Sumtseling Monastery

Sumtseling Monastery is also called Sungtseling OR Song Zan Lin monastery. It is a Gelug pa tradition monastery seated approximately 5 kilometers outside the city of Shangri La (also known as Zhongdian or Gyeltang) in the southern edge of Kham, now it is administrated by Yunnan province.

Brief

Since its shape is very similar to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, therefore it is often refered as “Little Potala Palace“

Sumtseling Monastery was established by the 5^th Dalai Lama in 1679. It was built during the rule of Kangxi Emperor (1662 AD-1722 AD) of Qing dynasty.

According to the legend that Kangxi Emperor was also associated in searching the reincarnation of 7^th Dalai Lama. Its architecture is a synthesis of the Tibetan and Chinese.

The style

The monastery is kind like a stronghold that has solid, thick city walls and even five gates. The main hall is a Five-Story typical Tibetan Towers, it is able to accommodate more than 1,600 pilgrims to practice and chanting. The statue of 5^th and 7^th Dalai Lama are made and being placed in this main hall. It was severely damaged in the 10 years Cultural Revolution and being rebuilt in 1983; The monastery used to house more than 2,000 monks; and now there are still 700 monks study and live in this monastery

How to get to there

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Sumtseling Monastery is situated in the north of Shangri La City, approximately 4 kilometers from the center of the downtown area; it can be easily reached by public transportation, or taxi

By bus

Line 3, get off the bus at terminal “Song-Zan-Lin-Si-Stop”

By Taxi

It usually costs 10.00 RMB

Puja & Festivals

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Ge-dong Puja

• Date: 2021 February 10^th to 13^th | 2022 March 1^st to 4^th
• Programs: Worship deities, including Mask Dance, chanting, praying
• Festival style: Religious festival

Horse Racing Festival

• Date: 2021 June 25^th to 27^th | 2021 June 14^th to 16^th | 2022 June 3^rd to 5^th
• Programs: Horse Racing, horse trading, dancing, singing
• Festival style: cultural folk festival