Xinzha Mani Stone Scripture City

　　    Located in Xinzha Village, east of Jiegu Town, the capital of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, accessible via National Highway 214, 3 kilometers from Jiegu Town. It is a humanistic scenic tourism area of historical and cultural significance.

　　    Xinzha Mani Stone Scripture City, commonly known as Jiana Mani Stone Pile, sits at an altitude of over 3,600 meters. The Jiana Mani Stone Scripture City was established over 1,700 years ago by the eminent Tibetan Buddhist master Jiana Daoding Sangqiu Pyong (also known as Jiana-). Historical records indicate that Jiana- was a Khampa who practiced at Mount Emei and Mount Wutai before traveling across and paying homage to various sacred sites in the Tibetan region. When he arrived in Xinzha Village over 200 years ago, he discovered a naturally appearing Mani stone inscribed with the Six-Syllable Mantra. Taking this as a sign, he settled in the village and spent his life carving Mani stones together with monks and laypeople. In the early years after liberation, the Mani stone pile had grown into a grand Mani Stone Scripture City, stretching 450 meters from east to west, 100 meters from north to south, and 3 meters high. It included structures such as a prayer hall, stupas, and a large prayer wheel hall. There were approximately 2.5 billion Mani and - stones. In Buddhist scripture, Mani refers to the Six-Syllable Mantra of Avalokiteshvara, where the six syllables symbolize liberating beings from the six realms of existence, dispelling the six afflictions, practicing the six perfections, attaining the six Buddha bodies, and generating the six kinds of wisdom—among other profound merits. Reciting this mantra or turning the scriptures benefits all beings and accrues boundless merit. As a result, every fifteenth day of the first lunar month, many people come here to circumambulate and worship. People around the world admire the enduring spirit and exquisite craftsmanship of the local people who have continuously and tirelessly carved the Mani stone scriptures over centuries. Currently, the Mani stone pile measures 283 meters from east to west, 74 meters from north to south, and 2.5 meters high. It consists of over 2 billion Mani stones, one large prayer wheel hall, one prayer hall, ten large prayer wheels, more than 300 small prayer wheels, and over ten stupas. Inside the prayer hall of the scripture city, there is also a statue of the first Jiana-, the founder of the scripture city, and naturally appeared Mani stones. The quantity of Jiana Mani stone carvings, the duration of their carving, and the scale of the site are rare in the world and can be considered a global marvel.