Yonghe Temple

Last weekend I took the subway from "The Place" to the Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple). I knew it wouldn't be too hard to find since there is a stop on the number 2 subway line called Yonghegong or Lama Temple. It takes two subways lines to get there, one being a sardine-can ride for (thankfully) only one stop. When you get off the train there are neighbourhood maps everywhere in the station, except they all say that they are neighbourhood maps in English but are completely written in Chinese. With no bearings, therefore, I guessed which exit to take, stupidly overlooking the fact that the majority of people seemed to be going to one exit (always follow the crowds when travelling!). I chose the farthest away exit so I had to walk around the complex to find the entrance to the temple but I enjoyed the walk along the street filled with tourists and incense shops. It cost only 25kwai (about 4 dollars) to get into the temple and it was well worth it.

Lama Temple was once a palace but now is known as one of the most important Tibetan monasteries in the world. I was awed by the late afternoon light cascading onto the golden roofs and the seemingly clean air within the temple grounds (so rare to have a nice, clean air day in Beijing!).