How prince's palace became home to the gods

Yonghegong, or the Lama Temple, has always been one of Beijing's premier tourist attractions. Its central location in the capital ensures its high position on every tour group's itinerary. Its classic Chinese design features also make it picture-perfect for a busy visitor seeking old-school Beijing snapshots.

Yonhegong is about to become even more popular thanks to the Olympics. The Games cycling road race will whiz past the complex, as international TV commentators explain the background of this interesting architecture.

Before it was a Tibetan Buddhist temple, Yonghegong was one of China's largest-ever homes. It was a palatial residence built in 1694 by Qing Emperor Kangxi for his fourth son, Prince Yinzhen, who later succeeded the throne to become Emperor Yongzheng.