The Lama Temple is another attraction to which proud residents of Beijing love to take visitors - for good reason; it is generally held to be the most colourful and most impressive temple in Beijing and the most renowned Tibetan Buddhist temple in China.The Tiger Lady took me there in 2002, as did Angel and Meixin at another time. It was worth seeing several times and it does have the biggest statue (of Maitreya) I have seen INSIDE a building. I was not, of course, allowed to photograph inside and the monks kept an eye on me the whole time I was there.

Built initially in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty, this building was the residence of Emperor Yongzheng when he was just a prince. However, in 1744 the Qing Dynasty formally changed the status of the dwelling to that of a lamasery, and so Yonghe Lamasery became the national centre of Lama administration. It was declared to be protected as a major historical relic in 1949 and even survived the Cultural Revolution unscathed. In 1979 it was restocked with novices and continues as the Chinese Government's symbol of religious freedom.

Architecturally it is a rich and intense visual feast.