[2025 Haidong Attraction] Travel Guide for Qutan Temple (Updated Apr)

Located in Xinlian Village, Qutan Town, 20 km south of Ledu County, Qinghai Province, Qutan Temple sits at coordinates 102°17′E and 36°21′N, with mountains at its back and water in front, facing southeast from its northwest orientation. Built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty over 600 years ago, it is a Tibetan Buddhist temple constructed in the Han Chinese style under special imperial decree. It represents the best-preserved Ming Dynasty architectural complex in Qinghai Province, holding immense historical and artistic value. In 1393 (the 26th year of Hongwu), founding monk Sanluo Lama built a small shrine at the current site. He later presented horses to the Ming court as a gesture of allegiance and requested imperial protection. Emperor Hongwu named it "Qutan Temple" (after Gautama Siddhartha, historically translated as "Qutan") and bestowed a golden plaque, establishing the temple's first building - the Qutan Hall. In early Yongle period, the Ming court dispatched eunuch Meng Ji and commander Tian Xuan to assist with the temple's expansion. They successively built the Baoguang Hall, Vajra Hall, Front Mountain Gate, Dharma Protector Hall, Three Worlds Hall, and front courtyard corridors. In 1408 (6th year of Yongle), an imperial decree stele was erected to protect the temple, effectively making it a symbol of imperial authority. In the 10th year of Yongle, Sanluo Lama's two nephews, Bandanzangbu and Suonanjianzang, returned from their studies in Tibet. The Ming court bestowed upon them prestigious religious titles. In the 15th year, the court cast a golden Buddha statue in honor of Bandanzangbu. The following March, they erected the "Imperial Qutan Temple Golden Buddha Stele," followed by another "Imperial Decree Stele" that same year. During the late Ming Chongzhen period, Li Zicheng's general He Jin led troops to Qinghai. The Zhuocang Tibetans, who were affiliated with Qutan Temple, rose in resistance but were severely defeated, leading to a dramatic decrease in both population and temple attendance. After the Qing Dynasty's establishment, although the temple's senior monks petitioned Emperor Shunzhi for support, their memorial was delayed by the Jincheng governor. By then, the Qing court had shifted its focus to Tar Temple and Youning Temple in Qinghai, leaving Qutan Temple without imperial patronage. The temple's development was further affected after the Lobzang Danjin uprising during the Yongzheng period. Nevertheless, Qutan Temple has endured to this day due to its historical and cultural significance, serving as crucial physical evidence for studying Tibetan Buddhist culture and architectural arts of the Ming and Qing periods.

Haidong is located in Qinghai Province. It is not only home to magnificent mountains and rivers, but also has a rich history and culture. Pack your bags and set off on a journey to this mysterious land. I. Itinerary Day 1: Explore the Tu Ethnic Culture in Huzhu Morning: Arrive in Huzhu County, Haidong, and head to the 5A-level Huzhu Tu Ethnic Park. Watch Tu ethnic song and dance performances, enjoy a traditional Tu wedding, and experience folk activities such as Anzhao Dance and Wheel Swing. Noon: Enjoy local specialties at a farmhouse near the Tu Ethnic Park, such as the Tu Eight Bowls, which include a variety of dishes such as Suhe Balls, Braised Pork, Vermicelli, and Kongguo Bread. Afternoon: Head to Beishan National Forest Park, stroll along the mountain boardwalk, enjoy the beautiful scenery of forests, canyons, and streams, and feel the charm of nature. Evening: Stay at a homestay in Beishan Scenic Area and enjoy a quiet night in the tranquil mountains and forests. Day 2: Cultural Tour of Ledu Morning: Head to Ledu District and visit Qutan Temple, known as the "Little Palace Museum on the Plateau". Admire the Ming Dynasty architecture and exquisite murals and feel the weight of history. Noon: Have lunch in Ledu City and try Qinghai's specialty noodles, such as Ga Mianpian and Paozhang Noodles. Afternoon: Head to Liuwan Painted Pottery Museum, which houses a large collection of painted pottery from the Neolithic period, and learn about the ancient painted pottery culture. Evening: Return to the city and enjoy local snacks such as Niangpi and Sweet Fermented Grains at the night market and experience the local nightlife. Day 3: Experience the Sala Ethnic Culture in Xunhua Morning: Head to Xunhua Salar Autonomous County and visit the Salar Ethnic Culture Village to learn about the history and culture of the Salar people. Noon: Enjoy Salar cuisine in Xunhua City, such as Hand-grabbed Lamb, Sanzi, and Youxiang. Afternoon: Visit Mengda Tianchi and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the alpine lake surrounded by forests, like a fairyland. Evening: Arrange your itinerary according to your return time and end your pleasant trip to Haidong. II. Transportation Guide External transportation: You can first arrive in Xining. Xining Caojiabao International Airport is close to Haidong City, and there are airport buses to and from the city. You can also take a train to various stations in Haidong City. Internal transportation: The attractions in Haidong City are scattered, so it is recommended to rent a car or charter a car for convenient and flexible travel arrangements. You can also choose local public transportation, but there are fewer buses, so plan ahead. III. Food Recommendations - Hand-grabbed Lamb: A Qinghai specialty, the meat is tender, not gamey or greasy. Sprinkle with pepper and salt and eat directly to experience the boldness of eating meat in large bites. - Niangpi: Smooth and refreshing, served with chili oil, vinegar, garlic sauce, and other seasonings, it is a must-try snack with a sour and spicy taste. - Sweet Fermented Grains: Made from fermented barley or wheat, it has a slightly sweet taste, is cool and refreshing, and has a cooling effect. IV. Notes - Altitude Sickness: Some areas in Haidong are at high altitudes, and you may experience altitude sickness when you first arrive. Prepare altitude sickness medication in advance, avoid strenuous exercise, and get plenty of rest. - Changeable Weather: The temperature difference between day and night is large, so even in summer, you need to bring warm clothing, such as a windbreaker or thick coat. - Religious Culture: Respect local religious beliefs and customs. Follow the rules when entering temples and do not take photos at will.

Qutan Temple (qú tán sì), located 21 kilometers south of Ledu District, Haidong City, Qinghai Province, at the entrance of Maquangou, faces the Qutan River, backs against the Luohan Mountain, north to Songhua Top, and south to Zhaobei Mountain. In Tibetan, it is called 'Zhuocang Lakang Guodandai', also known as 'Zhuocang Duojieqiang', meaning 'Zhuocang Vajradhara Temple', which was founded in the 25th year of the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1392), and is a Gelug sect monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. The temple is famous for its precious cultural relics and huge colorful murals. Qutan Temple is a typical early Ming Dynasty official architectural complex. Historically, Qutan Temple had jurisdiction over thirteen temples. Qutan Temple is the second batch of national key cultural relics protection units, and it is the most completely preserved and largest Ming Dynasty temple architecture in the northwest region of China.

Qutan Temple in Ledu, Qinghai, is a famous Tibetan Buddhist monastery and also the most completely preserved Ming Dynasty architectural complex in the northwest region. 'Qutan' is a Sanskrit word meaning 'Buddha'. ⛰【Travel Tips】 📍Detailed Address: At the entrance of Maquangou, 21 kilometers south of Ledu County 🚗Transportation Tips: Take the long-distance bus from Xining Bus Station (opposite the train station) to Ledu, about 80 kilometers away, with a journey time of around 60 minutes. 🕙Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday, all day, 09:00-17:00, no entry after 17:00 💰Ticket Price: 50 RMB per person 🌟Highlights: 1. The architectural style is quite different from most Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Qinghai; it resembles more the Han Buddhist monasteries in the inland, earning it the nickname 'Little Forbidden City of Qinghai'. 2. It is divided into three courtyards: front, middle, and back, arranged along a central axis, successively featuring the Mountain Gate, Vajra Hall, Qutan Temple Hall, Baoguang Hall, Longguo Hall, and other major halls. Symmetrically on both sides of the halls, there are Stele Pavilions, small Bell and Drum Towers, cloisters, pagodas, subsidiary halls, scripture halls, and large Bell and Drum Towers. 3. The interior murals are over 600 years old, exquisitely brilliant, and worth appreciating 📌Little Tips: 1. Respect the temple etiquette, no loud noises or littering. 2. It is recommended to drive by oneself as the location is somewhat remote.

Haedong Qutan Temple Qutan Temple, 71 kilometers away from Xining, is located on the Qutan River. It is the most complete Tibetan Gelug sect temple in the Ming Dynasty in the northwest. The main hall is built after the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City. The monument "Long Live the Emperor" erected in the hall remains to this day. It seems to be enough to highlight its status. The most attractive thing is the murals in the temple. Many of the murals are very similar to the Renaissance composition style of the same period. Perhaps they were influenced by the fact that the northwest is at the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures. Judging from the overall architectural pattern, it has the regulations of a typical Chinese temple, which also proves its important historical significance in Sino-Tibetan culture, religious culture, and Eastern and Western exchange cultures. If you have already visited all the traditional tourist attractions in Qinghai and Tibet in the northwest, then this niche Qutan Temple should be your new choice.

Haidong was not originally on our trip plan, but after accidentally searching for Qutan Temple, I was more and more surprised. There is such a well-preserved Ming Dynasty building complex in the northwest region. It is not far from our return route, so we must come. The management of the scenic area follows the confusion of Labrang Monastery. When we arrived at the gate, we found that the gate was closed. There was a ticket office next to it, which said that the ticket price was 50, but there was no one inside. We asked the aunt selling incense at the gate, and she told us that there was a door on the side to enter, so we went in in a daze. In the entire temple, only one staff member dressed as a monk was found at the entrance of Longguo Hall. This man was sitting against the wall outside the hall, playing with his mobile phone the whole time. The altars in every hall and the gaps between some wooden furniture are stuffed with RMB. Judging from the current customer flow, they must have been piled up for a long time with no one collecting them. There are many treasures in the temple, and their placement is very random. The elephant-back cloud drum, the "Long Live the Emperor" plaque, the bells and drums of the Ming Dynasty, the murals in the main hall and the corridors are basically in an unguarded state, and some of them don't even bother to put up a retractable isolation belt. . . : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The current Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City was rebuilt during the reign of Emperor Kangxi after being damaged many times. It was built more than 200 years later than the Hall of Longguo, and its style has also changed significantly from the Fengtian Hall of the Ming Dynasty. Compared with the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the shape of the Longguo Hall may be more similar to the former Fengtian Hall; the first five emperors of the Ming Dynasty all had extraordinary relationships with this temple. It is said that the second emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Jianwen, once retired here. The subsequent emperors Yongle, Hongxi, and Xuande all erected imperial steles. This is a royal temple that is loved by everyone. Okay, that’s all I have to say. In short, this is a treasure temple worth a special trip. I hope that after this major renovation, it will be presented to the world in a more perfect state.

Qinghai Haidong·Qutan Temple This is not Shanxi, this is Qinghai. The original Ming Dynasty building, an official Han-style palace of Tibetan Buddhist faith, was built in 1392. It is probably the only one of its kind among Tibetan Buddhist temples. There are three halls including Gautama Hall, Baoguang Hall and Longguo Hall. The three characters "Longguo Hall" were inscribed in 1472 and are the original.

Gutham Temple, located in Gutham Township, south of Ledu County, Haidong Region, Qinghai Province, is a Tibetan Buddhist temple with an official palace architectural style, known as the "Little Forbidden City". According to historical books and inscriptions, this temple was built under the background of the Ming Dynasty supporting Tibetan Buddhism to rule Tibet. During the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1399), Zhu Yuanzhang strengthened the affiliation between the Ming Dynasty and the upper leaders of Qinghai by granting the title "Gutham", with the words "Established in the 26th year of Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty" on the right. The Hongxi and Xuande periods of the Ming Dynasty expanded it successively. The temple covers an area of 27,000 square meters, with the main halls such as the Vajra Hall, Gutham Hall, Baoguang Hall, and Longguo Hall arranged in order from the mountain gate. The stele pavilion, mural gallery, bell and drum tower and other buildings on both sides form a large-scale architectural complex. Entering the mountain gate, the first thing that comes into view is the Vajra Hall, which is the front yard of the temple. Going up the stone steps, you come to the middle courtyard, where you can see the Gutham Hall and Baoguang Hall. Gutham Hall is one of the main halls of the temple, where the statues of Sakyamuni Buddha and the Eighteen Arhats are enshrined. It is an important place for believers to come and worship. The Baoguang Hall enshrines the statues of Amitayus Buddha and Medicine Buddha, and is the center of the Medicine Buddha faith in the temple. Through the middle courtyard, the back is the backyard, where buildings such as the Longguo Hall are distributed. The Longguo Hall is the largest building in the temple, about 30 meters high and covering an area of 912 square meters. It is a place for holding Dharma meetings and gatherings. The carvings of the Sumeru seat and the scenery seat in the Longguo Hall are very exquisite, among which the more than two meters high elephant drum stone seat (commonly known as the elephant back drum) is the most prominent. In addition, the murals in the Longguo Hall are also one of the precious artworks in the temple. On the east and west sides of the temple are the large and small bell towers and drum towers. The large and small bell towers and drum towers are connected by a semi-open mural gallery, forming a mural gallery that is several kilometers long. The gallery has more than 50 rooms, 28 of which are full of large color murals, with a total area of more than 360 square meters. These murals are rich in content, with various themes such as Buddhist legends, Buddha statues, and pagodas. They are exquisite in painting skills, bright in color, vivid and lifelike, and very precious. In addition to the murals, there are many precious cultural relics in the temple. The most famous is the bronze bell cast during the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty. This bronze bell is 2.5 meters high, 1.5 meters in diameter, and weighs more than 10,000 catties. It is known as the "Ten Thousand Catties Bronze Bell". The casting process of the bronze bell is very exquisite, with auspicious patterns and sutras carved on the bell body, and the sound is loud and melodious. In addition, there are many other Buddhist artworks and cultural relics in the temple, such as Ming Dynasty wooden Buddha statues, Qing Dynasty porcelain, etc. These cultural relics and artworks show the historical and cultural heritage of Gutham Temple and are important materials for studying Chinese Buddhist culture and art. In summary, Gutham Temple is an ancient temple with a profound historical and cultural heritage, famous for its large-scale architectural complex, precious artworks and cultural relics, and beautiful natural scenery. It is one of the important representatives of Chinese Buddhist culture and art, and a tourist attraction worth visiting.

Qinghai, the temple, the sun sets, enjoy the peace and quiet. This is a quaint temple with a history of more than 600 years. It is the only official group building in the early Ming Dynasty in Qinghai. It is called the Little Palace It is the first to see it. The elegance of the brick and wood structure and the quietness of the long years are very warm, especially in the heart. It is peace. Sunset, I am roaming in ancient civilization...

The temple is located at Maougoukou, 21 km south of Ledu County, Haidong City, Qinghai Province. It was built in the 25th year of Ming Hongwu (1392) and is a Tibetan Buddhist Gelugpa monastery. This is the most complete and large-scale Ming Dynasty temple building in northwestern China. The reason why this temple was preserved for more than 600 years is that it has a lot to do with the Sanluo Lama Sandan Luos pursuit of helping the Ming government to settle Qinghai. In 1392, Zhu Yuanzhang sent troops to the northern part of Qinghai to trace the remnants of the Yuan soldiers. The local Tibetans also followed the chaos and formed a chaotic situation. The Three Luo Lama wrote and convinced by virtue, so that the Tibetan tribes returned to the Ming Dynasty. . This incident not only caused the Qinghai region to end the chaos caused by the change of the dynasty, but also made Zhu Yuanzhang realize the religious power represented by the Three Lama and his role and status in Qinghai. In 1393, the Three Luo Lama went to Nanjing to pay tribute and asked for the protection and name given to his temple. In fact, it was a small Buddhist temple at that time, because the monk of the temple, Sanluo, held the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang. The emperor gave a gold plaque entitled "" and ordered the granting of a temple. The four emperors of the early Ming Dynasty (Ming Taizu, Ming Chengzu, Ming Renzong, Ming Xuanzong) successively made seven passes, and sent eunuchs to craftsmen to build the temple in 36 years.