It is the grandeur I have never seen before

On the second day of the Qinghai tour, we visited the Ta'er Monastery and Guide National Geopark. The monks in Ta'er Monastery are divided into two categories: those who study scriptures and those who engage in arts. The former recite scriptures, while the latter create butter sculptures, Thangka (embroidered paintings), and murals, which are known as the three unique arts of Ta'er Monastery. Approximately 1kg of milk can produce about 100g of butter. To prevent the butter from melting, the monks need to keep their hands constantly soaked in ice water to maintain a low temperature, resulting in many monks suffering from frostbite or even amputation. This is referred to as 'cruel art.' Photography is not allowed inside the monastery. Butter sculptures are not just flowers as the name suggests, but various lifelike figures of living Buddhas, monks, horses, and colorful blooming flowers, all intricately crafted. However, what I cannot understand is that the artworks must be burned after two years, and the monks then create new ones for worship. The monastery's ticket revenue is entirely managed by the monks, including ticket inspection, along with central government funding and donations from believers. The tour guide mentioned that they are quite wealthy🤑. In the corridors, you can see many believers coming to fulfill their vows. They perform long prostrations, also known as 'five-body prostrations,' bowing 100,000 times. Those in good physical condition can complete it in 2-3 months, while the elderly may take several years. Some monks also perform prostrations to increase their merit. The tour guide said that increasing merit is not only about prostrations; smiling at people, saying warm words, and being charitable can also increase one's merit. Guide National Geopark features unique Danxia landforms, primarily in red and gray colors. As soon as you get off the car, you are greeted by the magnificent natural landscape. The wave-like Danxia landforms stretch for several kilometers, displaying brilliant colors under the sunlight. For photography enthusiasts, this place is perfect for capturing stunning photos. The mountains are not high, about 600 meters, allowing for an easy and enjoyable climb to the top.