Kumbum Monastery

If you only have three days to spare, make every hour count in Xining, Qinghai Province. ⠀ We started our adventure in Xining (西宁), the capital city of the province on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau - and a city that played a key role in trade and cultural exchange after opening the Silk Road. And one of the most famous historical places to visit near Xining is Ta’er Monastery (otherwise known as Kumbum Monastery).⠀ ⠀ With 400 years of history, this monastery is a religious activity center that still houses practising monks within the complex that comprises of Buddhist halls, large courtyards, multiple stupas and more. ⠀ It’s not just a Buddhist monastery. It’s a key cultural relic; a place of astounding architecture, vivid colours, mesmerising culture and beautiful craftsmanship / artwork - including delicate sculptures of Buddha, animals and flowers made of yak butter (which need to be crafted by hand in sub-zero temperatures...)! When you start to get peckish, grab a flaky bing filled with minced beef, leek, onion and cabbage. Could not get enough of the crispy, crunchy texture of the outer pastry and the moreish flavour of the filling.⠀ ⠀ 📍Xinqian Yeshi (Food Court) 新千夜市, Xining, Qinghai Province, China. While here you can pick up a variety of dishes native to the province, as well as a couple of other speciality dishes inspired by neighbouring regions! ⠀ 📍Kumbum Monastery, near Xining, Qinghai Province, China #urbanexplorer#qingmingtravel

A must-visit spot for a half-day tour in Xining. Xining is an underrated tourist city. If you only have half a day in Xining due to a transfer to Tibet or other reasons, I highly recommend visiting Ta'er Monastery! 📚Ta'er Monastery Trivia: In Tibetan, Ta'er Monastery is called 'Gomang Dratsang', which means 'Maitreya Temple with a hundred thousand lions roaring'. The stupa was built before the monastery, hence the name Ta'er Monastery. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug school (Yellow Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism, and has also been shortlisted for the 'Magical Northwest Top 100 Scenic Spots'. The monastery currently has over 9,300 rooms, covering an area of more than 600 acres, with 25 halls. 🎫Ticket Price: 70 RMB 🕙Opening Hours: Summer 7:30-18:30; Winter 8:00-16:30 📍Navigation: Huangzhong County Tibetan Hospital (The ticket office is next to the hospital) 🚌Transportation: It takes two hours by bus No. 909 from Xining Station, with a fare of 4 RMB; a taxi from the city center costs about 60 RMB. It's cheaper to share a ride if you are traveling alone. ⌚Recommended Visiting Time: At least 2 hours 👏Highly Recommended: If possible, hire a guide (I listened in on a guide 😜). Ta'er Monastery is well worth understanding for its butter sculptures, murals, and embroidery, which are known as the 'Three Wonders of Ta'er Monastery Art'. In addition, the monastery also treasures many Buddhist scriptures and academic works. ❗❗Important Notes: 1. The altitude of Xining is over 2,000 meters, which is not high; walking slowly and breathing slightly heavily is normal. 2. Dress appropriately, which is applicable when visiting temples and Taoist temples. 3. There are colorful braids for sale at the entrance, usually three for 10 RMB. 4. It's not easy to get a taxi back to the city center after the visit; you can negotiate with the driver, and a fare not exceeding 80 RMB is reasonable, with 70 RMB being the best. You can also look for someone to share a ride back. 5. Maintain reverence! Photography is prohibited inside the monastery, including Buddha statues and murals. 🤗Impression: If you only have half a day in Xining, I really recommend coming here. The monastery has numerous buildings with unique styles. Anyway, of all the monasteries I saw on my way to Tibet, Ta'er Monastery left the deepest impression on me. There are many more Tibet travel tips on my homepage, wishing everyone a pleasant journey~

Qinghai Ta'er Monastery / Photo-taking and Touring Guide / The First Stop on the Great Northwest Circuit We took the train to Xining Station We chartered a car online, and the driver picked us up near the train station and went straight to Ta'er Monastery! 🚗From Xining city center to Ta'er Monastery: about 30 minutes Touring time: about 2 hours Ticket price: Peak season (April 1st to October 31st) $70 per person, off-season $40 per person ⭐Photo-taking and touring suggestions: At that time, we chose places where there were no people to take photos, but as soon as we finished taking photos at one spot, people would start queuing up there to check in, I must be really good at taking photos! ⭐When we went, it was the time when the bodhi trees were blooming, paired with the red walls, it was really beautiful! (Available around July) ⭐Photography is not allowed inside the halls, pay attention to the no smoking signs, no pets allowed inside, and no shorts or short skirts allowed ⭐If you want to understand the history of the temple, you can find a guide. The ultraviolet rays are very strong, remember to wear sunscreen. Walk slowly, as you might experience some altitude sickness. 💋Outfit suggestions: You can choose red/green/blue/white for your clothing as the colors of the buildings inside the monastery are very bright and saturated, so we should also choose clothing with high saturation to stand out in the photos! ❤️❤️Alright! That's all for today's share! If you have any questions, you can ask me in the comments section!

Ta'er Monastery, also known as Kumbum Monastery, is located in the urban area of Huangzhong District, Xining City, the capital of Qinghai Province. It was founded in the 12th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1379) and is named after the Great Silver Pagoda built inside the Dajinwa Temple to commemorate Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery's butter sculptures, murals, and embroidery are known as the 'Three Wonders of Ta'er Monastery Art', and it also houses many Buddhist scriptures and academic works on history, literature, philosophy, medicine, legislation, and other fields. Ta'er Monastery is the center of Tibetan Buddhist activities in Northwest China and one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug school (Yellow Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism in China. It is also the leading historical and cultural site in Qinghai Province and a national key cultural relics protection unit. In 2018, it was shortlisted for the 'Magical Northwest Top 100 Scenic Spots' and is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. Ta'er Monastery, this ancient temple standing in the urban area of Huangzhong District, Xining City, Qinghai Province, is not only a holy land of Tibetan Buddhism but also a treasure of history and culture. Established in the 12th year of the Hongwu reign, it has withstood the test of time and remains standing firm, witnessing the passage of years and the steadfastness of faith.

Many sisters left a lot of suggestions in the comments on the previous article about Ta'er Monastery. I packed my luggage and prepared items and clothes according to what they said. The most frequent advice was to bring sunscreen! Body lotion! Clothes for all seasons! I just arrived in Xining this afternoon after 2 PM. It really confirmed what the sisters said! The sun is so intense! The sun on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is really fierce! The ultraviolet rays are so strong that I couldn't even recognize the letter 'm'! It only got dark around 9 PM in Xining, so the daylight hours are very long. After arriving, I took advantage of the travel agency's free airport pickup service and was taken to the hotel. We are staying near the train station in Chengdong District. You can get a very nice place for just over 100 RMB per person, and there are many options. The area is extremely dry!! You can ask the hotel if they have a humidifier! In the afternoon, we went to Ta'er Monastery for a visit. It's about 150 RMB to go there and back by taxi from the city center, which is a bit far, but the weather was good today, and the photos turned out great~ We learned about Tibetan Buddhism culture and local customs. In the evening, we went to eat the lamb skewers that everyone recommended, only 3 RMB per skewer, which is quite a bargain! Not gamey at all! I ate countless skewers non-stop by myself! The grilled lamb chops and lamb skewers are both amazing! I love the Northwest

How many secrets does a person need to hide to cleverly get through life; this plateau bathed in Buddha's light, every few steps is heaven; yet there are still so many people, burdened by their worries, unable to move forward. ——Cangyang Gyatso I can't think of any words to describe the feeling when you see with your own eyes the worshippers you could only learn about on TV or the internet before, I was shocked that there is such a different kind of people. 💰Ta'er Monastery ticket: ¥70/person 💎Please explain additional fees: ¥90/3 people 🉑PS: It is recommended to buy a guide‼️After checking the ticket, there will be many locals asking if you want a guide, they will keep asking you. The price is basically between ¥100-¥140. Share the group with others, and remember to bargain with them. If you just come to take pictures, then the ticket is given for nothing, with a guide you can accurately understand the culture of Ta'er Monastery and interesting points. 🚎Transportation: 1️⃣Bus 909 can reach Ta'er Monastery, the whole journey is more than an hour; 2️⃣Take a Didi, with a discount the whole journey is ¥80, it's affordable if shared by three people; we kept the driver's number, he won't go back if he doesn't pick up people. The same person took us around later. ❤🌟Highlights and check-in points: 1️⃣Babao Ruyi Tower: You can take very deep photos; 2️⃣Dajinwa Palace: It is not allowed to take pictures inside the palace, the base of the Buddha statue inside is inlaid with many priceless jewels, more expensive than gold😍🤩. You can take pictures of the golden tiles by turning right outside (picture 6), according to the guide, the golden tiles of the Dajinwa Palace weigh more than 700 jin, very majestic and spectacular. 3️⃣Xiaojinwa Temple: There are real animal specimens that are several hundred years old: wolves🐺, sheep🐑, cows🐮, etc; 4️⃣Dajing Hall: This is even more worth understanding, it is the place where the monks of the monastery concentrate on chanting sutras, and it also treasures the only remaining 18 pieces of embroidery, it is said that no one has this skill now. There are also butter flowers, all hand-pinched one by one. The rest are murals, known as the 'three arts of Ta'er Monastery'. They are all cultural heritages worth our careful understanding. The whole journey takes about 2 hours, and there are many features that cannot be reproduced, such as the ochre hemp walls of the buildings, the deeds of various Dalai Lamas, all worth our understanding.

Welcome to Qinghai, China’s fourth largest province and home to towering mountains, stunning waterscapes and a variety of folk cultures.⠀ ⠀ We started our adventure in Xining (西宁), the capital city of the province on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau - and a city that played a key role in trade and cultural exchange after opening the Silk Road. And one of the most famous historical places to visit near Xining is Ta’er Monastery (otherwise known as Kumbum Monastery).⠀ ⠀ With 400 years of history, this monastery is a religious activity center that still houses practising monks within the complex that comprises of Buddhist halls, large courtyards, multiple stupas and more. ⠀ ⠀ 📍Kumbum Monastery, near Xining, Qinghai Province, China #leaveyourmark

Walking in the Kumbum Monastery with more than 600 years of history, touching the scattered temples on the Lotus Mountain, appreciating the art of ancient architecture, and feeling the peace in the strong light and shadow. The lifelike butter flowers, vivid murals and colorful embroidery make up the 'Three Wonders of Kumbum Monastery Art', which are amazing and stoppable. Kumbum Monastery has a history of more than 600 years and covers an area of more than 600 acres. The temple buildings are distributed on the slopes of Lotus Mountain, with the temples scattered high and low, reflecting each other. The Dajinwa Temple in the center of the temple, with green walls and golden tiles, is brilliant and is the main building of the temple. The Buddha statues in the temple are vivid and beautiful, and they are sacred. The lifelike butter flowers, colorful murals and colorful embroidery are known as the 'Three Wonders of Kumbum Monastery Art'. The temple also contains many Buddhist scriptures and academic classics in history, literature, philosophy, medicine, and legislation. Travel tips: 1. Kumbum Monastery is located in Xining, you can take bus 306 directly, open from 08:00-17:30. 2. Pay attention to dress requirements, you must wear long gowns and long skirts to enter. 3. There are many places in the temple where photography is prohibited, pay attention to the warning signs. 4. Try not to take pictures of local people or monks who are prostrating or turning scriptures. Recommended check-in locations: 1. The city gate at the ticket check-in. 2. The 'Kumbum Monastery' sign in front of the right hand side of the white tower when you come in, as well as the turning cylinder and three towers further down the slope. 3. There are many pigeons here, you need to compose the picture in advance and wait for the pigeons to fly over, which really requires some luck and patience. 4. After entering along the main road, there are many red walls, white walls and stacked ancient buildings, which are very photogenic under the light and shadow.

Welcome, dear travelers, to this meticulously crafted Qinghai travel guide. Here, you will witness the unique plateau scenery of Qinghai, experience the rich ethnic culture, taste authentic cuisine, and enjoy an extraordinary journey of transportation, granting you an unforgettable travel experience on this magical land. Attractions: 1. Qinghai Lake - China's largest inland lake, like a sapphire embedded in the plateau, with rippling blue waves, flocks of sheep and cattle by the lake, and a golden sea of rapeseed flowers, offering a spectacular sight of thousands of birds flying together in the summer. 2. Chaka Salt Lake - Known as the 'Mirror of the Sky', its pristine surface reflects the blue sky and white clouds, as if stepping into a dreamy fairyland. 3. Ta'er Monastery - One of the six major monasteries of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism in Qinghai Province, with exquisite murals, thangka, and butter sculpture art that are breathtaking. 4. Qilian Mountain Grassland - A green carpet surrounded by snow-capped mountains, a paradise for photography enthusiasts, and an excellent place to experience the life of nomads. Itinerary: Arrive in Xining on the first day, rest, and then visit the Dongguan Mosque to taste the local Muslim culture. The next day, drive to Qinghai Lake, enjoy the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau scenery along the way, and camp by the lake to watch the stars. On the third day, visit Chaka Salt Lake and head to Qilian Mountain Grassland in the afternoon, spending a night in a grassland homestay. Food Recommendations: • Hand-grabbed lamb: Made from tender lamb, with a rich taste and aromatic flavor, it is a Qinghai specialty. • Yogurt: Qinghai yogurt is thick and creamy, with a suitable sour and sweet taste, rich in probiotics, and is an excellent choice for quenching thirst and beating the heat. • Tsampa: A local specialty with a rich flavor, chewy texture, thick soup, and rich in nutrients. Transportation Tips: You can take a flight directly to Xining Caojiabao Airport from all over the country, or choose to travel by train or long-distance bus. Within the province, chartered self-driving is the most convenient for stopping to enjoy the scenery along the way. In addition, there are tourist buses to and from Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, and other places, which are both economical and convenient. On this vast and mysterious land, let us listen to the stories of Qinghai, explore the treasures of nature, enjoy the delicacies of the world, and embark on a journey that captivates the heart and soul!

Time: Sunday, 2023/12/24 20:00 Venue: Qinghai Grand Theatre - Art Lecture Hall Who says there's no Christmas atmosphere in the great Northwest? Here it comes, the Xining Spring Wave Island, Gua, and Mimi Dream Band concert! Besides watching the performance on Christmas, take advantage of the weekend to check out the local attractions in Xining! 1. Ta'er Monastery Ta'er Monastery is located in Huangzhong County, Xining, with a history of over 400 years. It is one of the important monasteries of the Gelug school (Yellow Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism and the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Yellow Sect. The monastery's architecture is magnificent, its treasures are abundant, and it offers a strong religious atmosphere, making it one of the more popular tourist destinations in Xining. 2. Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum The Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum is a comprehensive museum with a theme of Tibetan medicine and culture. It houses 16 exhibition halls, including the Silk Road and Qinghai-Tibetan Civilization, Panorama of Chinese Tibetan Art Paintings, History of Tibetan Medicine, etc. It treasures the Guinness World Record-holding Thangka masterpiece - 'Panorama of Chinese Tibetan Art Paintings', which is 618 meters long. Planned by the renowned Thangka master Zongzhe Lajie, it was completed by 400 painters over 4 years. The content encompasses the Tibetan understanding of the universe, the formation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, history, religion, medicine, culture, art, and folklore. The painting is detailed and colorful, a grand spectacle, and is known as a 'contemporary national treasure' and an encyclopedia of Tibetan culture. 3. Riyue Mountain Riyue Mountain is located on the way from Huangyuan to Qinghai Lake and is also a necessary route to Tibet. Legend has it that when Princess Wencheng entered Tibet, she broke the stone mirror that could not reflect her hometown into two pieces, the sun and the moon, hence the name Riyue Mountain. On both sides of the Riyue Mountain pass, there is a small peak with the Sun Pavilion and the Moon Pavilion, two iconic buildings.

Life really needs a trip to the great Northwest!!! The impact is so profound!!! We went there in early June, when there were seriously few tourists, and I really enjoy traveling when it's not crowded, I don't like the hustle and bustle of crowds🤭. Because the distance between each scenic spot on the Qinghai-Tibet loop is quite far (basically around 500km), we spent a lot of time on the road, but the scenery along the way is super beautiful. Listening to music through headphones, looking at the Gobi, basins, mountain ranges, plateaus, and snacking... is also a unique pleasure. 【Specific Travel Strategies】 Day 1 Our first stop was Xining, mainly for rest and preparation before traveling, and we bought some food. Then in the morning, we went to the Ta'er Monastery, and the first picture was taken there. It suddenly started pouring rain, and it was super cold🥶, so we only had a brief visit for about two hours before heading back. Then at noon, we found a noodle restaurant near the hotel. When you go to the Northwest, you must try the local noodles, I really love them, and the noodles are very chewy! Then in the evening, we went to the night market on Daxin Street in the city center. Qinghai old yogurt is my favorite🥰 because I really love set yogurt, and I also like sour foods, Qinghai old yogurt really satisfies my taste. Then you must try the local lamb, I usually only eat roasted lamb and avoid other lamb dishes because I think they have a gamey taste, but locals say their lamb doesn't have that gamey taste, saying it's related to the breed of the sheep. Then I tried it myself, and it really, really didn't have the gamey taste, it was super delicious!!! Day2 The Qinghai-Tibet Grand Loop journey officially begins!!! Our first stop was Qinghai Lake, pictures 2 and 3 were taken there, the water is really super blue, and you can see the distant snow-capped mountains and the flight of seagulls. Then the second stop was Chaka Salt Lake (Mirror of the Sky), its scenery is particularly affected by the season and weather. The time we went was not its most beautiful period, because in June the lake surface had not melted much, so it couldn't form reflections. If you want to take photos in the lake, you need to rent special shoes, everyone be careful and don't step into holes❗️ We chose to take a small train there and walked back (about 40 minutes). Day3 We passed the U-shaped highway on the way, everyone must be careful when taking photos, as there are many large trucks coming and going. It's really super dangerous‼️ We went to Dachaidan Emerald Lake, (personal preference) Emerald Lake is more beautiful than Chaka Salt Lake!!! It was my first time seeing a green lake🤗, we chose to take a small train. We also tried aerial drone photography, sitting in a boat in the middle of the lake, someone will guide your poses, and I am very satisfied with the photos and videos (I didn't post the photos and videos hehe) Then we hurried to the next location (coming to my most favorite, most favorite, most favorite spot on the Qinghai-Tibet Grand Loop!!!) I want to dedicate a separate post to record it😁

Holiday! The super long holiday of National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival is coming, why not pack up and set off! Many friends have consulted me about the Qinghai-Gansu big loop line, and I have organized some content about the Qinghai-Gansu big loop line self-driving that you must know, hurry up and like and collect it! 🔍About the Qinghai-Gansu loop line: The so-called big loop line is a self-driving route from Xining, Qinghai, all the way west to Dunhuang, then west to return to Gansu, along the Hexi Corridor and finally back to Xining. There are many scenic spots along the way, and the mainstream 5-day and 8-day routes on the Internet cannot perfectly cover all the scenic spots along the way. So in the choice of route, it depends on whether you focus on the scenery or culture. 🗓️Main scenic spot strategy: It's impossible to be meticulous, but there can be a focus. Combined with my own experience and online information, I have summarized a version of the recommended key scenic spots (with recommended reasons) ✔️Xining Ta'er Monastery: Gelugpa monastery, the master Tsongkhapa walked out from here, the red wall is very photogenic. ✔️Qinghai Lake: It is said that Tsangyang Gyatso died here, one of the highest lakes in the world. ✔️Chaka Salt Lake: The mirror of the sky, is one of the "55 places a person must go in his lifetime" selected by National Geographic magazine. ✔️Dachaidan Emerald Lake: Compared to the fame of Chaka Salt Lake, this place is relatively niche, especially suitable for aerial photography!!! ✔️Wuwei Leitai: The location of ancient Liangzhou, Gansu Wuwei, the famous horse stepping on the flying swallow is from the Leitai Han tomb here. ✔️Qilian Mountain: The part where Qinghai and Gansu meet, the Qilian Mountains have many birds and animals and beautiful scenery. ✔️Zhangye Colorful Danxia: God spilled the palette here, a typical representative of the Danxia landform. ✔️Jiayuguan: "The first strong pass in the world", many frontier poems are related to him, remember to take a photo with the popular Guanchang. ✔️Mingsha Mountain: Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring is a must-visit attraction in Dunhuang, climb the sand dunes to overlook the Crescent Spring, wait for the moon to come out, super artistic conception. ✔️Mogao Grottoes: The most famous grottoes, the cultural value is immeasurable. ⚠️Don't drive alone!!! Coming out of Xining, the Ta'er Temple to Dachaidan section will have mild altitude sickness, rest appropriately, eat something, there is no need to buy oxygen. 🚗About self-driving: The whole journey is either a highway or a national road. As long as you don't want to challenge those sections that have not been repaired, a general car is fine. There are many people traveling during the small long holiday, and there will be traffic jams, which cannot be avoided. 📸Photography suggestions: 1️⃣There are different features all the way, it is recommended to bring a few more lenses, 16-35, 70-200 are the minimum. 2️⃣Drones are banned in Jiayuguan, Mogao Grottoes, Ta'er Temple and other places, be sure to understand in advance. I am Gala, an amateur photographer who likes to go on a whim, but doesn't know how to press the shutter~ 🛻🛻🛻🛻🛻🛻🛻🛻🛻 🚙Transportation: Many routes are gathered from Xining, there are chartered tours, and there are travel groups. If you are self-driving, I suggest you can start from Lanzhou, stay for one more day, Lanzhou city is always easily overlooked. Like and follow to not get lost❤️