Tibet tour operator
Lhagang King Gesar Festival is to be held in Lhagang monastery, also known as Tagong monastery. This King Gesar dance was held in the yard of Lhagang monastery which is about 400 kilometers west from Chengdu, approximately 1 full day drive is needed.
Lhagang monastery King Gesar from Tibetan Trekking Travel on Vimeo.
Juli monastery is a Gelug pa monastery at Juli village of Xinduqiao town, about 85 kilometers west from Kangding City.
It was originally called “Rang Ti monastery”, and was built in Ran Ti Gang mountain by Master Dengba who was one of the five scholars of Muya region of Kham.
In the 1st year of Emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty (1662 AD), the monastery was moved to curently address at Juli village, hence it is named after the vilage.
The monastery enshrines 108 Volumes of Kangyur which is one of the three only remaining manuscripts with history of more than 1000 years, and well – preserved murals with history of more than 600 years old. In addition, the unique butter flower.
There is one sky-funeral field behind the monastery and slightly above the main hall of the monastery, which holds the sky-funeral in the monrning usually, and not open to the visitors;
Juli Monastery had been reonstructed and expanded three times on the 2nd khenpo (the teacher of 7th Dailai lama), the 24th khenpo of Sangji Gengdan and in 1983; Until now, it has been through 47 generation of khenpo and 3 generation of Rinpoches.
During the first Renpoche of Juli monastery, the Muya Tibetan opera was created, which is very unique from other type of Tibetan opera in the eastan Tibet of Kham, and it became one tradition that to play the Tibetan opera for 3 days from June 28th to 30th anuually
Of the three Rinpoche of JuLi monastery, the most well-known is the 3rd reincarnation of rinpoche, whom is called Fa-Hai Rinpoche (1920 – 1994), he was born in Muli county, and being identified as the 3rd reincarnation of Rinpoche of Juli monastery.
He went to Lhasa to study when he was 12 years old, after 7 years’ hard learning, he passed the exam, and earned degree “Geshe lharampa“, the highest degree in Tibetan Buddhism.
After returning from Lhasa, he began his journey of preaching to Chamdo, Shangri La, Daocheng…etc, all of which are in the remote and hidden regions of Kham. He passed away at age of 74 years old. After cremation, there were 18 sarira left in the ashes, and all of which are now enshrined in the stupa in Juli monastery
Add : Juli village, Xinduqiao
RMB 15 per person
3300 meters
Full day
Ju Li Monastery is about 80 kilometers west from Kangding township, from which local buses or taxi are quite easy to be arranged to get to this beautiful town. The closest airport is Kangding airport which is 48 kilometers east from Xinduqiao on the Mt Dzetuo wihtin 1 hour drive;
By flight: there are three daily flights from Chengdu to Kangding, then by local taxi to Xinduqiao which Juli monastery is located at
By long distance bus: it is recommended to get to Chengdu Xin Nan Men Bus station which offers the most frequently buses to Kangding.
In addition, there are other departures to Kangding from Chengdu Cha Dian Zi Bus station, Chengdu Bei Men Bus station, and Shi Yang Chang Bus station,
Note, all buses ends at Kangding, and it is needed for you to switch to local mini bus or taxi to Xinduqiao, which may take about 3 hours drive to get to Juli monastery from Kangding;
Contact: +86 836 282 7811
IATA Code: KGT
Altitude: 4,238 meters above sea level
Add: No. 2, Xin Nan Road, Chengdu
Contact: +86 28 8543-3609
Working hour: 05:30 am – 21:30 pm
Hong Po Si is also the name of Hong Po Monastery, it is hidden in the Hong Po village of Deqin county; It was a monastery belongs to Karma Kagyu Sect of Tibetan Religion, but converted to be a Gelug Pa sect of monastery after only 160 yrs after its establishment;
It is one of the monasteries that has the architecture features of both Tibetan and Chinese Buddhism tradition; it is regarded as the “Mother monastery” of the three Main Tibetan Monasteries of Deqin County. The other two monasteries are Deqinlin monastery and Dongzhulin Monastery
Hong Po Village is a peaceful village and covered by the green trees in a valley. Hong Po Monastery is like a pearl inlaid in this beautiful village, with red walls and blue tiles, prayer flags flies in the wind. The monastery it looks simple and solemn.
Hong Po Monastery is located in Hong Po Village, Yunling township, Deqen County, Diqing Tibetan Prefecture of Yunnan Province. It faces Mt Kawa Karpo which is in the east of the Lancang River. There is a dense virgin forest behind the monastery near the snow covered main peak of the White Horse Snow Mountain, which is regarded as the mountain god of Hong Po Village, as well as the patron saint of the east gate of Mt Kawa Karpo.
Hong Po Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist temple with a history of more than 500 years; It was built in 1514 as to be one of the temples of Kagyu Pa . It was suppressed because of involvement in the rebellion against the Mongolian khan in 1674, and its property was confiscated and the monks were to disband, however, after two years, Hong Po Monastery was restored in 1676, but it was converted to Gelug Pa sect of Tibetan religion, and it was renamed as Gaden Yangpajinglin Monastery by Dalai Lama V.
Hong Po Monastery, Dongzhulin Monastery, Deqinlin Monastery are regarded as the three main Tibetan Monasteries in Deqin County; They all used to be Kagyu monasteries, and they all were converted to Gelug Pa monastery after the rebellion in 1674.
In 1680 (The 19th year of Kang Xi Emprior, Qing Dynasty), Dalai Lama V selected “Gun Song Kainpo” to be the General Host of the three monasteries, he then enthroned at Hong Po Monastery to begin his service. The monthly fee of all monks in the three monasteries were issued by Hong Po Monastery. In Tibetan language “Hong Po” means silver, which was the currency in the ancient history; Therefore, Hongpo Temple was also known as the “Mother Monastery” among the three temples.
Now the whole temple is composed of three parts. The assembly hall is centered,the Amitabha Buddha Hall is ahead,the buildings of monk’s dorm room are surrounding like the stars around the moon. The statues of the four Dharma protectors on the main temple cloister also has the painting style of Chinese Buddhism. Generally, the four Dharma protectors in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries are murals. But the ones in Hong Po monastery are clay sculptures, which can be described as a unique work in Tibetan monasteries.
The assembly hall is a place where monks gather for ritual activities enshrine Tsongkhapa and his two disciples, it can accommodate about 500 monks. The murals on the walls of this hall were newly painted during the restoration and reconstruction after the Cultural Revolution.
There is also a small hall behind the main hall enshrining Maitreya Bodhisattva, on both sides, there are eight buddha status of Manjushri, Maitreya Arya, Avalokite Shvara, Mahasthamaprapta, Aksiayamatir, Bodhisattva, Bhairajya Samudgata, Bhaisajya Raja
There are wooden ladders on both sides of the cloister outside the main hall leading to the second floor which is mainly used to worship Dharma protectors. There is a flat Bluestone slab square in front of the main hall, which is an important place for holding large-scale Buddhist events every year.
Before the square, it is the Amitabha Buddha Hall, which was not damaged much during the Cultural Revolution, and basically retained its original appearance. The Amitabha Buddha is divided into two floors. The first floor is the main hall, which is mainly used for worship the Amitabha Buddha, and there is a precious silver stupa with height of 1 meter containing a Sheli of the “Fai-hai Renpoche” whom was from Juli monastery near Xinduqiao in Kham. The second floor is a reception room for important people such as masters, living Buddhas…etc.,
1854 AD (4th years of Xian-Feng, Qing Dynasty), a plaque of “Hua Xing Nan Bang – Ch 化行南邦” was bestowed by Emperor Xian-Feng, which this Royal Gift plaque protected Hong po monastery survived the Wei-Xi Religious Case of 1905 and was not destroyed. This plaque is also regarded as the greatest treasure of this monastery.
Today, the Zha-ba Living-Repoche is a reincarnation of the XIV, living the same life as ordinary Tibetans, with a wife and children
On the Goat Slop, 3 kilometers from Hongpo village, Yun lin township
Free of charge
3,300 meters
Full day
Usually, the first step is to take flights or land transportation to arrive in Shangri La city, the capital town of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, from which there are about more than 15 buses leave for Deqin county where Hong Po Monastery is about 61 kilometers away from, it rouighly takes about 1.5 – 2 hours to make one way trip from Deqin to here;
There is no public bus to this monastery from Deqin, so it is recommended to hire local Taxi or minibus to get to here
Address: No. 1, Shen-Ying Road
IATA Code: DIG
Altitude: 3,280 meters above sea level
Contact: +86 887 822 9916
Address: Xiangbala Avenue
Phone: +86 887 822-3501
Altitude: 3,080 meters above sea level
Working hours: 06:00 am – 19:00 pm
2020 Tongren festival date has been defined. It is from August 5th to 14th. During this 10 days, local people will dressup to particapte this annual grand celebrations.
For touring this festival, please visit this page for detail programs
2019 Litang Festival date has been confirmed to be held from July 29th to August 2nd. The theme of this 2019 Litang festival is been decided as “Meet Tsangyang Gyatso Poetry Festival”;
“Tsangyang Gyatso” is also called (RIGDZIN) Tsangyang Gyatso, who was the 6th Dalai Lama, and also a great poet. He wrote “White cranes! Please lend me your wings, don’t fly far away, just go to Litang.” This has made Litang to be one desired land that Tibetan come to live;
2019 Litang Festival has been decisived that is with theme of “Meet Tsangyang Gyatso Poetry Festival”, in addition, there will Horse-Racing competetion, Local Matsutake Food Festival, Litang Agricultural product festival, Tibetan Folk Performance Festival; It is a big celebration with 5 different festivals;
Kandze Monastery (or Garze monastery), also known as Garze Shadrub Norbuling, meaning “Pure, Beautiful, Auspicious Land,” belongs to the Gelug Pa of Tibetan Buddhism and is home to over 400 monks, which makes it the largest Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Garze County.
Built in the first year of Emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty (1662 AD). It was founded by Dalai Lama V’s disciple with a history of nearly five hundred years.
Kandze Monastery is situated on hillside in the northern part of Garze County. It is a typical Tibetan and Chinese Han architectural style. The whole building faces south with construction area of 197,000 square meters and covering an area of 285,000 square meters overlooking Garze County.
There were about 3,300 monks and lamas in Kandze Monastery in 1957. It has 13 sub-monasteries; and had several commerce business in Lhasa, Chengdu, India.In 1958, most of the monks and lamas resumed secular life. The monastery was demolished during the Cultural Revolution in 1967.Then after being rebuilt in 1980. It was approved for opening in 1981 and being restored its original appearance.
The main buildings of the monastery include a large hall, ten small scripture halls, and a Maitreya Hall, all evenly distributed and meticulously structured. The halls are adorned with magnificent decorations, colorful murals, and lifelike sculptures. Beneath the monks’ quarters, there are densely packed residential buildings surrounding the monastery.
The large hall is a wooden structure with four floors, housing the main scripture hall on the first floor, the guardian deity hall on the second floor, the Jampa Buddha hall on the third floor, and the “Jowo Rinpoche” brought from India on the fourth floor. The top of the large hall features an official-style square pavilion with flying eaves at each corner, covered with glazed tiles, copper vases, and copper dharma wheels, shimmering in the sunlight with extraordinary magnificence.
Numerous monk residences have been orderly constructed around the monastery, giving the entire complex a well-organized, distinct, and majestic layout with a unique ethnic style.
In the guardian deity hall, a large number of Tibetan knives and old-fashioned firearms can be seen. It is said that these were offered by the local Tibetans to the monastery as a sign of their commitment to abstain from killing.
Garze Monastery is currently led by the 3rd reincarnation of the Shanggen Living Buddha. The lineage of the Shanggen Living Buddha began in 1846 and has been passed down to the present third reincarnation. The first reincarnation was one of the three candidate reincarnations of the 11th Dalai Lama. After the 11th Dalai Lama selected one of the candidates through a traditional method involving a “Serbum Krugpa”, the chosen reincarnation became the 1st Shanggen Living Buddha, named “Lorong Tsonchen” with the dharma name “Losang Kechu.” The lineage of the Shanggen Living Buddha is closely related to the “Konjo Tusi” family of Garze.
Currently, there are more than 600 monks at Garze Monastery, including 80 young monks studying at the monastery school. The monastery has assigned knowledgeable teachers to teach them.
Tibetan Buddhist monastery train monks through debate. Young monks at the school need to participate in debates to gain access to higher levels of learning. Monks at the monastery gradually accumulate their respective degrees through study.
Exam results are publicly posted on the morning of the 15th day of the 1st lunar month. The monastery encourages outstanding monks in front of the entire monastery and the faithful, using this to motivate everyone to study hard. The monastery has a lama specifically in charge of educational affairs to supervise the study life of the monks and to urge temple teachers to fulfill their duties.
According to legend, over 500 years ago, the leader of the Hor tribe, his eldest son Gele Longrong Puntso was a monk (Dragba), studied in Lhasa for more than 10 years. After returning to Garze, he built a monastery by the hot-spring, named Dragen monastery (also known as “Xu-ri monastery”). In the 7th generation, when Hor Mashu Tusi-Langka Jiangze sent his brother Gaji Langka Ore to study Buddhist scriptures at Drepuung monastery in Tibet for more than 10 years, he returned to Dragen monastery for many years of practice. Due to frequent disasters, the monastery was not prosperous. Later, a wandering monk came and predicted, “If Dragen monastery can be relocated to a mountainside with many white stones, it will prosper.”
Following this prophecy, Gaji Langka Ore relocated the monastery and in 1657 AD, in the current location of Garze monastery, a sky burial site was moved to a high hill in order to build this monastery, renaming it “Garze monastery.”
In 1655 AD, Ngawang Losang Gyatso sent his disciple Hor Chokyi Ngangwon Pengtso to the Hor area of Kham to build Gelugpa monastery
After arriving in the Hor area, in 1662 AD, the original Garze monastery was first expanded, making it the first of the 13 monasteries built in the Hor area (commonly known as the “mother monastery”).
After the completion, Hor Chokyi Ngaweng Pungtso became the head lama of the monastery, and he named it “Garze Shadrub Norbuling “.
During the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s, the monastery suffered severe damage. In 1957, Garze monastery had 3,300 monks and lamas, with 13 subordinate monastery, and operated multiple businesses in India, Lhasa, Chengdu, and locally.
In 1958, most of the monks and lamas returned to secular life.
During the “Cultural Revolution” in 1967, the monastery was demolished.
The monastery was rebuilt around 1980. There are now over four hundred monks in the temple.
In 1981, it was approved to be reopened, and the temple has now been restored to its original appearance.
Every year in the 1st month of the Tibetan calendar, Garze Monastery holds a large prayer ceremony. During the ceremony, the monastery donates 21% of the offerings received to the local Kongsa Tusi. In return, the Kongsa Tusi distributes large round cakes (weighing about 1 kilogram) to all the monks and lamas of the monastery on the 28th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar as a New Year’s gift.
On the 16th day of the 1st month of the Tibetan calendar, Garze Monastery holds a ceremony to welcome the Maitreya Buddha. This is the day with the highest number of participants in the monastery’s ceremonies.
Maitreya Buddha, transliterated from Tibetan, is the title of the future Buddha in Buddhism’s “Three Jewels.” The annual welcoming of the future Buddha on the 16th day of the Tibetan calendar signifies the continuation and prosperity of Buddhism, allowing the faithful to witness the arrival of the era of the future Buddha.
Before 7 o’clock in the morning, before the sun rises, the faithful leave their homes and gather at the locations where the Maitreya Buddha will pass. Here, people hold white khata scarves as they respectfully welcome the Maitreya Buddha and the auspicious “Three Jewels” of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
The road around the monastery used to be very narrow, without any lanes for vehicles. People used to carry the Maitreya Buddha around the mountain using their hands and shoulders. Despite the crowded conditions and the narrow mountain paths, the Maitreya Buddha was always carried steadfastly on people’s shoulders. Normally, it takes an hour to walk around the mountain path surrounding Garze Monastery. Carrying the Maitreya Buddha around the mountain takes a full five hours, in addition to the preparatory and cleansing rituals upon returning to the monastery. The ceremonies last from 6am in the morning until past 13pm in the afternoon. Now, with improved conditions at the monastery, a road has been opened on the back mountain, and the Maitreya Buddha is now “driven” around the mountain. The faithful no longer need to carry the Maitreya Buddha on their shoulders with such care.
During the procession to welcome the Maitreya Buddha, the monks hold prayer ceremonies at several fixed locations. The monks of Garze Monastery organize the ceremonies, and the faithful attend as observers. Every year, there is a dedicated person at Garze Monastery responsible for the ceremony to welcome the Maitreya Buddha, including the process, important details during the ceremony, and feedback after the ceremony.
The Iron Rod Lama is a monk who maintains order during the ceremony, symbolizing the authority of the monastery. The iron rod he holds is a symbol of the monastery’s discipline. When the Iron Rod Lama appears during the ceremony, both the monks and the faithful are struck by his solemn and dignified presence.
The day before the welcoming of the Maitreya Buddha, on the 15th day of the 1st month of the Tibetan calendar, the monastery holds a grand ceremony for offering butter flowers. As night falls, the faithful gather at the monastery to participate in the annual butter flower offering ceremony.
Tsongkhapa, a religious reformer in Tibetan Buddhism, is the lineage master of the Gelug sect to which Garze Monastery belongs. Every Tibetan New Year, Garze Monastery holds various religious ceremonies following the tradition of the Gelug sect. The monks of the monastery make various Buddha statues and flowers out of ghee, among which the three masters and disciples of Tsongkhapa are the ghee offerings that must be made every year. The three of them are surrounded by exquisite butter flowers, which is extremely solemn.
The main purpose of this ancient Gu-Duo Puja is to banish the bad luck in the past year, and turn evil into righteousness. Pray for No disease, No disaster on people and livestocks in the coming year, and the weather is good, and Rich harvest
Gu-Duo Monk Dance generally lasts two days on 28th and 29th days of December of Tibetan Calendar. On the first day of this festival, there will be 8 programs (dances). On the 2nd day, the programs are to throw exorcism objects, and to throw “Sui Wu” (“Sui” refers to the disaster caused by evil, “Wu” means object; “Sui Wu” means a object that brings bad luck caused by evil )
As early as a month before this festival, the monks will take a certain amount of time to practise the Holy Mask dance while doing daily religiou work, Under the guidance of the head coach of the monastery, every monk whom wear the mask and dance shall undertsand how to play the gesture operation,dance steps,the purpose of the weapon and secret spell. The festival begins around 9:00 in the morning,
The monks of the whole temple sit in rows , facing south, and the front row is the guardian of honor. The local Tibetan and visitors are allowed to sit at in the east, south, west
When the dance monks appeare, the local people take off their hats with enthusiasm, fold their hands together and prayed silently. In the sound of the music, the monks hold the sword and the religious appliance, dancing while walking side by side and entering the venue slowly
“Doma” is an item that is made of Tsampa with form similar to a child with age of 3 or 4 ; and there is red pigment in its abdomen; After being cut it is like bloodshed. “Doma” is one of the “Sui Wu”.
When the monks enter the venue, they will sourround the “Doma” to do all kinds of rituals; and then having the “Doma” stabbed by the 5 Guardian of God from 5 directions of East, West, South, North and Middle
Around 12:00 at noon, the Puja will end. In the sound of Religious music, the abbot sways the bell by hand,the monks sing the secret scriptures. Monks and local Tibetan take “Doma” and other “Sui Wu” together to the gulley where people cannot see the monastery when they look back, and burned it with fire. At this point, the annual ancient Gu-Duo Monk Dance Puja will be completed.
Kandze Monastery is located at the hill north of Garze County. It is about less than 2 kilometers walk from the center of the town;
You can either walk up to this monastery from center of this town, or to take a car reaching at this monastery within 3 minutes
Address: Laima village
IATA Code: GZG
Altitude: 4,061 meters
Address: No, 164, Chuan-Zang Road
Phone: +86 836 752-2353
Altitude: 3,780 meters
