No. 54: Yonghe Gong Temple, Beijing

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on April 15, 2013.)

The Longevity Buddha (长寿佛) is in a pagoda (塔) inside a hall
(殿) at Yonghegong ("Lama")  Temple (雍和宫), Beijing (北京)

July 12, 2011 - Beijing's Yonghe Gong--"The Palace of Peace and Harmony"--is nothing short of stunning. Set in the midst of the city on a huge piece of land (nearly a half-kilometer in length) it can absorb thousands of visitors and still maintain its signature atmosphere of tranquility.

No. 50: Xihuang Temple, Beijing

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on March 18, 2013.)

The gate is all most people see at Xihuang Temple (西黄寺), Beijing (北京); the grounds are closed to the public.

July 10, 2011 - Ah, Xihuangsi! One of the best temples I've never seen!

Though I was able to visit Tongjiao Temple by waiting until the 15th day of the lunar month, I wasn't allowed into Xihuang (West Yellow) Temple at all.

No. 14: Guangren Temple,Xi'an, Shaanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on April 2, 2012.)

My first temple in Xi'an, Shaanxi (陕西, 西安市), was Guangren Temple
(广仁寺), built in Tibetan style, with these stupas out front.

August 31, 2009 - Nestled inside the northwest corner of the ancient city walls of Xi'an is the little-visited Guangren Si (The Temple for Spreading Benevolence). It's a small but full-blown Tibetan-style temple, with maroon walls, white stupas, prayer wheels, multicolored pennants flapping in the wind, and lamas in typical maroon robes with yellow undergarments.