Description
The Lama Temple resembles a Matryoshka doll as one temple and courtyard opens in to the next along a 480m north-south axis, though each successive temple hall is actually larger than the preceding one.
Previously the residence of Count Yin Zhen, who became Emperor Yongzheng in 1723, his residence became known as Yonghe Palace. In 1744 after Yongzheng's death in 1735, the buildings became a lamasery staffed by monks from Tibet and Mongolia. The temple contains a golden vase which is used in the lottery to choose the Panchen Lama.