Qucang Temple

Qucang Temple is located 18 kilometers from Huzhu County and 58 kilometers from Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides. The overall mountain terrain resembles a coiled dragon lying at rest. To the left stands Phoenix Mountain, and in front lies Lion Mountain, with lush pines and cypresses on the hills and thousands of acres of verdant farmland stretching out before the temple. Qucang Temple was first established in the sixth year of the Shunzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty by the First Qucang Rinpoche, Namgye Panchen.

Qucang Temple

Qucang Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Qucang Temple

Qucang Temple is located 18 kilometers from Huzhu County and 58 kilometers from Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province.

The temple is embraced by mountains on all sides. The overall mountain terrain resembles a coiled dragon lying at rest. To the left stands Phoenix Mountain, and in front lies Lion Mountain, with lush pines and cypresses on the hills and thousands of acres of verdant farmland stretching out before the temple. Qucang Temple was first built in the sixth year of the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, which corresponds to 1649 AD, by the First Qucang Rinpoche, Namgye Panchen. It was destroyed in the first year of the Yongzheng reign due to the Lobsang Danjin incident but was later rebuilt. By 1985, the temple housed over 150 resident monks. The monastery includes large and small scripture halls as well as a Thousand Buddha Hall. There are also grand residential quarters ("Labrang") for Rinpoches such as Qucang, Jamyang, Sakyi, Guihua, Lotus, Aqun, and Xiar. The main structure, the Three-Story Thousand Buddha Hall of Shakyamuni, has ninety-nine rooms. The monastery houses both the Gelug school of Buddhism and the Kalachakra College, following the curriculum of the Ganden Jangtse College of Drepung Monastery, and includes its own "Qucang Khangtsen" within the college. The current abbot is the Sixth Rinpoche, Losang Tenpe Wangchuk.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites