Char Su Mu Lamasery

The Char Su Mu Lamasery is located in Tabulehet Mongolian Ethnic Township. After the Third Plenary Session of the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, to implement the Party’s religious policies, relevant authorities began preparations in 1984 and selected a site one kilometer south of the township government seat in Tabulehet Mongolian Township for reconstruction. Construction started in 1985, and in 1986...

Char Su Mu Lamasery

Char Su Mu Temple

The Char Su Mu Lamasery is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Char Su Mu Temple, also known as Puching Temple, was originally located within Baiyanggou Town in our city and was once the largest Buddhist temple in northern Xinjiang. The temple was situated on the northern slope of the Char Su Mu Resort in Baiyanggou Town, Usu City, facing east and built against the mountain. In front of the mountain lies the Char Su Mu pasture, with winding rivers and crisscrossing forest belts, offering beautiful scenery. The temple was constructed in the fifth year of the Guangxu reign (1879) by followers of the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism from the returning Torghut tribe. It was an earthen and wooden structure covering an area of about 800,000 square meters. The entire architectural complex was modeled after the Potala Palace in Tibet and built on terraced platforms arranged along the slopes. The main hall was constructed at the highest point of the platform, and the varying elevations created a staggered and majestic layout. It was once hailed as the “Potala Palace of Xinjiang.” At its peak, there were 587 lamas and 2 living Buddhas (Qutongmu and Danzengjiamaocuo). The temple had separate administrative divisions for personnel, land, livestock, and religious affairs. In 1958, there were 116 lamas in the temple. In 1959, the temple was destroyed, leaving only ruins. In 1986, a new temple was built one kilometer south of the township government, covering an area of 329 square meters with a brick-and-wood structure. It includes a main hall and one room on each side, and currently has about 28 lamas.

The ruins of the Char Su Mu Temple are nestled against the mountain and near the water. The surrounding slopes are densely forested with spruce trees, and the pasture is lush. The slopes in front are scattered with glacial erratics, and lush green grass grows around the large boulders, creating a strikingly layered landscape with clear distinctions between green trees, fresh grass, and peculiar rocks—truly a beautiful sight.

The ruins of the Char Su Mu Temple have been relatively well preserved, and the surrounding scenery is picturesque. It is one of the important tourism resources with development potential in Usu City.