Tagong Temple in Kangding City, Garze
Attractions Overview
Tagong Temple is a famous Sakya temple in Garze Prefecture. With a history of more than a thousand years, it is an important sacred place of pilgrimage for Tibetan people in Khampa area.
Tagong Temple and Yaqing Temple, Larong Temple (Saida Buddha Institute) are famous temples in Ganzi Prefecture.
Chinese name: 甘孜州康定塔公寺
English Name: Tagong Temple in Kangding City, Garze Prefecture
Type: Intangible Cultural Heritage
Best Seasons: Apr.-May. and Sept.-Oct.
Recommended Visiting Time: 1 hour
Opening Hours:8:00 AM---18:00 PM
Tickets: ￥20
Address: Kangding City, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sicuan Province
Why is Tagong Temple So Special?
Tagong Temple is located in Kangding City, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway Line, about 400 kilometers apart from Chengdu City. Tagong Temple is a famous Sakya temple in Garze Prefecture. With a history of more than a thousand years, it is an important sacred place of pilgrimage for Tibetan people in Khampa area.
Besides, Tagong Temple and Yaqing Temple, Larong Temple (Saida Buddha Institute) are famous temples in Ganzi Prefecture.
What to See in Tagong Temple?
Main Shrine Hall（大雄宝殿）
The main shrine hall is the main place for monks to chant buddhist scriptures and practice dharma. There are many mural paintings around the temple which are precious Buddhist relics.
Sakyamuni Hall（释迦殿）
The Sakyamuni Buddha statue was enshrined in the temple of Sakyamuni, as well as the footprints left on the stone by the master of the Yuan Dynasty, Basiba Phah, and a thousand-hand Bodhisattva statue, which is about one meter tall.
Guanyin Hall（观音殿）
Built in 1997, the highest gold-plated statue of Guanyin in Tibet was enshrined in this hall. Besides, the temple also treasures the Buddha’s teeth of “Sanji Quba” (Gayyagu Buddha), the Falun used by the 12th century Indian great achiever “Naruba Master”, and the gold-plated bronze Buddha presented to the temple by Basiba, the master of the Yuan Dynasty. In addition, many precious Buddhist relics and the codes of Sakya also have been treasured in temple.
Festivals and Activities
In mid-to-late June of the Tibetan calendar, the temple will hold grand Buddhist events and the dances to god activities, and the scene is very solemn and impressive.
In the middle of July to early August, the annual Sarley activities will be held in the Tagong prairie, during which there will be folk horse racing activities, songs and dances activities. A lot of colorful tents are built on the prairie. It is very bustling.
Best Time to Travel Tagong Temple
The best travel time is summer and autumn .
Walking in summer and autumn is the best time and way to enjoy Tagong Temple. It takes 4 hours to reach it from Chengdu, and the hiking route is about 15 kilometers. The terrain here is steep. It is generally difficult for us to climb to the top of the mountain. Starting in the morning, we can enjoy the magnificent sunrise of Tagong Temple.
How To Get There
- Take Hailuogou Tourism Bus (starting at 09:00) at the Xinnanmen (new south gate) Bus Station, which will take you to Mount Gongga directly.
- Take Chengdu-Kangding Bus Line (starting at 09:00, 11:00, and 13:00) at Chadianzi Bus Station to Kangding, from which there are special tourism buses to Gongga Mountain directly.
Useful Travel Tips
| Opening Hours | 08:00-18:00 (Hailuogou Glaciers Forest Park) 08:00-17:00 (Mugecuo Scenic Resort) Whole day (Wuxuhai Scenic Resort) 08:00-17:00 (Tianwanhe Scenic Resort) |
| Admission Fee | Hailuogou Glaciers Forest Park: CNY 90, CNY 70 for a sightseeing bus (round-way), CNY 150 for a cable car (round-way) Mugecuo Scenic Resort: Wuxuhai Scenic Resort: CNY 60 Tianwanhe Scenic Resort: CNY 20 |
Nearby Attractions
- Fairy Pool Scenic Area in Jiuzhaigou
- Rize Valley in Jiuzhaigou
- Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic
- The First Bend of Yellow River in Aba
- Tagong Temple in Kangding City
- Chonggu Monastery in Daocheng Yading
