The Lama Temple, northeast of downtown Beijing, is the most famous Tibetan Buddhist temple outside of Tibet and was visited by past Dalai and Panchen Lamas (as well as one current-day Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama).  This glazed decoration appears on the Gate of Luminous Peace, the entrance to the temple.  As with the Temple of Heaven on the previous page, the path through the Lama Temple proceeds from south to north - from earth to heaven.

The temple’s bell tower is the first structure reached after passing through the front gates, but the huge bell itself has been placed outside the tower for all to see.  This is a detail of calligraphy on one small section of the bell.

China today:  A busy young woman talks on her cell phone while spinning a prayer wheel.  A little yellow arrow taped to the frame of the wheel reminds worshipers which direction to spin the wheel - and was perhaps useful at this moment.

An incense burner in front of one of the many altars within the temple.  Shops line the entryway to the Lama Temple with massive stacks of incense bundles on sale for use inside.

A large lion in front of the red walls of the Gate of Harmony and Peace.  Because the temple was first the residence of a prince who went on to become Qing Emperor Yongzheng, imperial symbols such as the lion appear on the temple grounds.  Yongzheng served as emperor for only a dozen years; however, his father (Kangxi) and his son (Qianlong) served as emperor for around sixty years each.  The three of them ruled China from 1662 to 1796.

Roof corner of the Imperial Stele Pavilion, in front of the rooftop of the Hall of Harmony and Peace.  A stele is an inscribed tablet; the one inside this structure was written by Emperor Qianlong on the subject of Lamaism.  Steles are contained within other pavilions here as well.

A prayer wheel, worn from use.  The grounds here were first constructed as a prince’s residence some four hundred years ago, but fifty years later, after the prince became emperor, the residence was converted into a lamasery to serve as a royal guest house for leaders from Mongolia and Tibet - a political move to appease and unite those regions while maintaining central power in Beijing.  The lamasery remains the largest in China.

Roof edge of the Hall of the Dharma Wheel, the largest structure within the temple.  I first visited the Lama Temple during my initial visit to Beijing five years earlier as part of a student group; we stopped here almost as an afterthought when we discovered we had extra time, and I’m glad we did.  This was my first opportunity to return.

The Pavilion of Infinite Happiness, home of a 55-foot-high Buddha statue carved out of a single piece of sandalwood.  The tallest structure here, this pavilion is the northernmost place of worship at the Lama Temple.  Most of the temple structures contain Buddhist statues, and worshipers following the rituals can be found in front of them all.

A monk peers from within the Pavilion of Infinite Happiness.  His primary job here is to prevent visitors from taking photographs inside the pavilion.  In front of him is one of two large steles standing before the pavilion.

Detail of the colorful beams and eaves under the roof of the Pavilion of Infinite Happiness.

An old monk talks with a young worshiper.  He initiated the conversation, and afterward she bowed to him, incense sticks between her palms.

Burning incense, which fills the air throughout the temple complex.  Occasionally a little fire gets going in one of the incense burners, and the smoke can become overwhelming if you happen to be downwind.

A gilded board over the Pavilion of Infinite Happiness, noting its name in Mongolian, Tibetan, Chinese and Manchu script.  Such boards appear over most of the pavilions, adding even more color to this already colorful place.  Visiting the Lama Temple was a great way to finish up the three days of clear weather I had during this trip to Beijing.