Chonggu Monastery in Daocheng Yading, Garze
Chonggu Monastery in Daocheng County Facts
The Chonggu Monastery (Temple) in Daocheng Yading. The Yading National Nature Reserve is found in western Sichuan's Ganzi Tibet Autonomous Prefecture in the traditional Tibetan region of Kham Ganzi, known in Tibetan as Garnze, is divided into 18 counties covering an area of 151,000 square kilometers.
Chinese Name: 甘孜冲古寺
Type: Culture & Temples; Buddhism
Address: Xiannairi Snow Mountain, Daocheng Prefecture, Ganzi ,Sichuan Province.
Recommended Visiting Hours: about 2-3 hours
Best Seasons to Visit: April, May, September, and October
Opening Hours: Whole day
Brief Introduction of Chonggu Monastery in Daocheng Yading
Chonggu Monastery is a small monastery built in Yuan Dynasty, more than 700 years ago, offers a spectacular view of Xiannairi’s north face. At the foot of Mt. Chenrezig, is the Chonggu Monastery, which you pass on the way to the holy mountains. It is said that at one time, an eminent monk built this temple for the purpose of worshiping the three mountains. However, disease attacked the surrounding areas at that time. This selfless monk prayed day and night to the god to save the people. Finally, all the people were saved while he was sacrificed. To commemorate his great deeds, people buried him on this land and piled majestic Tibetan cairns in his memory.
Though the old temple is incomplete, every morning and noon tourists still can see Lamas sitting in meditation, reading from prayer books there. It is an important relic of local religion. Riding a horse from Yading to Gongga Chonggu Temple is interesting, and takes only about 30 minutes.
Daocheng
Located in Yading Village, Shangri-La Town, Daocheng County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, southwest China, Daocheng Yading Natural Reserve Scenic Area consists of three holy snow mountains, namely Xiannairi, Jiangbianyang and Xianaduoji, and surrounding rivers, lakes and alpine meadows. The scenery maintains the purity of the near extinction on the earth. Because of its unique landform and original natural scenery, it is widely regarded as “the last pure land in the blue planet.”
At an average elevation of 3800 meters, Daocheng is renowned for its magnificent mountain and wild lake scenery. Forests, grasslands, and brooks can all be found in the grand valley, fringed by splendid mountain peaks capped with snow. In this holy land, you can still find local Tibetans living in their traditional lifestyle. Daocheng Yading is located in the eastern part of the famous Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, in the middle of the Hengduan Mountains, a national nature reserve. On July 10, 2003, Yading officially joined the UNESCO World Network of Man and Biosphere Reserves.
Best Seasons to Visit Daocheng Yading
Yading is affected by Plateau monsoon climate. The annual average temperature swings from -5 degree Celsius to 12.1 degree Celsius. In January, the coldest month in Yading, the temperature can drop to 27 degree Celsius below 0. Sunshine is abundant in Yading all year round. Rain and snow are more likely to fall at night. Snow mantles from September to May next year. The best timing to Yading generally are April, May, September and October.
Main Attractions of Chonggu Monastery
Chonggu Monastery occupies the best location in the Yading Nature Reserve. Standing in front of the Chonggu Temple, it has a blue sky with almost exaggerated sky, a green grass at the foot, a snow-capped mountain in the distance, and a sleeping night behind it. The canyon of the year, the ancient temple is like the door of heaven, and it feels very close to the world of God. Any tourist or new photographer here may be able to take photos of similar professional standards. In 1928, when Mr. Locke came to Nissan Kampot to study, he lived in the temple for three days. Mr. Locke walked through the canyon through the small window of the temple, overlooking the peaceful and peaceful village of Aden under the moon. This is the original shape of the Blue Moon Valley of Shangri-La in Hilton’s writing.
How to get to The Chonggu Monastery
Travel with ChinaDragonTours (top recommended)
If you want to get out of the traffic and hassle of navigation, you can book a private tour package that includes visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local guide and driver will escort you to Chonggu Monastery in Daocheng County, Ganze in the fastest and most convenient way and take care of all the details. You just have to focus on the visiting.
Independent Traveler (Get to Ganze)
Roads provide the primary means of transportation in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Kangding Bus Station is located at 129, Xinshi Qian Jie.
For self-drive tourists, there are usually two routes of choice from Chengdu to Kangding:
Route 1: leaving westward along the Chengdu-Yaan Expressway, passing through Erlang Mountain Tunnel and Luding Bridge over the Dadu River to Kangding.
Route 2: Leaving Chengdu and passing through the Chengdu Wolong Panda Reserve, Four Maiden’s Mountain, Danba County, then arriving in the destination.
There are also two options to Daocheng. Visitors can get there through Shangri-La of Yunnan or through Chengdu:
North line from Chengdu to Daocheng passes through Dujiangyan, Wolong, Four Maiden’s Mountain, Danba County, Tagong Scenic Area, Xinduqiao. The south line passes through Yaan, Luding, Kangding, Xinduqiao. Choosing one route to Daocheng and the other back to Chengdu, visitors can get an eye feast of almost all the fascinating spots in western Sichuan.
Useful Travel Tips
- As there is only one bus per day departing from Kangding for Daocheng, you may not be able to get a ticket. In this case, you can rent a car or share a car with others to get to the tourist site. On your way, you will pass Sela Town, Banghe River, and Gongga Langjieling Temple. You can ask the driver to stop every now and then to enjoy the pastoral scenery and take pictures.
- Because the altitude is as high as 12,303 feet (3,750 meters) and the air is comparatively thin, it is recommended that the elderly and infants do not travel there.
- Take the medicine Herba Rhodiolae for a week before setting out on your journey. Take with you regular drugs as well as drugs against altitude sickness.
- Take a scarf, sun block, lip balm, sunglasses and a sunhat to protect you from the ultraviolet rays and dry weather.
- Take clothes and shoes suitable for hiking. It is suggested you also take a raincoat, an alpenstock and a pair of gloves.
- Take some instant food or food with high calories, such as candy, cakes, and chocolates.
- For your safety, follow the established paths and do not enter the forbidden areas.
- Lighting a fire, camping, or killing animals in the reserve is not permitted.
- Respect the local religious beliefs and customs.
- Special Local Products: Specialities: herbs, white mushroom (Bai Jun), matsutake mushroom (Song Rong)
Foods: Hua Momo (Tibetan moon cake popular in Daofu County), Zanba or Tsampa (roasted highland Qingke barley flour), Tibetan blood sausage, buttered tea
Handicrafts: butter sculpture, wooden utensils, carpet, golden and silver articles
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