Lama Palace is the most renowned Tibetan Buddhist temple within China, outside Tibet itself. is also known by various names including Yonghe Lamasery, Lama Palace, and the Palace of Peace and Harmony. Formerly an imperial palace, later converted into a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, it is located in the northeastern part of the old city of Beijing, a palatial residence built in 1694 by Qing Emperor Kangxi for his fourth son, Prince Yongzheng who later succeeded to the throne. After the death of his father, Emperor Yongzheng moved to the Forbidden City. The complex was closed to common people and was renamed yonghegong. In 1744 his successor Emperor Qianlong converted the palace into a lamasery. This magnificent temple consists of five main buildings lying on the north south axis, with annex halls standing on both sides. Green roof tiles were replaced by yellow ones by purpose of matching with a monarch’s home.

Several renovations have been carried out since 1949. The temple has taken on a new look and was reopened to the public in 1981. It is now not only a functional lama temple, but also a tourist attraction.

The complex covers a large area - it stretches back almost 500 meters (1600 feet) from the front gate. The Lama Temple has five major halls, each fronted by its own courtyard bustling with activity. The halls reflect traditional styling imbued with bright hued structural details and elaborately upturned eaves.

The most striking element of the Lama Temple is the 23 meter (75 feet) high statue of the standing Buddha. It resides in the rear and tallest hall - and was carved from the trunk of a single sandalwood tree. Another hall is home to three large bronze statues of the seated Buddha. They portray Buddha in his three classic states: past, present and future.

Though the Lama Temple was founded and is today considered a Tibetan Buddhist lamasery, many of the monks come from Mongolia.