1. Brief Introduction
As the center of religious activities, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery is also an important symbol of ethnic culture in Shangri-La. Every year, a large number of believers and tourists come to worship it from all over the world, the incense is prosperous, so it is very worth a visit.
1.1 Geographical Location & History
Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, also known as Guihua Monastery, is located in Jiantang Town, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, it is 5 kilometers away from Zhongdian County. As the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province, it is also one of the prestigious and large monasteries in Kham region.
This monastery was originally built in 1679 during Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty and completed in 1681. It was named "Ganden Sumtseling" by the 5th Dalai Lama in person. Meanwhile, it is also the center of Yellow Sect in Sichuan and Yunnan areas and plays a decisive role in the entire Tibetan area, so this Monastery is also termed "Little Potala Palace".
On top of this, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery is the architectural style of the castle group, it represents the culmination of Tibetan plastic arts and is also renowned as the Tibetan Art Museum, it is thus highly valued and honored by people in Shangri-La.
1.2 Architecture Features
The architectural style of Sumtseling Monastery combines the architectural art of Tibetan and Han styles, integrating the ancient Tibetan blockhouse architectural style and palace architectural style to form a very unique architectural style. The main buildings include the Tshatshang Grand Hall, Jikhang Grand Hall, etc. The entire monastery is composed of parts such as the main hall, monk's quarters, and city walls. Actually, its architectural style imitates the Potala Palace in Tibet. Consequently, it is resplendent and magnificent with a grand momentum. Inside the temple, there are statues of the 5th and 7th Dalai Lamas as well as a large number of Buddhist scriptures and religious implements, which is end up with an important place for believers to worship.
The main building, Dratsang, means monastery in Tibetan, which is a place where monks study scriptures and religious doctrines. Besides this, there are bronze statues of Tsongkhapa, Maitreya Buddha, and the 7th Dalai Lama in the back hall, they are more than three feet tall and lead directly to the upper floor. What's more, there are eight Lacans on the middle floor, namely the pantheon hall, the protector hall, the chamber of the Khenpo, the meditation room, the dining room, etc.
The living room on the front building is used for banquets for distinguished guests and watching Cham dances. On the top floor of the main building, there is an exquisite Buddhist hall dedicated to statues of the 5th and 7th Dalai Lamas, as well as palm-leaf scriptures, thangkas, and handed-down religious implements. To the south of the Buddhist hall is the towering bell and drum tower, drums are beaten to tell the time in the morning, noon and dusk, to your surprise, the sound can be heard ten miles away.
In addition, there are richly colored gilded copper tiles in Sumtseling Monastery and the palace buildings are with animal-shaped ornaments on the cornices. The Dratsang Grand Hall is spacious and magnificent to hold many Buddha statues enshrined in the hall. Luckily, the murals and carvings on the west wing on both sides are exquisitely beautiful and numerous, making the entire building resplendent and a good place for tourists to take some photographs.
1.3 Related Collections
When it refers to the treasures, I have to mention that there are many related collections of past dynasties in this Monastery, such as eight statues of Shakyamuni Buddha from the periods of the 5th and 7th Dalai Lamas, palm-leaf scriptures, exquisitely painted thangkas in multicolored gold juice, gold and various exquisite gilded or silver censers, lamps that last for ten thousand years, etc. Most importantly, the monastery also houses ten volumes of "Kangyur" (two of which are handwritten in gold juice), more than two hundred volumes of "Tengyur" and so on, which have surprised a lot of tourists at home and abroad.
2. Main Attractions
2.1 Gate Tower Of Sumtseling Monastery
The architectural styles of the gate tower of Sumtseling Monastery consolidate the essence of Tibetan religious culture, the copper-gilt double deer Dharma wheel and one of the eight auspicious symbols of Tibet, the victory banner on the gate tower, symbolize the victory of achieving enlightenment. Not only can these symbolic elements show the cultural characteristics of Tibetan Buddhism, but also they reflect the important position and profound historical background of the temple.
2.2 Lamyangtso Lake
Lamyangtso Lake is situated at the entrance of Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, in Tibetan, it means "The Soul Lake of the Holy Mother", the Lake loop is 2,110 meters long and takes about 40 minutes to walk. Although the lake is not large, the scenery is very stunning. There are various waterbirds living here in all seasons, including black-necked cranes and yellow ducks. This lake is said to be the soul lake of the famous goddess Peden Lhamo, so it is very famous in Tibetan areas.
Actually, the water of Lamu Yangcuo Lake is as clear as a mirror on a clear day, when the lake and mountains reflect each other, the scenery is absolutely beautiful. But when the sky is overcast with dark clouds, the lake will make a strange sound, thus appearing various wonderful scenes. It is said that the scenes seen by believers will be very different even they look at them at the same time, some people can even spot their past and present lives from the images at the bottom of the lake. Consequently, this mysterious phenomenon attracts an increasing number of people to visit it and it indeed leaves them a lot of indelible memory.
2.3 Dratsang, Zhukang, Jikang Hall And Eight Great Khangtsens
Like all major monasteries in Tibet, Sumtseling Monastery stands with Dratsang(the main hall of the monastery), Zhukang (the Great Hall of Shakyamuni) and Jikang (the Great Hall of Tsongkhapa), the three main halls at the highest point of the entire monastery. They symbolize the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, the three jewels enshrined in the heart of the lotus. Also, the three main halls are resplendent and magnificent. "The Buddha's light can be seen from a hundred miles away."
In addition, on the hillside of Sumtseling Monastery, there are eight Khangtsens built in an orderly manner, namely, Duke Khangtsen, Rongba Khangtsen, Xiangcheng Khangtsen, Zhaya Khangtsen, Dongwang Khangtsen, Naxi Khangtsen, Yangtang Khangtsen and Jidi Khangtsen. The eight Khangtsens just like eight lotus petals, symbolizing auspiciousness. Surrounded by 280 monk's quarters, they are progressive in layers, like stars surrounding the moon. Distributed around the main hall, they have distinct outlines and fully set off the tall and majestic main building, which also give the tourists the deep impression.
Actually, the monk organization of Sumtseling Monastery is divided into three levels: Dratsang, Khangtsen and Miyen. Dratsang refers to the highest-level monk organization. The subordinate of Dratsang is "Khangtsen". In Tibetan, it means monk group. According to the region of the monk's native place or source, the monks of the grand monastery are divided into several groups to form a regional organization of the parish. The Khangtsen is presided over by an old monk. In addition to this, there are some clerks to manage the administrative, religious and economic affairs of the parish relatively independently.Those who are interested in Buddhist culture will be fascinated by the architecture and culture in this Temple.
3. Local Customs
The main festivals of Ganden Sumtseling Monastery include Gedong Festival and Welcoming Buddha Festival.
3.1 Gedong Festival
The Gedong Festival is a grand dharma assembly where the gods and guardians of Tibetan Buddhism appear in the human world. It is also an annual grand event of Sumtseling Monastery. From December 26th to December 29th of the Tibetan calendar every year, local Tibetans and believers will come to this Monastery to watch lamas performing dances with masks. Butter lamps are burning in the hall of the monastery, pilgrims pray very devoutly in front of the Buddha, celebrating the abundant harvest and prosperity of the current year and praying for peace and prosperity in the coming year. During the four days of the Gedong Festival, the first day is a rehearsal of dances, the second and third days are sutra chanting dharma assemblies, the fourth day is a mask dance. This is also a rare opportunity for tourists to experience Tibetan Buddhist culture and religion in Shangri-La.
3.2 Welcoming Buddha Festival
Another festival, Welcoming Buddha Festival, is a grand event to welcome the Future Buddha - Maitreya Buddha. The 15th day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar is the Welcoming Buddha Festival. Ganden Sumtseling Monastery will hold a grand "Prayer Dharma Assembly", which is one of the most important Buddhist activities of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. On the day of the Welcoming Buddha Festival, the monks in the monastery will perform religious ceremonies such as chanting sutras and displaying butter sculptures.
Travelers who love Buddhist festivals and Buddha culture will feel the baptism of the soul in these activities, so as to put down the troubles in the heart and enthusiastically throw themselves into life, which in turn to help them harvest the delight and calmness.
4. The Best Time To Go
As it is the rainy season on the Diqing Plateau from June to September every year, so the best time for people to visit Monastery is usually from March to May and from September to November. In spring and autumn, the scenery and the climate is very suitable for tourists to better appreciate the beauty of the monastery and indulge in Tibetan culture deeply.
5. Recommended Visiting Route
Opening hours: 08:00 - 18:00
Ticket price: 90 yuan/person.
Address: No. 3, Niwang Road, Jiantang Town, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province.
Transportation:
Public Transportation: Take bus No. 3 (1 yuan) or minibus (2 yuan) on Changzheng Road in Shangri-La county to reach directly. The journey takes about 30 minutes and the parking lot is just opposite the temple gate.
Plane: From Shangri-La Airport to the urban area, the fare is generally 15 yuan to 30 yuan.
Chartered car: Starting from Lijiang and then taking a passenger bus or charter a car to reach the destination.
Time required: Half a day.
Note: Tourists who are interested in photography or in good physical condition can walk around Lamu Yangcuo Lake clockwise first and then visit Sumtseling Monastery to explore more Tibetan Buddhist culture. The whole journey takes about 2.5 hours and tourists may meet some local believers who are walking and praying on the way.
6. Travel Tips
6.1 Safety Instructions For Visiting
Since Sumtseling Monastery is located in a high-altitude area with an altitude of more than 3,300 meters, very large and built on the mountain, therefore, the tourists sometimes need to climb very high stairs when visiting the Monastery, approximately 146 steep stairs to reach the hall and the temple, it is indeed a far distance and required more physical strength, thus it is recommended that tourists prepare relevant drugs in advance to prevent altitude sickness and avoid strenuous exercise.
It is worth mentioning that there are some commentators inside the monastery, who are believers of Tibetan Buddhism. These guides will take tourists in and out through doors with certain patterns to convey the ideological theories of Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhist culture is extensive and profound, which may teach visitors many theories that they have never been exposed to before, so as to enlighten their minds and expand their views about this world.
6.2 Climate Of Sumtseling Monastery
A few snowflakes may fall in this monastery even in August, so it is recommended that tourists should bring their coats, down jackets, gloves, and non-slip boots etc. In addition, visitors should prepare sunscreen, sun hats, and sunglasses due to the dry climate and strong ultraviolet radiation. After October, tourists need to bring enough warm clothes when visiting.
Notes: Walk on the left - respect local customs and maintain a humble heart towards Buddhist holy places; Walk slowly - people will be short of breath even with a little exercise in plateau areas, so it is not advisable to move too fast.
6.3 Photography Tips
The best place to take a panoramic view of Sumtseling Monastery is the viewing platform in Conggulong Village on the road of Lamu Yangcuo Lake. The sunrise time is about 07:00 and the sunset time is about 20:00. In order to take beautiful sunset pictures, tourists had better arrive early and wait for that amazing scenery.
In the temple, photographers can take pictures of thangkas, palm-leaf scriptures, censers, lights, etc. Lamas and pilgrims may also appear in the photos too. When visitors stand on the best observation platform of the temple, it looks like an ancient castle and mysterious palace standing at the foot of Buddha Ping Mount where the sunrise is the earliest, as if the Potala Palace appears, very spectacular.
7. Attractions Nearby
The scenic spots near Sumtseling Monastery include Pudacuo National Park, Napahai, Dukezong Ancient City and Baishuitai.
7.1 Potatso National Park
It is located in Hongpo Village, Jiantang Town, Shangri-La City. There are extremely beautiful sceneries there, including vast grasslands, clear lakes and dense forests. This is a pure land of nature, suitable for tourists to take a stroll along the plank road and enjoy the natural scenery. Since Potatso National Park is only 40 minutes away to the east of Sumtseling Monastery, many tourists will choose to visit this tourist attraction after visiting the temple.
7.2 Napa Lake
It is a plateau lake surrounded by beautiful grasslands and was once praised as the "mirror of the sky". Here, tourists can ride around the lake. Not only can they feel the simple life of Tibetans, but it is also an excellent place to experience the plateau scenery.
7.3 Dukezong Ancient City
Known as the "City of Moonlight", it is built on the mountain and retains many local ancient buildings and characteristic small shops full of ethnic customs. Therefore, it is also a good place for tourists to experience local culture.
7.4 Baishuitai
It is a travertine landform formed naturally and is known as the "Fairy's Abandoned Field" (a natural wonder formed by calcium carbonate dissolving in spring water. When the spring water containing calcium bicarbonate flows down slowly, carbonates gradually precipitate and form terraces over years, just like layers of terraced fields). The scenery there is as dreamy as Pamukkale and is very suitable for taking pictures.
These scenic spots embody the natural beauty of Shangri-La, allowing tourists to have a deeper understanding of Tibetan culture. Thus they are unmissable tourist destinations around Sumtseling Monastery.
8. Food & Accommodation
The delicacies of Sumtseling Monastery mainly include buttered tea, tsampa, highland barley wine, fried pork ribs and stir-fried beef. These delicious food features in strong local characteristics, which in turn reflects the unique charm of Tibetan food culture.
Buttered tea is an indispensable drink in the daily life of Tibetan people, it is made by mixing special tea, butter, salt and spices. The extremely high calories can eliminate the cold and supplement the heat needed by the human body.
Tsampa is a staple food made of butter. Although it may not be easy to get used to it at first taste, its unique production process and nutritional value make it an important part of Tibetan diet.
Highland barley wine is brewed from highland barley. With a clear color and a long taste, it is one of the main drinks for entertaining guests in Tibetan areas.
In addition to traditional Tibetan delicacies, some restaurants near Sumtseling Monastery also offer more diversified choices, such as fried pork ribs,yak hot pot and stir-fried beef. These dishes are not only delicious, but also serve in large portions for tourists to enjoy on the journey.
In the scenic area of Sumtseling Monastery, there are some characteristic dining places, such as Qunika Coffee and Sweet Tea House, which provide visitors with drinks such as coffee and sweet tea. Certainly, the environment is rather elegant and suitable for tourists for good rest and tasting local delicacies. Most importantly, these places are equipped with strong Tibetan style's devices and environment, plus the delicious food, it allows people who come here to relish the unique dining atmosphere, therefore attracting them to visit it again in the near future.
