Lama Temple 34, Beijing, 20250320
17th Century Lama Temple or Yonghe Temple/ -Lamasery is a temple and monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. NE of city centre. The complex is about 400x100 meters. Metro station: Yonghegong Lama Temple (line 2 and 5).
I went there late afternoon to avoid big crowds. I went in 15:45 hour. No line at the ticket counter. Good. Entrance is only 25 yuan (€3). Entrance fee to these attractions cost so little compared to European cities. You gotta love Beijing. From the ticket office to the temple complex is a 150m walk. Included in the price is a packet of incense sticks which is handed out at the entrance of the temple complex.
I was first observing everyone for a couple of minutes to understand how it is done…
You've got to burn the sticks then walk towards the temple and kneel on the leather cushion while holding the sticks above your head with two hands. Than pray for a while (I think). Then bow three times. Stand up, rotate to the right 90 degrees and bow, while standing, three times still holding the sticks above your head. Then throw the sticks in the big black box. Okay, I can do that. So I burned the entire packet of sticks at the first temple. Behind that were many more temples but I was out of sticks. Mmmmnnnnn. Good one Gilbert. Nice. Idiot. At 16:30 hour they were closing the doors of a couple temples and at 16:45 hours we were forced towards the exit. Beautiful looking place though.
Lama Temple 34, Beijing, 20250320
17th Century Lama Temple or Yonghe Temple/ -Lamasery is a temple and monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. NE of city centre. The complex is about 400x100 meters. Metro station: Yonghegong Lama Temple (line 2 and 5).
I went there late afternoon to avoid big crowds. I went in 15:45 hour. No line at the ticket counter. Good. Entrance is only 25 yuan (€3). Entrance fee to these attractions cost so little compared to European cities. You gotta love Beijing. From the ticket office to the temple complex is a 150m walk. Included in the price is a packet of incense sticks which is handed out at the entrance of the temple complex.
I was first observing everyone for a couple of minutes to understand how it is done…
You've got to burn the sticks then walk towards the temple and kneel on the leather cushion while holding the sticks above your head with two hands. Than pray for a while (I think). Then bow three times. Stand up, rotate to the right 90 degrees and bow, while standing, three times still holding the sticks above your head. Then throw the sticks in the big black box. Okay, I can do that. So I burned the entire packet of sticks at the first temple. Behind that were many more temples but I was out of sticks. Mmmmnnnnn. Good one Gilbert. Nice. Idiot. At 16:30 hour they were closing the doors of a couple temples and at 16:45 hours we were forced towards the exit. Beautiful looking place though.