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Zurmang monastery is also Surmang monastery. It is located in a vast alpine nomadic and farming region of Mao-zhuang village, some 220km southwest from Yushu county. It is the seat of the Trungpa tülkus, also known as the Surmang Kagyu, is a sub-sect of Karma Kagyu, it even includes a unique synthesis of Nyingma teachings. Surmang also refers to a complex of nine or ten Kagyu monasteries in that area, those of which were lead by the Trungpa tülkus and the Gharwang tulkus.

Surmang Namgyal Tse

Surmang Dutsi Til

For more information about Zurmang or Surmang monastery, please click here

A new round-trip train between Lhasa and Xining will be started from June 25^th according to Qinghai – Tibet Railway Department.

From June 25^th, the train from Xining to Lhasa will depart at 20:15 pm with train schedule Z 6811; On the next day of June 26^th, Lhasa to Xining train will depart at 16:15 pm with train schedule Z 6812. This train runs 22 hours on each one-way trip

Why monastery on cliff?
Potala palace becomes the symbol of Tibet. It has two major parts of White palace and Red Palace. Both palaces were built on the top of Mt Marpori which about 100 meters higher and overlook the whole Lhasa valley.
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In addition to Potala Palace, Yongbu Lhakang in Tsetang
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Guge kingdom in Tholing

and Ritrol Lhakang in Tengchen

Some refer to this architectures as fortress-style, or cliff-style architecture, referencing the architecture’s most important feature.The architecture that are built on top of mountain, and embeded with the mountain are the epitome of holy mountain worship. A representative of the actual world that to build a architecture in a high place is a way for Tibetan to devout and to communicate with the buddhas in the heaven in order to let their mind be at peace.

Lhasa Yak Museum is the 1^st museum that to focus on Yak. It is situated near Lhasa River in Liu-Wu New District, covers an area of over 8000 square meters. Explore the Secrets of yak, and introducing the origin and domestication of yak, as well as the Yak culture of Tibetan art.

Ritrol Lhakhang is Tibetan name. It is called “Zi Zu Monastery” or “Zidrol Monastery” in chinese. Located on a hillside approximately 3 kilometres west of Tengchen county, with altitude of 4850 meters above sea level. The main building of Ritrol Lhakhang was built 3000 years ago and found by the 2^nd Tibet King Muci Zampo according to Tibetan Buddhism legend; The name of “Ritrol” means six mountains which symbolize Bodhisattva save all the sentient beings with compassion and wisdom

Hui Yuan Temple is also called Gatar Shangbaling monastery. It is about 10 kilometers northeast from Bamei town, and 80 kilometers northwest from Danba county.

It was built in 1728, in the 7^th Year of Yong Zheng Emprior of Qing Dynasty. This large monastery has more than 1,000 house. After the completion of the temple, Emperor Yongzheng named this temple “Hui Yuan Temple”. And even sent 1,800 soldiers stationed in the monastery. Then after, Emperor Yongzheng sent people to welcome 7^th Dalai Lama to live this monastery, whom spent 7 years in this monastery from 1728-1735

There are two major pujias being held in this monastery annually,

• “Summon Pujia” in the 1^st month of Tibetan Calendar
• “Ya Que Pujia” in the 6^th month of Tibetan Calendar

The mountains that surround Hui Yuan Temple looks like the shape of eight petal lotus. So this small piece of land is also called “Lotus treasure land”. Hui Yuan Temple is located in the center of this “Lotus treasure land”

Huiyuan temple covers an area of more than 500 MU. There is one road that leads to this monastery straight. The two sides of the monastery gate is red wal, and 108 white chorten are embedded in the red walls.

Lhagang monastery is located in the west end of the small town of Lhagang (also Tagong). This is a great site for witness Tibetan culture in local Tibetan community.

From here, it is about 600 km west from Chengdu approximately 1 and half day drive to reach this 3300m high Tibetan grassland