Though its sibling, Donghuang Temple, was demolished during the Great Leap Forward, Xihuang Temple survives today as one of Beijing’s relatively few Lamist temples. Donghuang was built in the mid-1600s to house the 5th Dalai Lama during his Beijing visit. Xihuang was built shortly after and the 6th Panchen Lama stayed there during the Qianlong Emperor’s birthday celebrations. After the Lama’s death, Qianlong had a pagoda built on the temple site where his clothing and books were kept. Today, the Tibetan Senior Buddhism College calls Xihuang home.
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