Long'en Temple

Long'en Temple

Long'en Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Located in the southeastern part of Gande County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, accessible via the Xining–Jiuzhi Highway and about 70 kilometers from the prefectural capital Dawu Town, it is a historical and cultural humanistic scenic tourism site. The temple is situated on an earthen platform, backed by mountains and facing a river, in a spacious and sunny area, covering approximately 130,000 square meters. It is the largest Nyingma sect monastery in Gande County, with its mother monastery being Tsokchen Monastery in Dege, Sichuan Province. The monastery boasts an exceptional sandalwood art—the Gesar figures carved from sandalwood; as well as distinctive architectural art—the Snowland Pagoda Xiarong Kaxiao, which has now become the tallest pagoda in Asia and is renowned both domestically and internationally. The monastery houses one Tibetan medicine clinic, staffed by seven Tibetan doctors and equipped with a full range of medical instruments. In 1982, the Mawei Gesar Cultural Center was established, receiving support and attention from Zhao Puchu, former president of the Buddhist Association, as well as many other well-known individuals from home and abroad. The plaque inscribed with “Mawei Gesar Cultural Center” by Mr. Zhao Puchu is preserved in the center. The monastery also formed a Tibetan opera troupe primarily dedicated to spreading Gesar culture and art. Its membership grew from an initial 45 to over 80 people. Their service work and cultural activities are very popular among the public. In addition, the monastery is home to notable artists such as E Ruo, a renowned storyteller of the Epic of King Gesar in China, Ge Ri Jian Can, a young author who has written five volumes of Gesar recitations, and Ga Ri Luo, who possesses exceptional Tibetan thangka painting skills. The main deities enshrined in the temple include Sakyamuni Buddha, Padmasambhava, and the Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara.