Lingque Monastery

Lingque Monastery

Lingque Monastery is a cultural heritage site protected by Sichuan Province.

Lingque Monastery is located on the northern hillside of Daofu County and is one of the 13 Gelug monasteries in the Kham region. The monastery is renowned across Kham for its exquisitely crafted butter sculptures, which feature elaborate designs and vibrant colors, representing the finest of Tibetan artistry.

The Sacred Hall of Butter Sculptures—Lingque Monastery. Located at the foot of Nicuo Mountain in the northwest of Daofu County, the monastery's name is derived from the transliteration of the local place name Nicuo, meaning "Yanghai Monastery" in Tibetan. It is one of the “Thirteen Great Hordes Monasteries” in the Garzê Tibetan region. Covering an area of over 700 acres, the monastery complex includes the Great Buddha’s Hall, Golden Buddha Hall, Small Scripture Hall, Guardian Deity Temple, Debate Hall, Scripture Repository, Cultural Relics Room, and living quarters for monks. The main structure, the three-story Great Buddha’s Hall, houses over a hundred golden Buddha statues of various sizes. The architectural style of the entire hall embodies a unique blend of ethnic form and religious characteristics. The exterior is solemn, majestic, and grand, while the interior features exquisite carvings and lifelike sculptures and paintings. The entire monastery is built against the mountain and facing the water, forming a terraced architectural complex enclosed by high walls, with four mountain gates, resembling a small town.

The monastery’s Butter Sculpture Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the Jiangke Festival from September 22 to 29, and the Anqu Festival from October 21 to 25 are particularly grand, with the Butter Sculpture Festival being the most famous. The butter sculptures made at Lingque Monastery are finely shaped and brightly colored, representing the pinnacle of Tibetan handicrafts and celebrated throughout Kham. Visiting the monastery to worship, admire the butter sculptures, and experience the profound richness of Tibetan culture is a truly uplifting and delightful experience.

Protected Area: 5 meters east of the monastery hall’s platform base, 10 meters south, 5 meters west, and 8 meters north.

Construction Control Zone: 10 meters beyond the protected area.