Tagong also known as “Lhagang”, it means “a place that Bodhisattva likes”. According to legend, when Princess Wencheng entered Tibet, she passed by here, and the Buddha statue of Sakyamuni she carried with her suddenly spoke, indicating that Sakyamuni wished to stay here. Everyone immediately made one copy of the Buddha statue and left it here Since then, there has been a Tagong monastery called “Little Jokhang Temple”, and Tagong Grassland is also named
Tagong is located some 115 kilometers in the northwest of Kangding with an area of 712.72 square kilometers andan altitude of 3,730 meters. The Sichuan-Tibet Highway passes through this countyr. It has 18 administrative villages. By the end of 2005, the total population of the township was 7,264.
Tagong is one of the main scenic spots in the Gongga Mountain National Scenic Area. It is the prairie closest to the provincial capital Chengdu. It has a profound Tibetan Buddhist culture and a strong Tibetan customs.
Tagong Grassland covers an area of 712.37 square kilometers, with gentle terrain, the vastness of the grassland, abundant water plants, and flocks of cattle and sheep. Tagong Temple is located on Tagong Grassland. It is one of the famous temples of the Sakya Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It is known as the “Little Jokhang Temple”. The temple walls are full of Thangkas, Tibetan paintings, Tibetan reliefs, colored sculptures, murals and butter products as well as the ancient towers of the Buddha with different shapes, with very unique ethnic, religious and cultural characteristics. This is one of the Tibetan pilgrimage sites in the east Tibet of Kham.
It is the most beautiful and lively season of Tagong Grassland from late June to early August, and the traditional Tibetan horse racing is also held during this time. Wildflowers are in full bloom along the road of Tagong. The green grass is covered with blue tents with white background. There are yaks, horses, and sheep grazing leisurely. There are three mountains behind Tagong temple, and there are many triangular or quadrangular flags formed by Mani prayer flags on the mountains. Although various colors have lost their once gorgeousness in the wind and rain, however, it does not affect the piety of Tibetans. It is said that the prayer flags are read by the wind in the ears of the Buddha.
Yarla Snow Mountain is one of the well-known snow mountains in the Khamba area. It is located at the junction of Dawu County and Kangding with altitude of 5,820 meters. The top of the mountain is covered with snow all year round, and the clouds are lingering. It is one of the four sacred mountains in Tibet according to the most popular Tibetan epic “Epic of King Gesar ”
Looking at the Yarla Snow Mountain from Bamei Town, it shows the shape of a crown; Viewed from the Tagong Grassland, it shows the shape of a lotus throne surrounded by petals; Looking from Nongo Mountain in the west, it presents the Maitreya Buddha sitting upright, and the image is very lifelike. Yrala Snow Mountain is the sacred mountain where Huiyuan Temple and surrounding Tibetans worship.
Looking at the Yala Snow Mountain from Nongo Mountain in the west, it is the Maitreya Buddha sitting upright, and the image is very lifelike.
How to get Tagong
Tagong is on the northern Sichuan-Tibet line, and the transportation is very convenient, but the shuttle bus does not wait for passengers, unless it is chartered or dropped off. There are many small buses between Kangding and Tagong every day, which is very convenient, so it is best to take the departure shuttle bus from Kangding. The fare is about 20 yuan/person
Chartered car
Chartered car from Kangding, the cost is about 150 yuan for round trip
Self-driving
From Kangding, travel westward along National Highway 318 for about 70 kilometers to Xinduqiao Town, crossing the Zheduo Mountain at 4,200 meters above sea level in the middle, and then drive 33 kilometers northward to Tagong after passing Xindu Bridge.
Attention: if you use flight to reach Kangding airport for Tagong, then you can hire local vehicle to go straight to Tagong, as Tagong is near Kangding airport than Kangding city
Distance from Dawu to
- To Bamei : 30 kilometers, about 45 minutes’ drive
- To Kangding : 115 kilometers, about 3 hours’drive
- To Chengdu : 350 kilometers, about 6 hours’ drive
- To Danba: 120 kilometers, about 4 hours’ drive
- To Luhuo: 110 kilometers, about 2.5 hours’ drive
- To Garze(Kanze) : 210 kilometers, about 4 hours drive
- To Litang : 260 kilometers, about 4.5 hours drive
