Tongren Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)

Qinghai | On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Maitreya Buddha is revered

❤Recommended Reason: The activity of revering the Maitreya Buddha at Longwu Temple on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is an important part of the New Year's Dharma assembly. The Maitreya Buddha is considered the future Buddha among all Buddhas, representing the future. 👍Most Recommended: The ceremony of revering the Maitreya Buddha is extremely solemn. Monks carrying ritual implements line up in the courtyard of the Great Scripture Hall. Starting from the Great Scripture Hall, led by the grand procession, the monks carrying the future Buddha begin to circumambulate the temple accompanied by the ethereal and solemn Buddhist music. 🌟Highlight Features: The faithful followers throw Hada (ceremonial scarves) towards the Maitreya Buddha, praying for a happier and better life in the future.

The third largest temple in Amdo Tibetan area (Tongren)

In the Amdo Tibetan area, the most prestigious temple is the Kumbum Monastery, and the most popular one is the Labrang Monastery. However, the equally prestigious and long-standing Longwu Monastery is relatively unknown. There are many reasons for this, such as its remote geographical location, not being on the main tourist route, lack of good publicity, not having many 'first' titles, etc. However, everything has two sides. We hardly see any tourists taking pictures along the way. What we see most are local Tibetans and Han believers. There is no commercialization at all. It is this relative quietness that makes everything seem more real. Surprisingly, although the tourism atmosphere is not strong, the temple is well-equipped. There are clear route signs and introductions to various Buddha halls for Han tourists, which are easy to find. This is much more friendly than the Labrang Monastery. In addition to the signs, I have to mention the tickets again. There is also a ticket office, but there is no place to buy tickets online. This time we didn't buy tickets and went in directly. Anyway, no one checked the tickets inside, and I don't know whether this is considered ticket evasion or not. What's interesting is that the architecture of Longwu Monastery not only has the rich Tibetan decoration, but also many Han-style architectural styles. It turns out that during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, the royal family favored Longwu Monastery and once supported the monks and local people to build a large sutra hall. In the fifth year of Tianqi of the Ming Dynasty (1625), the carpenter emperor once inscribed the plaque of 'Western Region Scenic Spot' and hung it at the entrance of the newly built sutra hall. Therefore, the architecture here is also the result of the integration of Han and Tibetan cultures. Longwu Monastery, a treasure temple worth savoring.

Thangka Town, Regong Temple

After coming to Qinghai for work, I've known about Tongren in Huangnan Prefecture for a long time. This is the birthplace of Regong Art. This time, I finally made it during the New Year's holiday. Longwu Temple is the largest Gelugpa temple in Huangnan and even Qinghai and Southern regions, which originated from the first summer Rinpoche. Its affiliated temples include Nian Du Hu Temple, Guo Ma Ri Temple, Wu Tun Shang Temple and Wu Tun Xia Temple, etc., which are also famous temples in Huangnan. Here you can see a wealth of Thangka, clay sculpture, pile embroidery and other forms of Regong Art. It can be said to be a cultural and artistic treasure. Although it is the New Year's holiday, there are very few tourists, and you can only see many Tibetan Buddhist believers. Being in it, my own soul has been washed. Let's also talk about the strategy of going there. How to go Tongren City is the capital of Huangnan Prefecture, not far from Xining. Buy a bus ticket at Xining Bus Station for 50 yuan, and you can arrive in more than two hours. Longwu Temple is not far from the city center, and Wu Tun Shang and Wu Tun Xia Temples are only seven or eight kilometers away from the city center. You can take a taxi to go there. Where to stay Tongren is a relatively well-constructed county town with many hotels. I stayed at Longwu Hotel, which seems to be a relatively large hotel locally and is also recommended. What to eat Because there are many Tibetan compatriots locally, there are many Tibetan restaurants, and there are also many halal restaurants. If you are not used to it, there are also Sichuan cuisine which is not bad locally. In summary, Tongren is indeed an ancient city with a special cultural atmosphere. It is not a mainstream attraction. There is more of a kind of original beauty here, which is definitely a recommended place.

In the afternoon, we drove to Longwu Temple, which enjoys a high reputation, influence and reputation in the Amdo area. Although I added a lot of attributives and adjectives, I don't think it's exaggerated. We have already arrived at the time when Longwu Temple has stopped opening business. We have seen very few tourists, all of whom are turning around. The difference with the other temples I have seen before is that there are not only many elderly people, but I also saw students studying. In addition to the new expansion of the temple, there are still some places that still retain the imprint of history. Through these details, you can also see the signs of years of erosion. Such a large area is actually a square. But it is not the time of interpretation, it is empty. I can only imagine the lively and serious scenes of the Bible.

Qinghai | The oldest temple in the Tongren area

❤Recommended reason: Wutunxia Temple was founded in 1385 and has a history of more than 600 years. Wutunxia Temple is the oldest temple in the Tongren area. It was later expanded to be a sub-temple of Longwu Temple. In the temple, you can see a large number of exquisite Thangkas, piled embroidery, sculptures, and other artworks. 👍Most recommended: The temple's Great Sutra Hall, Maitreya Hall, and Tsongkhapa Hall's clay sculptures and murals are all highlights, especially the Maitreya Hall. In the center of the hall, there are paintings of the Four Heavenly Kings, with the 25 generations of Shambhala Dharma Kings and the Longevity Fairy on either side. These are masterpieces of Thangka with meticulous brushwork and harmonious colors.

Wushangxia Temple is a beautifully crafted Tibetan Buddhist temple. The most impressive one is the huge golden stupa and the beautiful decoration on the tower. Walk into the temple, the lamas in the temple will friendlyly lead the tourists to visit the temple's main hall, as well as exquisite Tibetan crafts.

Wushen Temple is located in Wusong Village, Tongren County, and is divided into Shangzhuang Temple and Xiazhuang Temple. Among them, the lower temple has a history of more than 600 years. The Tibetan language is called Shu Dan Pengcuo Qulin, which means goodness and fullness of the French continent, and it is called Long, Yuyue Temple and Huike Temple. Wusizizi Temple." Because there are not many tourists, it is more solemn and solemn. Occasionally, there are people who walk quietly, and look like a quiet life.

Thangka, a scroll painting made of colored satin, is mostly painted with minerals and plants. The paintings cover religion, political and economic, traditional culture, folklore, and astronomical calendar. The production process of Thangka is extremely complicated and elaborate. The time is longer than ten years, and the short time is half a year. Thangka is synonymous with fine painting. In the past, it was mostly a temple collection. Thangka is the art of painting and the record of history. This is the various types of Thangka that are afraid of the Guanggong Painting Institute in Huangnan Prefecture, Qinghai.

The traditional tributary art and art institution founded in 2006 in Huangsong Village, Huangnan Prefecture, Qinghai Province, is the third in China. It focuses on the art of Thangka and inherits and protects the intangible cultural heritage of the country. A national-level cultural and ecological experimental reserve has also become a world-renowned painting institute. Many people who love Chinese traditional art have studied in the past.

Qinghai | Guomari is known for its wood-carved Buddha statues and architectural decorations

❤Recommended Reason: Guomari Ancient Castle, also known as Maguori Ancient Castle, is a remnant of the Ming and Qing Dynasty's administrative military post in the Tongren area. Walking through it is like navigating a maze, and the scenic area has set up signposts so that visitors won't get lost. 👍Most Recommended: Guomari Temple, whose full Tibetan name is 'Guomari Gar Gaden Pengtso Lin', means 'Guomari Joyful and Perfect Land'. It is a national-level cultural heritage site, featuring the Great Scripture Hall, Maitreya Hall, and other buildings. 🌟Highlight Features: 'The Kalachakra Stupa', the largest stupa in the Amdo Tibetan region. Its vibrant colors, unique architectural style, beautiful shapes, immense costs, and strong ethnic characteristics make it second to none in China's Tibetan areas.

There are many temples in Qinghai, and one of them is a very beautiful and beautiful temple called Guo Ma Ri Temple. Many people may not have heard of this temple. We were fortunate to come to the temple and visit the tower. It is very suitable for taking pictures here. The pattern on the tower is very beautiful, and it looks colorful in the distance. Closer look is more of a smart palace. And we also met local masters, chatting together and talking, the cost is meaningful.

very nice and fresh air, the natural environment with piece full journey

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