Yong-he-gong, the Palace of Harmony & Peace, is the largest lamasery in Beijing. Built in 1694, the 33rd year of the Kang Xi reign, it covers an area of 66,000m2 & is a well known monastery of the Gelugpa School of Tibetan Buddhism.

Originally, Yong-he-gong was the residence of the fourth son of Emperor Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty, known as the Yong Prince.
It gained it’s name after the Yong Prince ascended the Royal Throne, he turned his former residence into a palace for his recreation as Emperor.

The residence was made a Lamasery in 1744, the 9th year of the reign of Emperor Qian Long. The Emperor wanted to make it a royal guesthouse to receive leaders from Mongolian & Tibetan regions, where the dominant Buddhist doctrine was from the Yellow Sect, the Gelugpa of Tibetan Buddhism.
Emperor Qian Long found lamaism could play an irreplaceable role in uniting & appeasing minority regions, & in strengthening the central power of the Manchu ruler.

Image brushed for selective colour.
Photo taken May 2009