Gerdeng Monastery

Gerdeng Monastery

Gerdeng Monastery is a cultural tourism attraction.

The name "Langmu Temple" first appeared as a place name in documents of the Northwest Army of the People's Liberation Army of China. As this area serves as a junction between Sichuan and Gansu provinces and was historically known as the "Center of the Southern Tribes," Tibetan Buddhist monasteries are at the heart of the region, hence the name Langmu Temple.

Today, Langmu Temple comprises two major monasteries and two mosques. One is the Sichuan Monastery (as referred to locally), officially named "Dacang Nammo Gerdeng Monastery," commonly called Gerdeng Monastery. It is one of the largest and most influential Gelug sect monasteries in the Aba region of Sichuan, overseeing 18 branch monasteries, with around 500 monks currently residing. The other is the Northwestern Monastery (as locals call it), officially named "Dacang Langmu Saiqi Monastery," commonly known as Saiqi Monastery. Saiqi Monastery is a branch of Tibet’s Drepung Monastery and also belongs to the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It has over 360 monks. The Sichuan Mosque and the Northwestern Mosque are located in villages known locally as "Northwestern Jiake Village" and "Sichuan Jiake Village" (now renamed Hui Min Village), inhabited by about 1,100 people from the Hui, Dongxiang, Salar, and Bonan ethnic groups, who practice Islam.

Mystery and serenity are the defining features of Langmu Temple. The profound culture of Tibetan Buddhism is the mainstream here. Throughout the year, the resonant chants of the two monasteries facing each other across the north and south fill the air, while the fragrant smoke of incense offerings ("Wangshan" — a ritual of reverence and ceremony) drifts over the mountains and valleys. The majestic stupas of the monasteries stand alongside the slender, elegant minarets of the mosques under the blue sky of the small town. The overall ambiance evokes the legendary Shangri-La, offering insights into the tolerance and humility of Buddhist culture and the spirit of harmony amid diversity between the two religious traditions in daily life.

Gerdeng Monastery in Sichuan once housed many rare treasures, most of which were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Today, one precious relic remains — the preserved body of the Fifth Gerdeng Rinpoche. Born in 1681, he passed away in 1775 at the age of 74. During the Cultural Revolution, his body was moved to Ruo’ergai County and later secretly buried in the Dalonggou Mountain by local devotees. When it was exhumed in 1981, the body’s flesh remained elastic and undamaged. It was then returned to Gerdeng Monastery and is now enshrined in the monastery’s golden hall. Before the democratic reform, the body reportedly grew hair naturally; after being shaved once by senior monks, it never grew back. The gold-painted body has endured over 300 years of turmoil and remains remarkably lifelike, leaving both domestic and international visitors in awe. The phenomenon of human life is one of the world’s most mysterious and least understood, and the preserved body of the Fifth Rinpoche inspires admiration and reverence among those who seek science and the mysteries of life.

Address: Ruo’ergai County, Aba Prefecture (located near the Sichuan-Gansu border, adjacent to Langmu Temple Town in Luqu County)

Type: Temple & Historical Site

Recommended Visiting Time: 3–4 hours

Phone: 0941-8225353

Opening Hours:

8:00-17:00

Ticket Information:

Door Price: 30.0 CNY