Gyangzê - Gyangzê

Gyangzê, also Gyantse or Gyangtse written is a city in Tibet.

background

The city Gyangzê lies in the valley of the Nyang Chu, a tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo or Brahmaputra. Here old trade routes coming from Sikkim cross the river. A fortification was built in the 14th century at the strategically favorable location. This Dzong was partially destroyed by the British in 1904 after a siege lasting several days. The Red Guards caused further damage during the Cultural Revolution, and they did not spare the monastery either Pälkhor Chöde

getting there

By plane

In the street

Gyangzê is on the old route of the Friendship Highway and is from Lhasa around 250 km away. The route leads over a picturesque mountain route and along Lake Yamdrock, then over the Kharo-La Pass to Lhasa. To Xigazê is the distance through the fertile Nyang Chu-Tal good 90 km. The new Friendship Highway goes far past the city, which is certainly not a disadvantage for tourists.

mobility

Tourist Attractions

The dzong

Across the valley of the Nyang Chu a ridge rises, which is dominated by a mighty structure, the Dzong. The external damage of the last century has largely been removed, but there is still a lot to be done inside the structure to make it attractive to visitors. A climb is definitely worthwhile, if only because of the view over the city of Gyangzê and its surroundings. There are two ways: the shorter but steeper one, it starts at the city center and goes past the great monument and the People's Square. The other way leads from the old town up to serpentines on the north side of the mountain.

Pälkhor Chöde

The complex is surrounded by a huge wall that looks more like a fortification than a monastery. In fact, Pälkhor Chöde was a town in whose heyday monks from three different orders lived in a good dozen monasteries. After the destruction of the Cultural Revolution, only a small part of the buildings was restored, but monks from three different schools still live in the monastery today. In addition to the Thangka wall and the Shalupa monastery on the mountainside are the most striking buildings of the Tsuglagkhang and the Kumbum

The Tsuglagkhang

For all the monasteries in the complex is the Tsuglagkhang the main assembly hall. Next to the entrance on the left are im Gönkhang To see some protective deities, there are Buddha figures in the side chapels. The most important figures of the temple face the entrance: Dipamkara, Shakyamuni and Maitreya according to past, present and future.
Pälkhor Chöde is also known for its mandalas. Some of them are located on the upper floor of the Tsuglagkhang. In the time around the Buddha's birthday, which is April 15, monks in the Tsuglagkhang produce colorful, partly three-dimensional mandalas with an estimated diameter of 5 meters. It takes 4 monks about 5 weeks for this work. Please note: according to our calendar, this is around May 29th.

The kumbum

The Kumbum-Chörten has the ground plan of a mandala, it is a huge walk-in stupa with a total of 9 levels at a height of 35 m. Kumbum stands for 100,000 images. Most of the figures are no longer original, the original ones were supposedly more beautiful, but what can be seen here is also impressive. Most of the murals are said to have been preserved in their original form, and not all levels are open to the public and there is an entrance fee. You also have to pay for photos. The figures in the chapels can only be photographed with a flashlight, but you have wonderful views of the surroundings of the monastery from the various levels. You first climb the stairs, pay your fee and go clockwise from niche to niche, there are a total of 20, each is painted in magnificent colors, each is equipped with a brightly glazed clay figure, the larger niches accommodate various Buddhas and their students. The figures in the smaller niches are often eerily beautiful to look at, the secondary gods are usually not particularly attractive. If you already think that the tour is over, you get to the top of the stairs in a niche. It continues here: on the first floor, various protective deities are depicted in 20 niches. They are not ideals of beauty either, but they are bursting with strength and determination. The second level is again dedicated to the various Buddhas, this time to the Adibuddhas. On the third level one meets important teachers of the faith and religious founders. The fourth level is at the level of the dome BumpaLarge statues and numerous mandalas can be seen in the four chapels. And of course there is the best view of the surrounding area from here. The upper floors 5-8 are locked.

The kumbum

A protective deity

Buddha statue

activities

shop

kitchen

nightlife

accommodation

• Gyangtse Hotel Tibet, No. 8 South Yingxiong Road, Gyangtse Town. Tel.: 86 892-8172222, Fax: 86 892-8172366. Located on the edge of the old town, there are numerous different restaurants in the immediate vicinity.last change: not specified

health

Practical advice

trips

literature

Web links

• http://www.xzjz.gov.cn/ - Gyangzê official website