Location & Access

Yongyou Hall sits inside the Yonghe Temple complex in Beijing’s Dongcheng District, at 28 Yonghe Gong Street. It’s nestled on the north side of the temple, making it a quiet yet fascinating stop. To get here, take Subway Line 2 to Yonghe Gong Station (Exit D)—it’s just a 5-minute walk from there. Buses like 13, 111, or 846 also drop you close by. The temple itself is easy to spot: look for the grand gates and traditional red-and-gold roofs.

Architectural Wonders

Yongyou Hall might look like a five-room building from the outside, but it’s actually a clever “merged” structure—two sets of five rooms combined into one! This design, called “ming five, an ten” (visible five, hidden ten), shows how smart ancient architects were. The roof is a single-eave xie山顶 style, which gives it a sleek, elegant look. Inside, you’ll find a giant lotus throne holding three 2.35-meter-tall Buddha statues carved from fragrant sandalwood. The middle one is Amitabha (the Buddha of Infinite Life), flanked by the Medicine Buddha and a roaring Lion Buddha.

History & Cultural Significance

Back in the day, Yongyou Hall was the study and bedroom of Yong Qinwang, a prince who later became the Qianlong Emperor. After his death, it was turned into a “shadow hall” to honor his spirit—hence the name Yongyou (“eternal protection”). Later, it housed statues of Buddhas instead of imperial portraits. Today, it’s a bridge between royal history and Tibetan Buddhist culture.

Nearby Highlights

Step out of Yongyou Hall,