Litang White Pagoda Park

Litang White Pagoda Park

White Pagoda Park is a significant cultural site in Litang County. Legend has it that over a thousand years ago, after Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo conquered the Mu Kingdom, he consulted with Princess Wencheng about building a stupa in each of three locations — present-day Litang County, the Maoya Grassland in Litang, and Xinduqiao in Kangding — to commemorate the victory and promote Buddhism in the Kham region. The Buddhist scriptures enshrined in these three stupas were wrapped in white, floral, and black cloth, respectively. The stupa in Litang County was wrapped in white cloth, and it also housed precious religious artifacts as well as rare treasures such as a night-shining pearl and a fire-dragon pearl, hence it came to be known as the "White Treasure Pagoda." Over time, people grew accustomed to simply calling it the White Pagoda, which is how it got its name.

The White Pagoda is an outdoor stupa, classified as one of the Eight Stupas, specifically the Bodhi Stupa. White Pagoda Park is the only thematic park in southern Kham and is often referred to as a “Little Potala Palace.” It is also unique in the world for centering around the White Pagoda, which holds supreme significance in the hearts of Tibetan people. In the park, 119 smaller stupas surround the main pagoda, forming a distinctive stupa forest — each of the 119 small stupas represents one of the 119 villages in the county. The White Pagoda is sleek and white as jade, with a round top and square base, exuding grandeur. The main stupa stands 33 meters tall, while the smaller ones are 2.5 meters high. The statue of a crane poised to take flight inside the main pagoda is said to have been transformed from the love songs of the Sixth Dalai Lama. Against the blue sky, the pagoda appears extraordinary and breathtakingly beautiful, showcasing the exquisite architectural craftsmanship and artistic brilliance of the Tibetan people.

Legend has it that when the three stupas were originally built, they were like three brothers who made a pact to exist or perish together. But this is just hearsay — whether it’s true or not, you’ll have to visit and judge for yourself.