Beijing 2024 - YongLe Temple (雍和宫)

There is always an exhibition hall at the famous temple with proper information about the place and it's history. So really, there isn't much point in paying for audio guide or such when visiting any place. For places without such info, you could just google it before or after the visit, or watch a documentary on it on YouTube.  

Venturing into the temple hall, I was happy to find that the deities here were different from those I was used to. They were indeed Tibetian style Buddhist Deities. I was happy to see these, and happily took photos until I saw a sign saying photography was not allowed inside. Darn. Luckily this was after I've visited two or three halls! Lol. Sorry!

So here are some of my forbidden photos. The deities looked kinda Indian, right? I like the colours, and how scary they looked! Oh ya, kinda Indonesian looking too! I guess their sources all originated from India, hence the similarity.

Some of the Tibetian deities always reminded me of Tantra Buddhism, a more cult like mystical arm of Buddhism. 

The altar area. So much colours!

The omni Buddha and Goddess of Mercy can also be found among the deities here.

A nice photo of a monk reading next to the window. It was among some of the first few forbidden photos I took inside. And I was pretty sure they saw me but didn't stop me, that's why I thought it was ok to take photos inside as I normally would. But eventually I saw the signs and stopped, slightly disappointed cause I really live the deities inside the temple.

Outside the temple, prayer wheels can be found. Surprisingly not many people use them for prayers. I wonder why..... I prayed on every single one that I came across, which is two at the front of each temple hall :)  I mean, they were there for a reason, right?

Another recruit I got to help with praying using the praying wheel! Lol. This may be the closest we get to Tibet! Got to make it memorable!