The Lama Temple, or Yonghegong, is Beijing’s best-known Tibetan Buddhist temple: a former prince’s palace in the northeast of the old city, where incense drifts across courtyards of gilded halls. As of November 2026 a ticket costs CNY 25 (about US$4), the gates open at 9:00, and Yonghegong station on Metro Lines 2 and 5 is a short walk away.
- Tickets: CNY 25 (about US$4); half price CNY 12 for ages 6–18, students and seniors 60+ (as of November 2026)
- Opening hours: November–March 9:00–16:30, last entry 16:00; April–October 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30
- Buying tickets: at the on-site ticket windows, or online through the temple’s WeChat account
- Seniors with a passport: half-price tickets are sold in person at the ticket center
- Getting there: Metro Lines 2 and 5, Yonghegong station
A working temple in a prince’s former palace
A long avenue of trees leads to a sequence of halls, each one a little grander than the last, with red walls, yellow-glazed roofs and painted eaves in deep blue and green. The temple is still in daily use. You’ll see families lighting incense in the courtyards, older Beijingers holding sticks to their foreheads before each hall, and the smoke curling up past bronze lions and incense burners.
The complex began life as the residence of Prince Yong, the son of the Kangxi Emperor who later took the throne as the Yongzheng Emperor. After his reign it was turned over to Tibetan Buddhism and became a lamasery, which is why the architecture mixes a Chinese imperial palace plan with Tibetan and Mongolian details inside the halls. The name Yonghegong, “Palace of Harmony and Peace”, comes from those palace years.
What you’ll see, hall by hall
The temple runs south to north, so you simply walk forward and the halls come to you.
- Hall of the Heavenly Kings (Tianwang Dian): the four guardian kings stand on either side, with a smiling Maitreya at the center.
- Hall of Harmony and Peace (Yonghe Gong): the main hall, with Buddhas of the past, present and future.
- Hall of Everlasting Protection (Yongyou Dian): once the prince’s private quarters, now a hall of serene Buddha figures.
- Hall of the Wheel of Dharma (Falun Dian): the hall where the monks gather to chant, with a large statue of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.
- Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses (Wanfu Ge): the tall pavilion near the far end, built around a towering standing Maitreya carved from sandalwood. It fills the building from floor to roof, and most visitors simply stand at the threshold and look up.
Side halls along the way hold exhibitions of ritual objects and statues. Leave time for the Hall of the Wheel of Dharma and the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses at the far end.
Incense, photos and temple etiquette
These rules come from the temple’s own visitor notice.
- Incense: three sticks are enough. Light them in the courtyards, not inside. Travelers report that a small bundle of incense is handed out free just inside the entrance, after the ticket check, so there is no need to buy any outside the gate.
- Inside the halls: no incense, no photos and no video. That is why the halls are so quiet.
- Wind: incense is paused on days of strong wind.
- Smoking: not allowed anywhere in the temple.
Beyond that, treat it as you would any church or temple at home: speak softly, step aside for people who are praying, and keep shoulders and knees covered if you’d like to blend in. Photos of the courtyards, roofs and incense burners from outside the halls are fine, and the morning light on the roofs is lovely.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Tickets and concessions (as of November 2026)
| Who | Price | How to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | CNY 25 (about US$4) | Window or WeChat |
| Ages 6–18, full-time students | CNY 12 | With valid ID |
| Seniors 60+ | CNY 12 | Passport holders: in person at the ticket center |
| Children 6 and under, or 1.2 m and under | Free | On site |
If you pay full price, you can buy online through the temple’s WeChat account, “雍和宫游客信众服务”, and you’ll receive a QR code to scan at the gate with your passport. If you are 60 or over and want the half-price ticket, buy a paper ticket in person at the ticket center (票务处理中心) and bring your original passport. Each ID can hold one ticket per day, and one WeChat account can buy up to five tickets a day.
The temple says it has never authorized any third-party platform or individual to sell its tickets, so buy only at the windows or through its own WeChat account. Full details are on the temple’s own website, yonghegong.cn.
When to go, getting there and what’s nearby
When to go
Arrive close to the 9:00 opening and you’ll have the front courtyards almost to yourself, with the incense smoke still fresh in the cold morning air. The temple is very popular at Chinese New Year, when people come to pray for the year ahead, so pick another week if you’d like quieter courtyards.
The temple’s notice lists no weekly closing day, which makes it a good choice on a Monday, when the Forbidden City is closed. It can close at short notice for its own reasons, as it did briefly in August 2026, so we check the notices before your day.
Getting there
Take Metro Line 2 or Line 5 to Yonghegong station. On a private tour, your driver drops you near the gate and meets you again when you’re done, which is handy if you want to continue across town.
What to pair it with
Two old streets lie just west of the temple. Wudaoying Hutong runs west from Yonghegong Street, lined with small cafés and shops, and Guozijian Street just to the west holds the Confucius Temple and the Imperial College under old trees. Our guide to Beijing’s hutongs covers Wudaoying and the other lanes, and the Beijing hutong tour adds a rickshaw ride around the lakes of Shichahai.
Visiting on a private tour
The Lama Temple fits easily into a longer stay. In our 4-day private Beijing tour it can take one morning after the big sights, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven, are done. You travel in a private car or van with a driver, just your group, with an English-speaking guide who can explain the halls and the customs as you go. There are no shopping stops, and you can slow down, take a break on a bench in the courtyards or skip ahead whenever you like.
If anyone in your group is 60 or over and would like the half-price ticket, your guide can point you to the ticket center. For more ideas, see our full list of things to do in Beijing.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Lama Temple ticket?
As of November 2026 a standard ticket costs CNY 25 (about US$4). Ages 6 to 18, full-time students and seniors 60 and over pay half price, CNY 12. Children 6 and under, or 1.2 m and under, enter free.
Can foreign seniors get the half-price ticket?
Yes, seniors 60 and over qualify with valid ID. Passport holders who want the half-price ticket must buy a paper ticket in person at the temple's ticket center and show their original passport. It cannot be bought online with a passport.
What are the Lama Temple opening hours?
From 1 November to 31 March it opens 9:00 to 16:30, with ticket sales and entry ending at 16:00. From 1 April to 31 October it opens 9:00 to 17:00, with the last entry at 16:30.
Can I take photos inside the Lama Temple?
Photos and video are welcome in the courtyards, but not inside the halls. The temple also asks that incense is lit only in the courtyards, never inside, and that three sticks are enough. Smoking is not allowed anywhere.
Is the Lama Temple open on Mondays?
The temple's visitor notice lists no weekly closing day, so it is a good choice on a Monday, when the Forbidden City is closed. It can occasionally close at short notice, so check the notices before you go.
How do I get to the Lama Temple?
Take Metro Line 2 or Line 5 to Yonghegong station, a short walk from the gate. Wudaoying Hutong and Guozijian Street, with the Confucius Temple and the Imperial College, are right next door, so it is easy to continue on foot.
Where should I buy Lama Temple tickets?
Buy at the on-site ticket windows or through the temple's own WeChat account. The temple says it has never authorized any third-party platform or individual to sell its tickets. Each ID can hold one ticket per day.
Facts checked: 5 November 2026. Ticket prices, opening hours and entry rules can change; we re-check before every booking.