Yonghe Temple in Beijing's Dongcheng District is a monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Building work began in 1694 on a site that had been an official residence for Ming court eunuchs. The Kangxi Emperor awarded it to Prince Yong in 1702. When Yinzhen became the Yongzheng Emperor in 1722, it became the Palace of Peace and Harmony. It was converted into a lamasery in 1744, and its roof tiles changed from turquoise to yellow.
The complex blends Han Chinese and Tibetan styles along a central axis 1,570 feet (480 m) long. A white sandalwood statue of Maitreya, carved from a single piece, rises 59 feet (18 m) above ground, with another 26 feet (8 m) below it.
After 1949 it was closed for 32 years and reopened in 1981. The cham dance was revived in 1987.
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