Mount Wengjia

Mount Wengjia

Where there are canyons, there are endless landscapes. Approaching Dengxian County, what rolls beneath your feet are mountains. Starting from Chengdu, after passing through the Western Sichuan Plain, Ya'an, Luding County, and Kangding County, you cross several peaks over 4,000 meters in elevation — Zheduo Mountain, Gaosizi Mountain, Haizi Mountain, Tuer Mountain, and Jianziwan Mountain — to get close to Dengxian County. From then on, the mountains become etched in your mind.

Mount Wengjia is located about 15 km northeast of Dengxian County. Within a radius of over 30 km², there are several closely connected peaks, collectively referred to locally as the Sacred Site of Wengjia. Among them is the snow-covered peak with the highest elevation of 4,769 m. Standing at the summit, to the east you can gaze upon the Bamang Snow Mountain; to the west, you look out over the vast Dinggong Grassland and the Gajin Snow Mountain; to the north lies the boundless Gongka Grassland; and to the east, the Ma’i River winds around the mountains like a jade ribbon. The fame of Mount Wengjia comes not only from its enchanting natural scenery but more importantly, from the legend that it holds the golden key to the 108 sacred sites of the Tibetan region.

It is said that one must first come here to obtain the golden key before praying at other Buddhist sacred sites for their wishes to come true. As a result, pilgrims flock here ceaselessly. Every December during the “Guduo Festival,” and in years of the Pig (it is believed this sacred site was established in a Pig year), thousands of pilgrims from as far away as India, Tibet, and as nearby as Yunnan and southwestern Sichuan, pour in from all directions, creating an unprecedented spectacle.

In Buddhism, temples are essential, and the “Wengjia Temple” here is unlike any other. It is built within a natural cave halfway up the mountain, nestled into the cave, emerging from it yet hidden within it — a perfect harmony with nature. The main prayer hall is situated inside the cave, measuring 21 m in height, 29 m in width, and 36 m in depth, covering an area of 1,044 m², and capable of accommodating nearly a thousand people. Inside the cave, stalactites form naturally shaped birds, beasts, Buddha statues, tables, and stools, while pigeon nests and swiftlet nests densely cover the cave ceiling. A clear spring gushes from within the cave, remaining transparent and flowing year-round. Pilgrims regard it as holy water, drinking and washing in it to pray for blessings. On the stone walls are hundreds of naturally formed first characters of the six-syllable mantra from Buddhist scriptures — “Om.” It is said that the temple was built by those who attained enlightenment through practice here. Viewed from below, the protruding part of the temple appears as if hanging from the cliff face.