include dragons playing with a ball in addition to three lions engraved into the seat. To the north of the cooking vessel is the Great Stele Pavilion with doors on each of its four sides. The words of Emperor Qianlong of Qing are engraved into the stele and these inscriptions explain the meaning and origins of Lamaism.
Xuyu Hill is located to the north of the pavilion, this odd shaped hill is a sacred place that all Buddhists are eager to visit due to its deep and special religious significance.
Incense Purchase Locations
For those who wish to purchase additional incense, there are three designated areas within the temple:
West of the ticket inspection point
Left of Zhaotai Gate
Right of the Main Hall (Yonghe Palace Hall)
Hall of Harmony and Peace (Yonghegong) This is the main palace inside the huge complex of the lamasery. Inside the palace, visitors can see three bronze Buddhas on display. The central figure is that of Sakyamuni, Kasyapa-matanga is located on the right and Maitreya to the left. There are additional 18 Arhats, or statues of Buddha disciples located on both sides of the hall. The picture positioned on the west wall is of Avalokitesvara, a figure with thousands of hands and eyes. Hall of Everlasting Protection (Yongyoudian) To the north of Yonghegong, Yongyoudian was the living room of Emperor Yongzheng when he lived in the palace as a young prince. His coffin was also placed here in the days following his death. The focal point of this room is now a statue of Bhaisajya-guru and visitors leave sacrificial offerings at this point. Hall of the Wheel of the Law (Falundian) Continuing north to Falundian, visitors will discover the location of reading Lamas scriptures and where Buddhist ceremonies are conducted. One of the features of this hall is that its architecture contains elements of both Tibetan and Han styles. It was originally the structure that housed the wives of the emperors. An ancestor of Lamaism, Tsong Kha-pa is featured in the form of a large statue located in the halls centre. Behind the statue is a display of 500 Arhats made in gold, silver, copper, iron and tin, shaped in varying poses. Located here is also a wooden basin, said to have been used to wash the body of Emperor Qianlong when he was just three days old. Frescos illustrating Sakyamuni’s life are displayed on the west and east walls.
