雍和宫: Yonghegong

雍和宫: Yonghegong, 28ºC, hazy

This afternoon, I visited the Lama Temple, a famous Buddhist temple in Chaoyang District. A classmate had recommended a visit to this revered site, and I thought it would make for an interesting midweek excursion. Not wanting my first impressions to be tarnished by looking up this temple before I left, I set out for the underground blind to its history, but open to its every facet.

I was not disappointed. The grandeur of the long path and two ornate arches that precede reaching the first temple within this site were a precursor to even more impressive elements. Little did I expect to find the tallest Buddha in the world (as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records!). Nor did I expect 雍和宫 Yonghegong to span five different courtyards, each flanked on each side by temples and smaller prayer rooms. 300 years of history both surrounded and impressed me. But the peaceful escape from the verve of Beijing life left the most lasting impression.

The tallest Buddha statue in the World