Tashilhunpo Monastery

The transportation is convenient. I happened to see a major event at the temple when I visited here. I was cleared out and asked to leave the temple at around 4 pm. This is a temple that every Panchen Lama must visit when he returns to Tibet. He sets up an altar here to preach and debate. There are the Great Maitreya Hall and the Stupa Hall of the Panchen Lamas in the temple. It also houses the Maitreya statue cast by the 9th Panchen Lama Chokyi Nyima in 1914. It is the most representative temple in western Tibet.

The red-painted halls are where the Panchen Lama's relics are enshrined. It seems to be the Jampa Buddha Hall. Jampa Buddha is Maitreya Buddha, representing the future Buddha, in charge of the future. He will manifest himself as a Buddha in our world 5.6 billion years later.

Led by an old Tibetan man, Yanping and I entered a school that could accommodate many monks debating at the same time. When I saw so many pairs of Buddhist eyes staring at me, I felt a chill down my spine. I couldn't understand what was going on, but it was very solemn and impressive.

We arrived at the famous Kshilhunpo Monastery early in the morning. The ticket price was 100 yuan. There were quite a lot of people there, and it was clearly stated that drones were not allowed.

Kshilhunpo Monastery, one of the four major monasteries in Tibet, is worthy of its reputation. It is very grand. The back part has not been opened to the public yet. There are many Buddhist temples lined up one after another. Tourists line up to visit the temples and worship as per local customs.

The wandering monk sitting alone in front of the Grand Palace attracted special attention, as he was quietly reading the scriptures.

The ticket office does not support mobile payment and must pay in cash.

If you are interested in Tashilhunpo Monastery, it is recommended to ask a tour guide for about 200 yuan. Or if you are not very interested like me, you can just stand by and listen. Taking photos is not allowed in many places in the temple. Generally, about 3 hours of visit is enough.

When the bus drove into Shigatse, the first thing that came into view was Tashilhunpo Monastery. Tashilhunpo Monastery is the largest temple in Shigatse, Tibet, and is located on the eastern slope of Nima Mountain in the west of Shigatse. Tashilhunpo Monastery is the residence of successive Panchen Lamas since the fourth generation. It is collectively known as the "Four Great Monasteries" of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, along with the "Three Great Monasteries" of Lhasa, namely Ganden Monastery, Sera Monastery, and Drepung Monastery.

When you come to Shigatse, you must go to Tashilhunpo Monastery, otherwise your trip will be meaningless. During the free admission period, tourists entering the monastery still need to show their ID cards and fill in their identity information, such as name and ID number.

Enter the temple, follow the signs, and visit from left to right in a clockwise direction. Following the footsteps of tourists, we arrived at the gate of the first temple. It didn't seem big inside, and we thought we had gone to the wrong place. After looking at the signs again, we found that the direction was correct. When we walked in, we found that it looked like a quadrangle, surrounded by temples. Zhu Mei reminded us that there was an inconspicuous passage ahead, and we would not notice it if we didn't look carefully. So we walked in along the passage, and we were surprised when we entered. After passing through the passage, there were many temples standing in front of us, and believers who were worshipping could be seen everywhere, but it was very quiet. They were devout to Buddha. No matter where they were, they would come from thousands of miles to the temples, sacred mountains, and holy lakes to fulfill their wishes in this life.

The further you go in, the more pilgrims you see. Most of them come from pastoral areas or grasslands. They are dressed simply and look tired. Some are families, some are alone. They are either turning prayer wheels in their hands or reciting scriptures. They ignore passers-by and live entirely absorbed in the world of their own beliefs. Their focused eyes appear particularly serious and solemn. This ethereal and quiet atmosphere exists in all major temples in Tibet.

Passing by a temple, the entrance was very low and most people had to bend down to enter. Occasionally, a few lamas in red robes were seen coming in and out. This was the living quarters for the monks.

The plateau sunshine shines through the blue sky and white clouds, illuminating the red eaves, white walls, and deep alleys of the temples. The temples appear particularly sacred, and compared with the towering and majestic Potala Palace, they are more intimate and warm.

The buildings in the temple are basically divided into red and white. In the hearts of the Tibetan people, white symbolizes purity and faith. In Tashilhunpo Monastery, the buildings with white exterior walls are the monks' houses where the monks live and use. The exterior walls of important Buddhist temples and halls such as the Tsokchen Hall, the Qamba Hall, and the Lingta Hall are all painted red, which is the color respected by monks and believers, and is also the sacred color of Tibetan Buddhist monks' robes. The exterior walls of the halls are painted red to show majesty.

The ticket to Tashilhunpo Monastery is not cheap, costing 100 yuan. As one of the four major temples of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism, it has reason to be proud.

The 9th and 10th Panchen Lama are enshrined here. The most worth seeing is the largest Buddha statue in the room - Jampa Buddha. It is very large inside. I didn't hire a tour guide, so I walked around by myself. The building is very beautiful. The palace wall stretches on the hillside, which feels more beautiful than Drepung Monastery. The main hall is very majestic and magnificent. The colors here are very rich, giving people a bright and pleasant feeling.

The center of the main hall was even busier. People were sitting on the steps doing nothing. Were they just basking in the sun? There was also a charity sale in the temple. I didn't know the truth. The clothes looked like second-hand goods. They were very cheap. Tibetans rushed to buy them. There were also high-end goods. For example, a silver bowl was priced at 3,000 yuan, while another one that looked exactly the same was only 10 yuan because it was a replica.

I also bought a colorful apron for only 15 yuan. It looked second-hand and had a faint smell of ghee, but I didn't mind it.

The commercialization of Tashilhunpo Monastery is more serious than other monasteries. You can take photos in many halls, but there is a fee, ranging from 30 yuan to several hundred yuan.

There are countless narrow and winding alleys, which look similar, but each has its own style because of the different people who appear at different times. The design of each courtyard is also different. If you want to experience it carefully, it may take a day.

Because it was off-season, there were really few people. We didn't even find a tour guide, so we could only grope around the temple by ourselves. We didn't know where to go, where not to go, where to take photos, and where not to. We walked with fear all the way, so if there is a chance, we should find a tour guide. When we went there, we happened to catch up with their lamas going to school. It was magical, as if I saw myself rushing to class in college.



Later, I found a pagoda and thought about following the Tibetans around to finally feel the power of faith. I carried a camera on my back, walking among the Tibetans who were holding Buddhist beads in their left hand and prayer wheels in their right hand, wearing Tibetan clothes and chanting. I tried to fit in, but I felt out of place. This was the first time I felt loneliness deeply, even though there were people around me. Because they were so in tune with their beliefs, and I was like a person from another world, wearing strange clothes, mistakenly entering another world, cautious and trembling... But I knew that I didn't belong here after all. I can come to find stories, but I can't become a story here...



I stood beside a ginger cat, stroking my camera, but I didn't know what I was thinking. A Tibetan came to ask, "Do you want to take a photo?" I asked, "Is it OK?" He said, "Yes." But I didn't record the lazy ginger cat sleeping on the pagoda. There was no reason, no desire to take a photo. Maybe it was because the sudden feeling of being in another world was interrupted by this kind question and disappeared. I was suddenly awakened and was still in a daze, not knowing where I was... When I woke up, I had already walked out of the pagoda. Looking back, I felt absurd at my feelings just now, but I didn't deny that this might be the best answer that the metaphysical word "faith" could give me...

The air here is thin, but people's hearts are rich.

What I was most amazed at this stop was the so-called "largest indoor Buddha statue" --- the Qamba Buddha in Tashilhunpo Monastery, which is several stories high and very delicately carved. I don't have any photos because you are not allowed to take photos inside Tibetan temples, which is disrespectful to the Buddha statues. By the way, the largest outdoor Buddha statue is the Leshan Giant Buddha in Sichuan. When you leave Tashilhunpo Monastery, you might as well buy a cup of yogurt at the door, which is made by the monks of the monastery themselves and is truly additive-free.

Tourists are allowed to enter and visit, but are not allowed to take photos or videos. After entering, they see an old and highly respected monk chanting scriptures and dozens of young monks listening to the scriptures, just like we have classes in ordinary schools. Haha, some of them are whispering to each other and dozing off. Several patrolling old monks will knock on them from time to time.

We met the most professional tour guide ever, a super cute uncle. I think he is better than all the tours we have heard before. The uncle used a Nokia mobile phone, and when the ringtone rang, it was full of memories. During the tour, he told us everything he knew, and he could answer any questions we asked. I think if it weren't for the limited time, he could have told us about Tibetan Buddhist culture for three days and three nights.

At the ticket office, we hired a scenic tour guide to take us up the stairs and explain things along the way.

After entering the gate and standing on the square, I saw that the temple was built on the mountain and surrounded by walls, like a small city. Looking around, there are four towering buildings, from left to right: the Jampa Buddha Hall, the 10th Panchen Lama's Mausoleum Hall, the 4th Panchen Lama's Mausoleum Hall, and the 5th to 9th Panchen Lama's Mausoleum Hall.

I have always liked Tibetan temples, walking through the ordinary alleys and corridors of the temples, the quiet corners of the courtyards, strolling on the clean stone slabs, and looking up at the blue sky under the mottled shade of the trees...

There are also some courtyards where people live, schools where monks study, and workshops for thangka and Tibetan incense in the temple.

Because we went to Mount Everest with a tour group, this was included in the attraction we visited on our way back. We arrived at 3pm and asked the guard at the door to find a tour guide for us, but unfortunately there wasn't one. We could only wander around inside. We didn't know much about Buddhism, but the buildings inside are very distinctive and there weren't many people in the off-season, so we finished the tour quickly.

The status of Tashilhunpo Monastery in Ngari is no less than that of the Potala Palace. This temple is worth your homework and you should ask a good tour guide to take you around. It is also the history of the entire Ngari. Tashilhunpo Monastery not only has many buildings, but also the back mountain is a highlight. Each hall is solemn and majestic, and the roof is shining with gold. The places where the sun does not reach give people a sense of solemnity and coldness. The statue of Qamba Buddha in the Qamba Buddha Hall of Tashilhunpo Monastery is a masterpiece of Tibetan craftsmen. You cannot take pictures inside. Before entering the Qamba Buddha Hall, you need to ring the bell above your head. A clang~~~ crisp and melodious. Remind everyone who comes that the Buddha will never come. There are too many mutton-fat jade and turquoise inlaid on the floor in front of the Qamba Buddha Hall. This kind of jade really shocked me. Small objects such as door locks remind us of the long history and supreme status of this temple from time to time. Visiting temples is really just a part of daily life for Tibetans. There are also people who stay here to kowtow. She doesn't know how long she has been here. The floor in front of me has been polished to a smooth finish. I don't know how long I will stay here. The piety from the heart makes people respectful. Relying on ancient beliefs, people try to calm their anxiety. When I came here in the winter of 2012, there was a grand event and the square was packed with people. When I came here again this time, there was no one. Both situations are the daily routine of this temple.

Zha Temple covers an area of 150,000 square meters. There are palaces built around it. The palace walls are winding along the mountain and have a circumference of more than 3,000 meters. There are 57 scripture halls and 3,600 houses in the temple. The whole temple is built on the hillside, with high mountains behind it and facing the sun in the north. The halls are connected in sequence, with balanced density and harmonious symmetry. The tall main building complex with golden roofs and red walls is more majestic, profound and spectacular. Looking from a distance, the towers are eye-catching, the halls are stacked, magnificent, macroscopic and magnificent. Entering the temple to watch, purple smoke rises from the incense burners, lights flicker on the tribute platform, and the Buddhas have different appearances and are very lifelike. In the main hall, monks chant scriptures in an orderly manner; in front of the Buddha statues, believers worship. For more than 500 years, it has strongly attracted Buddhist believers at home and abroad, and tourists come here to worship and watch the toad.

Shigatse is an ancient Tibetan city with a history of more than 600 years, full of religious atmosphere. Tashilhunpo Monastery is located at the foot of the mountain in Shigatse. It is one of the important temples of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, also known as the Yellow Sect. Together with Ganden Monastery, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, it is known as the "Four Great Temples" of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It is an important religious and cultural center in the history of Tibet. In the inheritance of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet, the Gelug Sect finally became the most powerful branch and established a theocratic rule. Tashilhunpo Monastery is the residence of the Panchen Lama and the ruling center of the rear Tibet. It has a supreme status in the hearts of Tibetan compatriots.

Tashilhunpo Monastery, whose full name is "Tashlhunpo Baiji Deqin Qutang Jie Le Nanba Jie Wa Lin", means "Auspicious Sumeru gathers blessings from all directions". "Auspicious Sumeru Monastery" is the largest temple in Shigatse area, located on the eastern slope of Nima Mountain west of Shigatse city.

Tashilhunpo Monastery is the residence of the Panchen Lama after the fourth generation. Together with Ganden Monastery, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, it is known as the "Four Great Monasteries" of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The four great monasteries in Tibet, as well as the Ta'er Monastery in Qinghai and the Labrang Monastery in Gansu are also known as the six major Yellow Sect monasteries of the Gelug Sect. On March 4, 1961, Tashilhunpo Monastery was listed as a key national cultural relic protection unit by the State Council.

I am so lucky today. The Panchen Lama happened to come to Tashilhunpo Monastery today, and it is said that there is a ceremony of touching the head and praying for blessings.

Let's go! Follow "Jiao Youyou" to watch the 11th Panchen Lama. This is also the video with the highest click rate after "Jiao Youyou" learned to record videos, because there is a vision of the Panchen Lama.

Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse is one of the six major monasteries of the Gelugpa sect. It is the residence of the successive Panchen Lamas after the fourth Panchen Lama. It enshrines the real body statue of the fourth Panchen Lama and the life-size and real body statues of the tenth Panchen Lama. Therefore, its status in the rear Tibet is like the Potala Palace in the front Tibet, and it is the spiritual highland of the Tibetans in Shigatse.

Tashilhunpo Monastery is somewhat similar to Kumbum Monastery in Qinghai and Labrang Monastery in Gannan. All of them are built with monks' quarters surrounding the Buddhist hall, forming many scattered alleys consisting of white walls and red halls. From time to time, one or two monks walk out, revealing a bit of life in the solemn atmosphere.

Continue along National Highway 318 and you will arrive at the Sunshine City, Shigatse, which has a history of more than 500 years. Tibet is divided into the Front Tibet and the Back Tibet according to its geographical location. The Front Tibet is centered on Lhasa, and its representative temple is the well-known Potala Palace. The Back Tibet starts from Shigatse, and its representative temple is the Tashilhunpo Monastery, which is also the residence of successive Panchen Lamas.

【Tashilhunpo Monastery】



Tashilhunpo Monastery means "Auspicious Xumi Temple". It is located at the foot of Niseri Mountain in Shigatse and is the largest temple in the area. It was built by Tsongkhapa's disciple Gendun Zhu in the 12th year of the Zhengtong period of the Ming Dynasty (1447). Later, the fourth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen, expanded it. The Cochin Hall in the temple can accommodate 2,000 people to chant sutras.



Together with the three major monasteries in Lhasa, namely Ganden Monastery, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery, it is known as the "Four Great Monasteries" of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The four great monasteries, along with the Ta'er Monastery in Qinghai and the Labrang Monastery in Gansu, are listed as the "Six Great Monasteries" of the Gelug Sect. Tashilhunpo Monastery is also one of the six famous Yellow Sect monasteries in China.

Tashilhunpo Monastery, Ganden Monastery, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery in Lhasa are collectively known as the "Four Great Monasteries" of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Its specifications can even be compared with the Potala Palace. When I stood on the large square at the entrance of the temple to see the whole picture of the temple, I really realized its grandeur. One by one, the white-walled and golden-roofed houses extend upward along the slope at the foot of the mountain, giving people a strong visual impact. Like the Potala Palace, the walls of these houses are painted every year, and materials such as milk and honey are also used.

The tour guide said that the monks here like to grow flowers, so you can often see colorful flowers on their windowsills, which makes people feel the soft side of these monks' hearts and makes the temple more vibrant and energetic.

One of the main reasons why Tashilhunpo Monastery is famous is that it has the stupas of successive Panchen Lamas. Unfortunately, the stupas of the fifth to ninth Panchen Lamas were destroyed during the reign of the tenth Panchen Lama. The tour guide mainly told us about the life experiences of the ninth and tenth Panchen Lamas. Among them, the ups and downs of the tenth Panchen Lama's life left a deep impression on me. When one's own destiny cannot be controlled by oneself, the whole person is forced to be pushed forward by the torrent of history. That kind of desperate and helpless mood is not something that everyone can understand.

I came to Tashilhunpo Monastery again after six years

It seems like nothing has changed

Can time go back?

People circumambulating the Tashilhunpo Monastery



There are three white pagodas here, representing the three main stages in the life of Buddha Shakyamuni.

In Tibetan Buddhism, white pagodas are generally divided into two types: one is for storing scriptures, and the other is for storing relics of Bodhisattvas or eminent monks. The three white pagodas in Tashilhunpo Monastery contain scriptures. Walking around the white pagoda clockwise is equivalent to reciting the scriptures stored in it. The more times you walk around, the more pious you are to the Buddha. There is an endless stream of people walking around.



Tashilhunpo-Auspicious Xumi Temple



The rhombus is a symmetrical shape that Tibetans love. It appeared in Tibetan culture much earlier than the Yongzhong symbol. According to archaeological data, many stone tools with rhombus-like outlines appeared in the Neolithic Age. There are many rhombus-shaped patterns on the pottery unearthed from the Karuo site, which were actively carved or imprinted on the pottery. This strongly shows that the rhombus, a symmetrical shape, already existed in ancient Tibetan culture. The pottery patterns at the Qugong site are very rich, and in addition to rhombuses, there are many combined patterns.



If you move a rhombus along its sides, you get many rhombuses, forming a beautiful pattern. For example, the pattern painted on the wall of Tashilhunpo Monastery. It also appears in major exhibitions and various ceremonies.

Walking into the gate, you will see a small hill. The temples are built along the hillside and are scattered in an orderly manner. There are signs for sightseeing routes on the road. You can go uphill, around, and downhill in a clockwise direction. The buildings are mainly red and white, simple and solemn. This is really a paradise for photography. Rather than a temple, it feels like a small town, isolated from the world, and the years are quiet.

The Tashilhunpo Monastery at the foot of the Niseri Mountain in the city of Shigatse is the largest temple in the area. It has a history of more than 500 years and is comparable to the Potala Palace.

Most Buddhist temples are built on mountains, and the main halls are also located on the mountainside.

As we kowtow and worship along the way, the Buddhist temple appears even more solemn and sacred.

Tashilhunpo Monastery and the "three major monasteries" of Lhasa, Ganden Monastery, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery, are collectively known as the "Four Major Monasteries" of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.



The four major monasteries, as well as the Ta'er Monastery in Qinghai and the Labrang Monastery in Gansu are collectively known as the "Six Great Monasteries" of the Gelug sect.



There are many tourists in the Tashilhunpo Monastery, which is already a complete tourist attraction, but there is also no shortage of Buddhist believers. They wear traditional clothes, hold prayer wheels, kowtow and chant Buddhist scriptures all the way, and come from various places to worship.

The most intuitive impression of Shigatse is that it is really sunny. As the symbol of Shigatse, Tashilhunpo Monastery is also a must-visit stop. The devout believers, the sacred red and white walls, and Tashilhunpo Monastery, as the palace of the Panchen Lama, will always stand in Shigatse, standing on the vast land of western Tibet, blessing this pure land.

It's been a few months since I came here, but I haven't had a good time traveling. Today I'll take a break and go to Zha Temple to have a look. I bought a ticket for 100 yuan at the door. The ticket is in the form of a celebrity film. Traveling friends can also write down their feelings and send it back, so they can recall it later. It's very quiet inside. The houses are all in ethnic style at a glance. You can see several lamas walking together after walking a few steps, which is very artistic. It's very big inside and you can walk around for two or three hours. There are also houses where people live, a school where monks have classes, a studio of the Mian Tang School of Painting, and a Tibetan incense workshop that has been passed down for a hundred years. It's worth a good visit. There is a prayer path on the top of the mountain, and many devout Tibetans are praying here. There are golden prayer wheels from the bottom of the mountain to the top of the mountain. The Tibetans turn each prayer wheel as they walk, which also symbolizes the cycle of life. It seems that the mountains are also full of stories, telling the rise and fall of fate. It's worth a good visit.

Tashilhunpo Monastery, Ganden Monastery, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery in Lhasa are collectively known as the "Four Great Monasteries" of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Very beautiful, I really like this temple, it is worthy of being the base of the Panchen Lama

Taking photos is not allowed in the temple, which is a bit troublesome. There are countless cats in the temple, which can also be regarded as a scenic spot.

The temple is not very big, but the resort hotel next to it is nice.

I was lucky enough to see the Living Buddha! But the temple is not very magnificent~

In terms of religious status, it is on par with the Potala Palace; in terms of natural scenery, it is recommended.

Like most Tibetan temples, it is very lively when you see Tibetans worshipping.

Tashilhunpo Monastery means "Auspicious Xumi Temple". Its full name is "Tashilunbu Baiji Deqin Qutang Jie Le Nanba Jie Wa Lin", which means "Auspicious Xumi gathers blessings from all directions". It is located at the foot of Niseri Mountain in Shigatse, Tibet. It is the largest temple in the area.

To be honest, I don’t know much about religion, so when I visit a temple, I mainly watch the fun, and it would be best if I could get some explanations by the way!

The palace wall of Zha Temple winds along the mountain road. You can see local Tibetans passing through the temple and climbing up the rugged mountain road. They may drink sweet tea in the back mountain and overlook the entire Shigatse.

The temple is not big, and everyone performs their duties in the temple. We smiled in response, and the monks' dark faces also gave me the most sincere smiles. Although we couldn't communicate in the same language, we respected each other.

Visit Zabulun Monastery in the snow. The snowy plateau is worth the trip!

Walking into the temple, you can feel its beauty in every corner.

Located in the center of Shigatse, it is a large Gelugpa temple and the residence of successive Panchen Lamas since the Fourth.

There are always many pilgrims and tourists in such places. Believe or not, it is your personal freedom. Do not lose your own way and do not disturb others. On the mountain, on the ground, inside the temple and outside the temple, they are not two different worlds, they are all the world of the human world.

The Tashilhunpo Monastery is quite big, and there are many places that require climbing hills and stairs. As I was not in such good shape, I and another teammate who didn't really want to stroll around found a chair to sit in the sun while walking. It was quite comfortable to bask in the sun.

Below the main hall, under the sunshine, devout Tibetans sat together, drinking fragrant butter tea, holding prayer wheels and chanting. The periphery of the scenic area is basically a street of goods, and there are many snacks for sale. However, in the square at the entrance of the scenic area, you can't open your eyes at all, it's full of people burning incense.

As the spiritual center of Ngari, it is worth a visit.

We were lucky enough to catch the debate on the day we came. Facing the onlookers and the cameras of the spectators, their undivided attention to practice was admirable.

The architectural style is very unique and you can visit it

The residence of the Panchen Lama. A must-see attraction in Shigatse, with many halls and temples. If you have enough time, it is recommended to visit more.

The Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse is the residence of successive Panchen Erdeni. This is a must-see attraction for tourists in Tibet.

We invited a Tibetan girl to explain the Tashi Zhabulun Monastery. The explanation was very good and it increased our knowledge.

We went too early, and discussed about hiring a tour guide. Several beauties at the door told us to hire someone in front of the door, 200 yuan each, that's the price, and their tour guides don't have tour guide certificates, they are all wild tour guides, they said old tour guides, go to the tourist center to ask them the price of the tour guide is 200 yuan per group, no separate service, the tour guide also has to form two groups, and the attitude is very bad, in the end we mixed for a while but still didn't wait for the tour guide, many of them are unlicensed tour guides, their so-called old tour guides, whether to choose depends on the individual. This temple actually has another way to play, that is, you can buy an electronic tour guide on Taobao in advance, it seems to be 2 yuan each, I saw it on a little girl's mobile phone. There is also a QR code in front of each temple, but first make sure that the mobile phone has a network, and finally walk around and listen, because in fact the amount of information the tour guide tells is not less, no matter who the characters are, you need to have a general idea of yourself, otherwise, it's really just listening. If you want to look at Tashilhunpo Monastery seriously and listen to the explanation, it's actually about two hours. Because in the end we chose to listen to the tour guide. I was in a trance when visiting many scenic spots, so I may not remember them after listening to them.

The administrative center of the Panchen Lama, you must go to understand and listen to the stories

The Tashilhunpo Monastery is built on the mountain. Its grandeur is no less than that of the Potala Palace, and its scale is even larger than that of the Potala Palace. The tour guide could only take us on a selective tour and give explanations.

We went there early in the morning and all the temples were closed, but that was a good thing because there were not many people there. The floor tiles were shiny and bore the marks of monks, believers and tourists.

It was raining heavily, and the holy and simple Zha Temple was covered with a faint sadness. To enter Zha Temple, you first have to cross the white-walled alleys. The drizzle wet the bluestone road, as if it was a quiet and ancient town. First, enter the Qamba Buddha Hall, where there is the world's largest gilded sitting Buddha statue. To the east is the stupa of successive Panchen Lamas. After listening to the stories of the four Panchen Lamas and the stories of people spontaneously protecting the temples after the temples suffered disasters during special periods, I gradually understood that when people are helpless, they need spiritual sustenance the most, so as not to collapse.

The temple is divided into three main halls, each of which is dedicated to three deceased Panchen Lamas. You can check the stories about the Panchen Lamas online. In one of the halls, there is the tallest Buddha statue in the room today. The Buddha statue is made of 267 kilograms of gold and 230,000 kilograms of brass, as well as many gems. It is quite spectacular.

The type is similar to Sera Monastery, but Zha Monastery is quieter, and the monastery is relatively concentrated and spectacular. Walking clockwise on the road behind the temple, you can also see the city and distant mountains from a high place, which is really happy.

The temple is built on the mountain, and the architecture is very distinctive. I like the slope after visiting the temple the most. It feels like the joy of harvest after hard work, with a broad vision and a broad mind.

The Buddha statues in the temple are very beautiful, but unfortunately you can’t take photos!

The tour guide was very interesting and said that we had a predestined relationship with Buddha. It had been a long time since we had seen such a good sun here. I was very happy. The ticket was included in the big fee, and the tour guide was not charged separately. There are many rare treasures inside, which are priceless. You are not allowed to take pictures in the Buddhist temple, so there are no pictures inside. I can only say that it is really magnificent. I was really visiting it seriously at that time. There are the Panchen Lama's pagoda hall, the Great Hall of the Buddha, etc. But only people who are interested in religion will find it interesting here, otherwise you can't see any difference from ordinary temples. Of course, if there is a tour guide, he will tell you many interesting legends. The tour guide told us many little stories at that time, and I can't tell them now, hahaha.

No photography is allowed inside the temple. We all prayed devoutly and only took photos outside the temple. Tashilhunpo Monastery is as quiet and peaceful as Ganden Monastery. The monks do their own things without being disturbed by the outside world. However, Ganden Monastery is more secluded and remote, so it looks peaceful.

There are large areas of Gesang flowers and some fruit trees outside the monks' dormitories. It is the fruit-bearing season, and life is worth loving.

The blue sky and red walls give you the feeling of escaping from the hustle and bustle of the city.

It is said that the Potala Palace was modeled after this place. People in the same group said that Faye Wong would come here every year and stay for a few days. This is an important temple in Ngari. I personally like this place very much. It has the quiet, simple and heavy feeling that a temple should have.

We were the first group of tourists in the morning, so many temples were not open yet. Due to limited time, we walked around the left side, took some photos and left. When we were about to leave, many Tibetans and monks started to come in...

Fortunately, there are temporary parking lines on the nearby streets, and there is no charge (at least I didn't see anyone collecting fees when I arrived in the morning, and I didn't see anyone collecting fees when I left). This not only avoids tourists from parking randomly, but also prevents the roads around the temple from having all kinds of randomly parked vehicles and causing traffic jams.

When we walked to the square in front of Zha Monastery, we saw many people already performing the Great Prostration there. In order not to disturb them and out of respect for them, I only took pictures of their backs.

There is a military base nearby. We encountered dozens of tanks and armored vehicles on the road. Since this road is not yet connected to the highway, it is very bumpy. It is best to be prepared. Soldiers nearby often come to take a hot spring bath. I was lucky enough to meet them that day. It may be due to different selection standards. The local soldiers are not very tall and wear glasses. There is really nothing to see when they take off their clothes.

You can take photos in Zabulunpo Monastery, but you have to pay for taking photos and videos, and the price is not cheap. It takes 2-3 hours to walk around Zabulunpo Monastery. There are 5 Buddhist halls in the temple, all of which have the flesh-and-blood Panchen Lama.

Listening to the guide's explanation during the tour in Lhasa gave me a deeper understanding of Tibetan Buddhism. However, in order to better visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, I carefully searched Baidu for some history about the Panchen Lama the night before! The monastery was magnificent in the rain. Watching the Tibetan believers carrying butter tea buckets to offer in various halls, I felt their piety for their faith!

The stupas of the successive Panchen Lamas in the temple are very precious. I have seen them and they are really worth seeing.

From the stupas of the fifth to the tenth Panchen Lama to the "world's largest gilded bronze Buddha statue", a large number of precious cultural relics are comparable to the Potala Palace. Even if you don't understand its status in Tibetan Buddhism, you will be impressed by its architecture and devout believers.

From the highest point, you can overlook the whole Shigatse. The statue of Qamba Buddha inside: the nostrils of the statue can accommodate an adult! More than 30 large diamonds are used to make the white hair between the eyebrows.

The Stupa of the Fourth Panchen Lama: The oldest and most magnificent stupa, inlaid with more than 7,000 gems.

There is also a long row of prayer barrels on the mountain.

If you enter the temple, please be sure to ask for a tour guide. We shared a tour guide with the group next door. It only cost 13 yuan per person, which is very cheap and can help you better understand the history of this place.

I bought a ticket and spent two or three hours to complete the tour. As the largest temple in western Tibet where three sects are located together, it was definitely worth the trip.

At the temple gate, many pilgrims have a portion of highland barley cake and a bowl of butter tea for breakfast, and then buy some yak wax oil to start a day of circumambulating and chanting sutras.

Tashilhunpo Monastery is known as the Little Potala Palace. But I did not choose to buy a ticket to enter, but to turn the prayer wheel along the way with the chanters and the prayers around the monastery for a full 3 kilometers. Many elderly people bring their children to do this every day, chanting and praying in circles. Looking at the lamas in crimson dresses and the pious Tibetans, they all have a common heart, that is, respect and worship for Buddha.

The Potala Palace is in the front part of Tibet, and this temple is in the back part of Tibet. It is on the same level as the Potala Palace. Although the temple is not as majestic and famous as the Potala Palace, the shock it brings to people comes from the piety and dedication of every life in Tibet to the faith.

Because it was afternoon, there were few tourists. There was only one tour guide with a small group of more than ten people and some individual tourists. I listened to her explaining the stories of the successive Panchen Lamas enshrined here, as well as the architecture and historical background of the temple. From the nearly 30-meter-high bronze Buddha statue to the gems inlaid on the floor, she explained everything in great detail. I was really fascinated by her, so I shamelessly followed everyone to listen to the explanation~

Note: Before coming, it is best to understand the historical background and introduction of the place you are going to, so as not to rush around and be confused.

The tour guide said that there are many rules and taboos for entering the temple. When entering, everyone rang the bell hanging in the middle of the door to show respect and pray for blessings.

1. Temples are solemn and pure places. You should not wear overly revealing clothes when entering a temple.

2. When entering a temple, generally speaking, female guests should step in with their right foot first and male guests should step in with their left foot first, and do not step on the threshold of the temple.

3. Enter from the left and exit from the right. Do not go back. The door in the middle is for monks.

4. When bowing, one should prostrate oneself on the ground to show one’s piety to the Buddha.

5. When you meet a monk, you can address him as "Master", "Dharma Master", or "Teacher". You should respectfully address the abbot as "Elder" or "Abbot". You must avoid addressing him inappropriately.

6. When visiting a temple, you should not make loud noises, give instructions, make comments or ridicule others without permission, touch the statues of gods, or move anything in the temple.

7. Try not to take photos in temples, especially not taking photos with Buddha statues, as this is disrespectful to the Buddha.

8. Generally, when entering a temple, you need to light three incense sticks according to the temple rules. Hold the incense with your left hand on top and your right hand on the bottom, raise them above your head and bow. After the bow, you need to insert the three incense sticks into the incense burner in order, and then kowtow.

9. Three incense sticks are for praying for yourself, six incense sticks are for praying for two generations, and nine incense sticks are for praying for three generations. Thirteen incense sticks is the ultimate, and thirteen incense sticks are the high incense of perfect merit.

10. Pregnant women and women who are menstruating are also not allowed to enter the temple.

It is also important to remind you that in many temples in Tibet, you are not allowed to take photos, wear hats or sunglasses. When visiting a temple, you must walk in a clockwise direction and never walk in the opposite direction. Ladies may be turned away if they are wearing revealing clothes.

You cannot wear skirts when entering the temple. Perhaps because not many people know about this temple, there were few tourists in the temple when we visited. Without the disturbance of tourists, it is more quiet here, and you can see the real life of monks and people.

After exiting the gate, walk to the right and start circling the mountain around the wall. Note that you must circle the mountain in a clockwise direction.

Along the way, you can see devout Tibetans circumambulating the temple, rows of prayer wheels, Buddha sunbathing temples, cliff carvings, etc.

Tips: There are many wild dogs on the prayer path, so be careful.

They sell ghee outside the door. There are quite a lot of tourists who come to pay tribute and add oil to the lamps. The temple is very big, so it doesn't look crowded because it's very dense. We invited a master to explain it to us. The whole process took more than an hour and cost 100 yuan per person. He explained it in detail and taught us how to worship Buddha. I took pictures from all angles and they were all beautiful and comfortable. I walked to the back of the main hall and overlooked the whole Shigatse. When I left, I bought some yak yogurt sold in the temple. It was thick and delicious.