Yonghe Temple Walking Guide! The Fourth Prince's Residence Turns into a Buddhist Sanctuary

When traveling to the capital, besides the Great Wall & the Forbidden City, Yonghe Temple is also worth a visit! The residence where Emperor Yongzheng once lived in secret, home to two dragons 🐉, and where Emperor Qianlong was born 🏮

🚇 Transportation Info
📍 Address: No. 28 Yonghegong Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
🚇 Subway: Line 5, Yonghegong Station, Exit F, 3-minute walk straight ahead

⏰ Opening Hours:
April 1 - October 31: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
November 1 - March 31 (next year): 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Must-See Highlights:
✨ Yonghe Temple Palace: Originally the secret residence of the Fourth Prince Yongzheng, red walls and green tiles instantly transport you to "Empresses in the Palace"
✨ Incense Ash Glazed Bracelet: Top trending amulet! Each bead is wrapped with incense ash, the blue color under sunlight is absolutely stunning (even better in person, no joke!)

Walking Route:
1️⃣ Yonghe Gate ➡️ Hall of Heavenly Kings
Start by clearing your mind! Check out the adorable Four Heavenly Kings
📸 Tips: The dragon-carved steps in front of the hall are a popular spot for costume drama photos

2️⃣ Dharma Wheel Hall ➡️ Pavilion of Ten Thousand Blessings
A sacred site of Tibetan Buddhism! The 28-meter tall white sandalwood Maitreya statue is breathtaking
💡 Secret: Spinning the prayer wheels clockwise brings better blessings

3️⃣ East and West Side Halls
This is where you can get the glazed bracelets! Available for career, romance, and health
⚠️ Note: The full selection is in the morning; some styles may sell out by afternoon

📿 Bracelet Meanings:
▫️ Blue: Career and studies
▫️ Green: Health and safety
▫️ Red: Romance and happiness
✨ I've been wearing the blue one for about half a year and really met a helpful benefactor!

🎫 Worship Tips:
• Free incense is available inside the main gate
• Worship the main hall first, then the side halls
• Be specific with your wishes (e.g., "monthly income of 50,000" is more effective than just "get rich")

🍵 Nearby Food:
• Jing Zhaoyin: Michelin 3-star vegetarian cuisine
• Hutong Cuisine: Old Beijing zhajiang noodles near Yonghe Temple
• Wu Yutai: 3-minute walk to get flower tea ice cream

💥 Avoid These:
× Don’t buy bracelets outside! Only those blessed inside the temple are effective
× Don’t take photos of Buddha statues
× Don’t wear shorts or short skirts