Detailed Introduction of Derge of its attractions and activities. Derge and Sershul is a vast area in northwestern Sichuan that is home to beautiful mountains and old monasteries including Chola Mountains, Derge Parkhang, Yihun Lhatso, Palpung Monastery, Dzogchen Monastery, Kathok Monastery, Sershul, Manigango and Palyul Monastery. Find useful travel guide and information about travel to Derge in details.
Chola Mountain is a massif of mountains located in the northern Shaluli Mountain Range. It is home to dozens of high peaks over 5000m and many glaciers, lakes, old monasteries and wild valleys and animals. It is by far one of the least explored regions in Sichuan with stunning nature. The highest peak of Chola soars 6168 meters into the sky.
The Derge Parkhang, Derge Sutra Printing Temple, is the institution printing and preserve Tibetan Literature and Buddhist's works. It is an important cultural and historical centre in Tibet. It is renowed as "the encyclopedia of Tibetan culture" or "Cultural pearl at the foot of Snow Mountain".
Derge is historically the heartland of Kham Tibet and a very remote place even for other parts of Tibet. Mt. Chola Range and the neighboring Gangga (Gonkala) Mountains provide excellent mountain views with highland lakes, hidden monasteries, quiet valleys, and stunning snow-capped mountains.
Xinluhai, more widely known as Ylihun Lhatso, is the turquoise lake north to the Chola Mountain. Elevation 4040 meters with three sides surrounded by snow mountains and the north by the side of national highway of 317. Ylihun Lhatso is located 100km west to Ganzi and 100km east to Derge. The lake is one of the biggest in this area and with an average depth of 10 meters.
Palpung Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhists' monastery first established in 1729 in Qing Dynasty. It is a big monastery in a back-country valley southeast to the town of Dege(Derge). It was built on a mountain platform in the alpine valley. Constructions of Palpung Monastery are immense.
Dzogchen Monastery is situated in Gengda of Dzogchen in northern Derge with an elevation of almost 10000 ft. It is the monastery of Holy Reincarnation. This Nyingmapa monastery is one of the six great Nyingmapa schools in Tibetan Buddhism of Tibet. It was built in 1685 and during the past 300 years, nutured many Buddhist masters.
Kathok Monastery is the origin of Nyingmapa Monastery of Tibet. It is the very first mother monastery of Nyingma Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Kathok is also a Buddhist school of Nyingmapa. Kathok Monastery is also called Kathok Gompa by local people. Derge was once one of the three cultural centers of Tibet. Kathok was an important monastery in Tibetan history.
Dzongsar Monastery (Zongsa Monastery) is an important monastery of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, and is even more renowned as the birthplace of the "Rimé movement" (the nonsectarian movement). It is not merely a temple, but a sacred site that integrates profound history, religious culture, and traditional craftsmanship.
Manigango is a single-street town at the edge of grassland near Chola Mountain at the road conjunction of Derge, Sershul and Ashu Grassland. It is a typical Tibetan town in west Sichuan. It was already an important transfer and post station where the caravan fleets stop since the establishment of "Tea-Horse Road" in ancient times.
As one of the centers of Tibet, Derge and its sorroundings is a culture center and also home to many celebrations of traditional Tibetan Festivals. Find out information about Gesar Festival, Zejiu festival, Puqiong Festival, Yingqiu Festival and Horse-Racing Festival.
Palyul Monastery (Baiyu Monastery) is a Ningymapa Monatery located in Baiyu County, one of the three greatest Ningymapa Monasteries in Kham. The other two being Kathok Monastery in Baiyu and Dzogchen Monastery in Zhuqing. Palyul Monastery is one of the five family temple of King of Derge.
Sershul is the largest and furthest county in Sichuan Province. Sershul is called Shiqu in Chinese. Sershul neighbors Qinghai Province and Tibet Province. It is 1070km from Chengdu and 700km from Kangding. Sershul is historically a vast nomadic place in Tibet and home to many cultural sites including Song-Ge Mani Sutra City, Ba-Ge Mani Sutra Wall, Sershul Monastery, etc.
Tsotong Lakes are also called Cuotong Cuihu, or Cuotong Lakes, or Sanlianhu(Three Lakes) or Cuo A Cuihu. It is a cluster of 3 beautiful and turquoise lakes located in Derge of West Sichuan near G317 Highway. These lakes are surrounded by high mountains and red mountains with beautiful blue-green color and are hidden far from the roads. Tsotong Lakes are considered non-touristy and non-commercial place.
Dopu Valley(or Duopu Valley, Duopugou), also known as Dopu Valley Nature Reserve. Dege Dopu Valley is a little-known natural wonderland with top-tier scenery. Hidden deep among the mountains of western Sichuan, it is praised by many visitors as "unrivaled in western Sichuan" for its unique landscape combining lush vegetation, clear streams, and snow-capped peaks.
Gagu Meditation Retreat Center (also commonly written as Gagu Chanxiuyuan or Gagu Bodhi Grove) is a spiritual sanctuary hidden deep in the mountains of the Dege Maisu region. Compared to the religiously prominent Zongsa Monastery, this place feels more like a secluded, pure land secluded from the outside world.
Dege Shengxian Valley, also known as the Que'er Mountain Shengxian Valley Scenic Area. Renowned for its waterfalls, spiritual retreat culture, and convenient accessibility, Shengxian Valley beautifully combines natural wonders with a rich cultural atmosphere that was recently being developed into a semi-tourist place (though few go there).
Derge Maisu (also known as Maisu Town or Dzongsar) is not a "tourist attraction" in the conventional sense, but rather a sacred haven of Tibetan handicraft culture hidden deep in the valleys of Dege(Derge) County, western Sichuan.
