Songzanlin Monastery

Songzanlin Monastery

The Songzanlin Monastery, often called Ganden Sumtseling Monastery or Guihua Monastery, is located at the foot of Foping Mountain near Shangri-La County in Yunnan Province. The monastery is built on a hillside and looks like an ancient fort. The Songzanlin Monastery is often called the little Potala Palace because of its traditional Tibetan architectural style. The two main halls of the monastery are magnificent and feature colorful frescos depicting Buddhist stories on the interior walls. The roofs of the Monastery are gilded copper and can be seen for miles away shining in the sun. The exterior walls are painted in a variety of colors including white, red, and tan making the entire complex appear even more magnificent. The monastery is home to the largest prayer wheel in the world. Although smaller than Lhasa's Potala Palace, the Songzanlin Monastery is magnificent, and its picturesque location and beautiful buildings make this an important stop for any visit to Yunnan Province.

The Songzanlin Monastery majestically stands on a hill

The monastery's complex is very spread out

The purely Tibetan architecture has earned the monastery the nickname little Potala Palace

Golden details on a monastery building

The main entrance to the Songzanlin Monastery

The buildings never fail to impress visitors

Colorful buildings in the Songzanlin Monastery

The largest prayer wheel in the world is located in the monastery

Many people working together are required to turn the giant wheel

The giant prayer wheel dwarfs visitors

Looking out on the surrounding countryside

Overlooking the local village

Local Tibetans arrive in their traditional attire

The monastery's colorful frescoes depict Buddhist legends and teachings

Colorful frescoes in the Songzanlin Monastery

The artistry of the frescoes is outstanding