Lama Temple, Beijing

Enroute back to hotel from the wall (in our private car) we made a stop at The Lama Temple in Beijing.

It is the last working temple after President Mao had most destroyed as not being in the interest of a progressing China when he created the Peoples Republic.

You start to see the similarities between this and The Forbidden City, with its decor and roof decorations signifying the importance of each building.

The differences here are the praying benches, the statues of buddha and the smell of incense in the air as people come to pray.

There is one statue that was carved out of a tree in the centre of the temple, the carving is still in fact part of the tree with the roots all attached. It is also in the guiness world records at 28m tall and one single carving out of the trunk.

A breathtaking day on all accounts and one that has built up an appetite, with Beijing originally known as Peking...... I am off for duck, but possibly a little less drink :)

J