Into Beijing’s Hidden Spiritual Heart: Lama Temple & Hutongs
Hi I'm Wolfie from China.I used to be the marketing director in Bytedance, which is the parent company of TikTok. I was born in Inner Mongolia and grew up in Guangdong, the first 20 years of my life was all about moving from one city to another, made me have a deeper understanding about diverse culture in China. I've been living in Beijing for over 10 years,and just passed the qualification examination for tour guide.If you're going to travel to China,I can customize the perfect itinerary for you!
Pickup
Meet at the ticket office of Yonghegong Lama Temple,next to the Ximen(West Gate).
Description
Important: Please Read Before Booking
We are a team driven by our passion for sharing the authentic stories of Beijing. We are proud to have maintained a all 5-star rating for an entire year—until a traveler named Niels gave us a one-star rating. Here's what happened:
- When you book, our automated message suggests a tip of around 350 RMB (approx. 50 USD), while specifically stating that "there's no fixed amount—it's totally up to you."
- This traveler protested the suggested amount using impolite and rude language.
- We replied kindly, letting him know we totally understand and he could cancel the booking. After a long wait with no response, we had to proactively cancel the booking ourselves.
- Despite not attending the tour, this traveler gave us a one-star review and once again expressed a disrespectful and arrogant attitude toward our work.
- In a private message, this traveler claimed they only tipped $20 USD for a group of two in other Asian countries. It's clear they believe that the labor of people in Asian countries is only worth this amount. (This was also meant to cover the cost of entrance tickets and transportation.)
In response, and in the spirit of being completely transparent with every future traveler, I want to explain this in detail. Thank you for taking the time to read this before you book:
- On some other travel platforms, you will find that entrance tickets for the attractions on this tour are charged for $7-10 USD.
- Beijing is a very large city. Our guides have two options for reaching the meeting point: public transport, which costs $1-2 USD for a round trip but adds an extra two hours of commute time; or a taxi, which costs $8-12 USD for a round trip but gets them there faster.
- Assuming they choose public transport, they'll spend an additional two hours commuting, plus walk 1.5-2.5 km just to get there. This is on top of the at least 3-hour tour and another 4+km of walking during the tour. This totals 5 hours of labor, 5.5-6.5 km of walking, and over 10,000 Chinese characters of commentary.
- For perspective, Beijing's minimum wage in 2025 is $2/hour—for the most basic labor.
This is why we sincerely suggest a $50 USD tip per group (for two or more people). In return, you will receive:
- Over 10,000 characters of detailed commentary covering the main halls of the Lama Temple, most of the enshrined Buddha statues, and their religious cultural background.
- A step-by-step guide to experiencing traditional Chinese superstitious rituals, including offering incense, worshiping Buddha, and consecrating items.
- A guided walk through the historic Hutongs, where you'll learn about traditional architecture, local culture, and get recommendations for authentic local food.
- All of the above services are priced at anywhere from $60 to $120 USD per person on other platforms.
Out of passion, we provide the same quality of professional service as a private tour at a suggested price far below market value. We hope all travelers can understand and acknowledge this value before booking, so we can avoid negative experiences caused by misunderstandings.
Thank you for your support! We wish you a wonderful time in Beijing!
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About The Tour:
Our journey begins inside the Lama Temple, where you will experience the ancient principles of Feng Shui in one of Beijing’s most spiritual settings. Then, discover the ancient art of Feng Shui on a tour of the Hutongs in Beijing, learning how to harmonize the energy for good fortune.
The tour includes:
1)Experiencing the complete process of worshiping the Buddha and praying for blessings at Lama Temple.
2)Immersing yourself in traditional Chinese superstitions and cultural practices, such as burning incense, drawing lots for wishes,fortunetelling(not free),and consecrating ceremony.
3)Strolling through Beijing Hutongs to feel the mysterious oriental atmosphere
About Feng Shui Culture:
It‘s one of the most mysterious and captivating aspects of traditional Chinese culture. It seeks to alter the energy of an individual or even an entire family by carefully considering the location and layout of homes, the design and matching of clothing and accessories, or the patterns of daily customs such as diet, thereby bringing continuous good fortune.
This experience will take you deep into the Hutong cultural district in the heart of Beijing. You will wander through several historical sites with the strongest energy aura, embarking on an authentic and pure traditional Feng Shui journey to seek good fortune for yourself and your family.
Let's get going!