Langmusi is indeed chinese pronunciation, “Langmu” is pronunciation of “Lhamo” in Chinese Pinyin, “Si” is Chinese with meaning of “temple” or “monastery”. Here, “Langmusi” means “Langmu Temple”
Langmusi Town is a town under jurisdiction of Luchu County of Gannan prefecture and Zoige County of Aba (Ngawa) Prefecture
Brief
The town of Langmusi is named after Langmusi monastery, which was built in 1748 AD. It is adjacent to Maqu County to west and Gahai Township to northwest.
Langmusi was also called Taktsang Lhamo in Tibetan. It is a small village on the border of Sichuan and Gansu provinces. Benefited by rapid developied tourism, it is now a large township.
A small stream flows through Langmusi Town. Although the small stream is less than 2 meters wide, however, it has a very grand name “White Dragon River”. It also translated as as ” White color river” in Tibetan. The north bank of the stream is Langmusi, and the south bank belongs to Zoige County
The province boundary is very clear on the map, however, the people of the two provinces live together and it is not easy to define which part is Gansu or Sichuan.
The part of Langmusi in the south of the river is administrated by Zoige county. The monastery on this side is called “Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Gompa” which was found by one of disciples of Tsongkhapa who came around 1413 AD. The current buildings were founded by the 53rd throne holder of Ganden in 1748 AD.
The north of the river is administrated by Luqu county. The monastery on this side is called “Taktsang Lhamo Monastery” which is a branch of Drepung monastery in Lhasa, and has some impressive buildings, such as Protector Temple (Gonkhang) and the residence of Alak Chetsang. In the rare of this monastery, there is one Sky-funeral site above the monastery which is the only one that is allowed to visit. The red rock cliff is a landmark that leads the trail to this site,
Tibetan name of “Taktsang Lhamo” is usually called only “Lhamo” in short; “Taktsang” means “Tiger Nest” and “Lhamo” means “Fairy” in Tibetan. So that the complete meaning of this name is “Tiger Nest Fairy“. This toponym is widely spread and used in Amdo and with a long history.
Best travel time
From June to October
Local climate
Plateau humid climate zone
Main sites
Red Stone Cliff
Langmusi has an iconic focal point – the Red Stone Cliff, referred to by the Hui and Han ethnic groups as “Hongshan”. This is the place where the sun rises every day in Langmusi, known in Tibetan as “Qiongbo Ma”, meaning “offering mountain”, named for its shape resembling a tray for offerings. This mountain also resembles a crown, hence the “crown-like Red Stone Cliff”. On the 10th day of the 6th month of the lunar calendar, the monks of the Monastery in Langmusi go to Qiongbo Ma Mountain to worship and offer sacrifices to the deities of their respective hometowns. This means that the mountain deity of Qiongbo Ma is specifically worshipped by the monks of Langmusi Monastery, not by the common people.
Langmusi Grand Canyon
The locals refer to the Langmusi Grand Canyon as “Naipu Gou”, with “Naipu” being a transliteration of the Tibetan language, meaning “gathering place of deities”, it is a place where one hundred thousand dakini gather. In the past, the great master Padmasambhava subdued dragons and tigers here, and concealed the Vajra. Later, the third “Geerdeng Living Buddha” “Danba Rabje” retrieved the concealed sacred objects. Successive Geerdeng Living Buddhas used this instrument for practice. Many eminent monks and practitioners have traditionally practiced meditation in seclusion here.
Fairy Cave – “Tiger’s Den Fairy”
On the right cliff at the entrance of the Langmusi Grand Canyon, there is a cave known as the Fairy Cave. The entrance to the cave is flat and low, and in front of the entrance, believers often burn cypress incense, with the pale white smoke rising against the cliff, shrouding the entrance. This is the legendary Fairy Cave.
The cave mouth is small and filled with stalactites, requiring one to bend over when passing through the entrance. After walking about ten steps into the cave, it opens up, with the highest point of the cave reaching five to six meters and an area of over 400 square meters. In the southwest corner of the cave, a stalactite pillar resembles a young and beautiful maiden, believed to be the fairy of the legend. Local Tibetans come here to worship and pray for peace. They also collect the water droplets from the stalactites for washing, believing it can dispel disasters and illnesses.
Upon closer inspection, one can see that the head of the fairy has merged with the cave’s ceiling, leaving the chest, shoulders, and navel clearly visible, lifelike. Her navel-like ancient eyes still emit drops of nectar. The locals have given her a beautiful name: “lha mo,” which translates to “fairy.”
Not far from the fairy, the rock wall is sunken about one meter from the ground, forming an “L-shaped” passage about two meters long, called the “Intermediate Yin Cave.” A stone at the entrance of the cave resembles a “ruyi” and also resembles a lingzhi supporting the rock top. It is said that passing through this passage from one end to the other can complete the transformation from the “previous life” to the “present life,” and can dispel illness, prolong life, and increase blessings, but those with deep sins can never pass through. Between the fairy stone and the “Intermediate Yin Cave,” a knee-shaped peculiar stone protrudes from the rock wall, smooth and moist. It is said to alleviate the ailments of stomach patients.
Coming out of the Fairy Cave, on the cliff at the cave’s entrance, there are stone holes where immortals tied deer, three claw marks left by a tiger leaping over the cave, footprints of the Padmasambhava, a triangular box for dispelling disasters, and stone holes for seeking sons and daughters, and so on. The entire cliff is filled with magical stories. Opposite the Fairy Cave is the Coiling Dragon Cave, not large in size, with a clear depiction of a white dragon floating on a stone slab inside the cave, displaying a gentle and peaceful demeanor.
After descending from the Coiling Dragon Cave and continuing forward, a dam creates small lakes by holding back the stream. The water in the lake is as blue as sapphire, with a gentle breeze blowing and no ripples on the surface. Many small fish live freely in the lake, swimming around, and the cliffs on both sides are reflected in the lake, lush and verdant. The warm sunlight sparkles on the lake’s surface, making it look like a precious mirror embedded in the valley.
The Langmusi Historical Relics Museum
The Langmusi Historical Relics Museum, originally known as the Living Buddha’s Courtyard, was built during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty (1740s). It was built by the 5th Geerdeng Living Buddha, Denbe Gyantsan Renpoche, after the construction of the first Buddha hall in Langmusi. With the support of thousands of believers and the protection of several generations of Geerdeng Living Buddhas, the complex underwent numerous renovations and expansions over the course of a century, finally reaching its present scale in the mid-20th century. Unfortunately, it suffered damage from multiple disasters and remained hidden for decades. With the support of the 11th Geerdeng Living Buddha, restoration work began in 2010, restoring the original appearance of the courtyard and renaming it the Langmusi Historical Relics Museum, open to pilgrims and visitors.
The complex consists of more than thirteen buildings in a courtyard style, including the majestic Great Buddha Hall, the exquisite Scripture Hall, the elegant Tara Hall, the solemn Mahakala Hall, the Longevity Prayer Hall, the God of Wealth Hall, and the imposing Lecture Hall. The Sunlight Hermitage, the Gaden Hermitage, the Guru’s Sleeping Palace, the Summer Palace, and the Sleeping Palace of the Serkhri Living Buddha are all adorned with clean and elegant columns. Additionally, the rare Guan Gong Hall is also located within the complex.
The main statue in the Great Buddha Hall is a life-size statue of the 12-year-old Shakyamuni Buddha, originating from the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, India. It was consecrated and blessed by the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. This statue is also known as “Jowo Rinpoche,” meaning “Great Precious Teacher.” The fundamental biography of the Buddha, the “Aspiration of the Bodhi Tree,” is depicted in thangka form, with 108 pieces, illustrating the journey of Shakyamuni Buddha from the moment he aspired to attain enlightenment to his attainment of Buddhahood after three great practice. The relics of the 5th Geerdeng Living Buddha are enshrined in the hall, representing a well-preserved physical body and spiritual essence, unchanged for over two hundred years. The stupas containing the relics of the 6th to 10th Geerdeng Living Buddhas and fifty-five reincarnated statues of the Geerdeng Living Buddha are also enshrined here.
Geography and climate
Langmusi Town is located in southeast of Luqu County, on the edge of Zoige Wetland on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, at the junction of Gansu and Sichuan, with an area of 571 square kilometers.
Langmusi Town is located in a high mountain valley with a gentle terrain. The terrain is divided into middle-high mountainous areas and mountain basins
area.
The highest altitude in this town is 3780 meters; the lowest altitude is at the main street of the town with 3302 meters above sea level
Average temperature in Langmusi Town is 1.2℃, average temperature in January is -9.1℃, and average temperature in July is 12.4℃. Annual average frost-free period is 54 days, the longest is 88 days, and the shortest is 19 days.
Annual average sunshine hours is 2396 hours, and the duration is 182 days above 0℃ (usually from April 12th to September 19th of the following year).
Average annual rainfall is 782 mm, and average annual rainfall days are 152 days. Rainfall is mostly in the months from May to September each year, with the most in July and August.
Population and ethnicity
As of 2018, the total population of Langmusi Town is 4,694, of which Tibetans account for 91% of total population. Other ethnic groups include Han, Hui, Miao, Salar, Dongxiang …etc,
Local culture
Tea is a necessity for the lives of Tibetans, but there was no tea-planting in Tibet; and Good horses were absolutely needed by the Ancient china warlord in hinterland during the ancient civil wars. Tibetan plateau provides a great number of good horses. So a trade of Tea and horse began. In 1047 AD, Song Dynasty (AD 960-AD 1279) officially set up a “Tea division” in Sichuan and a “Horse division” in South of Gansu in order to manage business of tea and horse trade. Hence, Langmusi became one important site on the ancient “Tea-Horse Trade route”
With the prosperity of commerce. In 4th year of Emperor Tongzhi of Qing Dynasty (1865 AD), Hui merchants from Gansu and Ningxia provinces came here to do business,and settled here. Then after, more people including Islamic Hui, Dongxiang people, Salar people came here, and villages were gradually built up. A mosque was built at Langmusi in 1943. Now there are two mosques belongs to two difference sect of Islam
How to get Langmusi
The closest airport to Langmusi is Hongyuan airport, approximately 240 kilometers and 4.5 hours’ drive south of Langmusi.
Aba Hong Yuan Airport
Add: 48 kilometers from Hong Yuan county
Contact: +86 837 7735566
Airport code: AHJ
Altitude: 3,535 meter
Chengdu Cha Dian Zi Bus Station
Add: No. 289, Section 5th, West Third ring road;
Jin-Niu district, Chengdu
Contact: +86 28 87506610
Altitude: 460 meter
Shuttles to Langmusi
From Hezuo to Langmusi, there are 3 buses a day,departing at 06:30, 07:20， 12:00 with rate RMB 50 per person
From Xiahe to Langmusi, there are 2 buses a day, departing at 06:40 am, 07:40 am with rate RMB 71.5 per person
From Lanzhou South Bus station, departing at 08:20 am with rate RMB 150 per person, Note, this bus would stop at a distance of 5 kilometers from Langmusi; It is recommended to get to Hezuo and then switch to another bus to Langmusi
From Zorge to Langmusi, there is one buse,departing at 14:30 pm with rate RMB 25 per person
From Jiuzhai valley, there is one bus, departing at 07:00 am with rate RMB 120 per person; Note, this bus is to go to Lanzhou that has one stop near Langmusi (approximately 5 kilometers)
Distance from Langmusi to
- Chengdu : 565 kilometers, about 9 hours’ drive
- Hongyuan Airport : 240 kilometers, about 4.5 hours’ drive
- Labrang monastery : 190 kilometers, about 3.5 hours’ drive
- Aba County: 255 kilometers, about 4.5 hours’ drive
- Huanglong: 268 kilometers, about 4.5 hours’ drive
- Lanzhou: 390 kilometers, about 5.5 hours’ drive
- Xining: 430 kilometers, about 7 hours’ drive
