Lama Temple is located in the northeastern part of the old city of Beijing, the Lama Temple was a palatial residence constructed in 1694 by Qing Emperor Kangxi for his fourth son, Prince Yongzheng who later succeeded to the throne.

The magnificent temple consists of five main buildings lying on the north-south axis,with annex halls standing on both sides. The temple is listed by the Chinese Government as one of the important historical monuments under special preservation. After the death of his father,Emperor Yongzheng moved to the Forbidden City. This compound was closed to ordinary people and was renamed Yonghegong ( the Palace of Harmony ). Yellow roof tiles replaced green ones to suit a monarch's home. In 1744 his successor Emperor Qianlong converted the palace into a temple. Several renovations have been carried out since 1949. The temple has taken on a completely new look and has been reopened to the public since 1981. It is now not only a functional lama temple, but also a tourist attraction.

Lama Temple is Beijing's most visited religious site, which is home to the Yellow Sect of Buddhism. It is very active, with many faithfuls burning armloads of incense. The temple has an important relic: the largest Buddha statue carved from a single tree. The statue is huge: 3 stories up and about 9 feet across. There are great temples with fine architecture.