Songzanlin Monastery, or known as “Little Potala” according to its appearance, is a traditional Lama monastery located just 5 kilometres away from the Shangri La / Zhongdian Old town. It was built in 1679 and has been reconstructed several times as it is considered to be one of the most significant monasteries among Yunnan. Today, Songzanlin is the home for more or less 700 monks and Lamas for their monastic lives.
Inside the main complex, many historical Buddhist events are well-illustrated by three bronze statues and the colourful murals. They represent the Lord Buddha’s life, and the wheel of life that characterize the six realms of existence: heaven, demigods, humankind, hell, hungry ghosts and animals. However the centre of the wheels symbolizes the three harms of life – ignorance, hatred and greed.
Entry fee to the monastery: 75RMB per person + 15RMB per person for the shuttle.
The monastery is full of treasures. There are a lot of golden figures of Buddha josses, golden lamps, Tibetan lections, silver censers and so on. All of these are wonderful collections accumulated from each dynasty. They are precious productions made by people of both Tibet nationality and Han nationality.
Songzanlin Monastery has another alias - 'the little Potala Palace ', so named because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere. In 1679, Dalailama chose this place by divination, and it went on to become the uppermost public place in Yunan which features the particular local characteristics. Annually, the Gedong Festival is celebrated here by the Tibetans. Pious believers, with their knees and foreheads knocking the ground at every step, come here to pray.
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