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The Lama
Temple is located at the northeast corner of Beijing City. It
was originally used as official residence for court eunuchs of
the Ming dynasty and was converted to the royal court of Prince
Yongzheng during the 33rd year (1693) of Kangxi's reign of the
Qing dynasty. In the 3rd year of Yongzheng's rein (1725), it was
elevated to imperial palace for short stays away from the capital
with the name changed to Yonghe Palace of Peace and Harmony. During
the 9th year of Emperor Qian Long's reign (1477), it was change
into Lama Temple.
The dimensions of the temple are magnificent,
which have five courtyards in a row. The front structural layout
in the temple is bright and spacious dotted with screen walls
with carved murals, lifeless things and decorated archways. The
interior pavement leading to the main halls and the evergreen
pine and cypress appear to be rather peaceful and secluded in
the environment. The back structural layout is composed of a cluster
of building, halls and pavilions intermingled with each other,
and upturned eaves and ridges beautifully interwoven presenting
a picturesque sight.
Palace of the Heavenly King, Yonghe Palace,
Eternal Blessing Hall, the Hall of the Wheel of the Law and Hall
of boundless Happiness are the main structures. Amongst which
the Hall of the Wheel of the Law is extremely imposing; the overall
arrangement of its plane diagram forms a cross sign and there
are five petty garrets on the ceiling decorated with small lama
pagodas, which are characterized by the style of lamaism. The
Hall of Boundless Happiness is the biggest building in the Lama
Temple of Peace and Harmony flanked by the Hall of Everlasting
Health and the Hall of Peace. They are connected by a corridor
of the Suspension Hall, which form a cluster of majestic dignified
buildings. In the Hall of the Boundless Happiness, stands a famous
huge statue of Buddha, 26 meters high carved out of a whole piece
of sandalwood; it is the biggest wood-carving Buddha in the world.
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