Kumbum Monastery is located in Huangzhong County, Qinghai Province, 25 kilometers (about 16 miles) away from the capital city of Qinghai Province-Xining. It is the religious activity center of both monks and followers of the Yellow Hat Sect (also named Gelugpa Sect, a branch of Tibetan Buddhism).
Kumbum Monastery is called "gongben" in the Tibetan language, which means "1,000 figures of Buddha"  It has gradually become a place of interest for its distinct ethnic and native style with its 400 years long of history. The whole area covers more than 144 thousand square meters (about 36 acres) with mountains surrounding it. It has 9,300 rooms and 52 halls. You could visualize what a splendid place it is just by judging these figures. The Kumbum Monastery is a group of fine buildings in a combination of both the Han and Tibetan styles of architecture on the mountain slopes. It has lofty temples and halls rising one upon another. The palace buildings, Buddhist halls, sleeping quarters, as well as the courtyards echo each other and thus enhance the beauty of the whole area.

The Great Hall of the Golden Roof and the Great Hall of Meditation are the main parts among so many buildings. As the center core building, the Great Hall of the Golden Roof is located in the middle of the monastery. Its colorful gates, which are different in length, are carved into various flower patterns and painted with multifarious fresh colors. The surfaces of the walls are covered with green ceramic tiles and embedded with countless pearls, agates, and gems, making the whole hall sparkle.

There is a silver tower built to commemorate Tsong Khapa inside the hall. This tower is also embedded with many kinds of jewels and wrapped with ten layers of pure white Hada (raw silk fabric presented to exalted guests to express purity, honesty and respect) to show its grandness. In front of the tower golden and silver lights and old flasks displayed more than 5,000 small golden figures of Buddha surrounding them, which enhance the stateliness of the Tsong Khapa's statue in the shrine. In the ark behind the hall, the treasures of the Yellow Hat Sect are stored. They are considered very precious relics of the Ta'er Monastery.

The Kumbum Monastery is rich with fascinating arts. The famous butter sculptures, the barbolas, and the murals are considered to be the three most unique arts of superb craftsmanship.

Name:Xining Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Si)
City:Xining
Address:25km southeast of Xining
Admission:CNY80
Hours: 08:30 am -05:30 pm
Tel: 0086-071-2232357

This article was posted on 2007-09-25
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