After hiking about the Great Wall for a few hours, Nick and I wanted to see a local site that was relatively compact. We ended up going to the Yonghegong, or Beijing Lama Temple. When Nick described it, and given China’s current issues w/ Tibet and the Dalai Lama, I assumed this was more of a museum than a, well, temple. The busses and ticket gate at the front also gave that impression. However, once you walk in, you realize you’re in the middle of a large, practicing Bhuddist temple. It’s kinda like Notre Dame in Paris… it’s a major religious center, and hey, lots of tourists gawking at people praying and taking pictures. Another nexus of holiness and tactlessness. But hey, nobody forced them to have a gift shop.
The temple is hard to describe, so I’ll link to some pictures when I get an opportunity. It was a really beautiful and peaceful place though, and a good visit after hiking about.
Nick and I then headed home afterwards… we had a very early dinner (about 5 PM), and were debating going to see Star Wars, but then we realized we were very, very, very tired. So Nick headed back to his hotel and I went to bed. 