Arou Grand Monastery in Qilian County, Haibei

Arou Grand Temple, also known as Alike Grand Temple (阿力克大寺) and called Garideng Qunpailin (尕日登群派林) in Tibetan, is located in Arou Township, Qilian County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, approximately 21 kilometers from Babao Town, the county seat of Qilian County. A Gelugpa Buddhist monastery, it was historically a famous tent monastery, or mobile monastery, following the migrations of the Arou nomadic tribe before settling at its present location in 1946. The temple combines Tibetan and Han architectural styles and stands on the Qilian Grassland without heavy surrounding walls, creating a quiet and simple atmosphere at an elevation of approximately 2,900 meters.

Best Time to Visit

Best Seasons

June–September is the best period to visit, when the grasslands are green and the weather is comfortable. July–August offers particularly beautiful and lush grassland scenery. September–October brings golden autumn grass and fewer visitors. From November to April of the following year, the weather is cold and some temple halls may be locked.

Best Time Each Day

The usual visiting hours are 08:00–18:00. Morning light is soft and suitable for exploring the temple halls. Early in the morning, visitors may have the opportunity to see local herders burning incense and turning prayer wheels. In the evening, the setting sun illuminates the golden roofs and white stupas, creating excellent photography conditions.

How to Get There

By car: Navigate to Arou Grand Temple (阿柔大寺). The temple is located beside the E-Qilian Highway, with good road conditions and a simple parking area. It can be combined with visits to Zhuoer Mountain and Binggou Forest Sea.

By public transportation: Buses operate from Qilian County town to Arou Township, but after getting off, visitors still need to walk or take a taxi. Services are limited, so self-driving or hiring a private car is recommended.

Inside the temple: All temple courtyards and buildings are explored on foot.

🏯 Core Attractions

Eight Auspicious Stupas

The Eight Auspicious Stupas (Eight Sugatas Stupas) stand in a neat row outside the temple gate. The eight white Buddhist stupas represent eight major events in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha. Together with colorful Tibetan prayer flags, they form one of the temple's most distinctive exterior views. Visitors should always walk around the stupas clockwise.

Main Assembly Hall

The Main Assembly Hall is the central building of the monastery, featuring golden roofs and red walls with a Tibetan-Han architectural combination of brick and timber construction. Inside are large Buddhist statues, treasured thangka paintings, and ritual objects. The hall has an impressive and spacious interior.

Protector Deity Hall

The Protector Deity Hall is a two-story temple building containing ancient surviving murals. Its painted decorations have a simple, substantial, and historic character, providing an important glimpse into the monastery's religious art.

Circular Prayer Wheel Corridor

Hundreds of prayer wheels line the circular prayer corridor, where local worshippers regularly perform their daily prayer-wheel rituals. The area has a strong local religious and cultural atmosphere.

Hillside Viewing Slope

A small hillside behind the monastery provides an elevated viewpoint. From the slope, visitors can look down over the entire temple complex while taking in panoramic views of the surrounding grasslands and distant mountains.

Recommended visiting time is approximately 1–1.5 hours.

Accommodation and Food

Accommodation: Visitors generally return to Qilian County town for accommodation, as there are no standard accommodation facilities around the monastery.

Food: Local specialties include kangguo lamb, kunguo mo (锟锅馍), and Tibetan yogurt. Supplies around the temple are limited, so bring sufficient drinking water.

Travel Tips and Precautions

1. Admission: Ticket policies are subject to on-site arrangements. Monks still practice at the monastery, so maintain a quiet and respectful atmosphere throughout the visit.

2. Religious etiquette: Always walk clockwise when circling stupas or turning prayer wheels. Flash photography is prohibited inside the main halls, and photography may be prohibited altogether in certain halls. Do not touch Buddhist statues or ritual objects, do not step on thresholds, and remove your hat before entering the temple halls.

3. Altitude and weather: At approximately 2,900 meters above sea level, visitors should remain aware of possible mild altitude discomfort. Temperature differences on the grasslands can be significant, so bring an extra layer. Ultraviolet radiation can also be strong.

4. Respect local customs: Do not casually disturb monks while they are carrying out their religious practices.

5. Mobile signal: Mobile phone reception can be relatively weak in some rural areas.