Basic Information
Local Tibetan name: འབིས་རྣམ་པར་སྣང་མཛད།
Location: Bainagou Valley, 22–25 km southeast of Jiegu Town (downtown Yushu), Qinghai
Elevation: 3,700 m
Status: National Key Cultural Relic Protection Site, core site of Lebagou 3A scenic zone, iconic heritage on the ancient Tang-Tibet Road
History: Over 1,300 years old, dating back to 641 AD (Tang Zhenguan 15). Princess Wencheng stayed here for more than one month on her journey to Lhasa to marry Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, teaching locals farming, weaving and medicine. Later villagers built the temple to commemorate her.
Core Attractions
Cliff Vairocana Buddha Reliefs (Most Valuable Treasure)
Nine giant Buddha statues are carved directly into the sheer rock wall behind the hall:
Central main Buddha: Vairocana (Mahavairocana), 7.3 m tall, seated cross-legged on a double lion lotus throne
Eight attendant Bodhisattvas stand on both sides
The sculptures perfectly blend early Tang Central Plains art and Tubo Tibetan styles, one of the rarest surviving Tang plateau Buddhist carvings. Rock faces nearby are carved with sutras in both Chinese and Tibetan, including the Heart Sutra.
Main Buddha Hall
Built tightly against the cliff, with reddish-brown Tibetan-style walls and golden multi-tiered Tang eaves. Though it looks like a three-story building outside, the interior is one single spacious shrine. Butter lamps burn day and night; indoor photography is forbidden to protect fragile ancient murals and relics.
White Stupa Row & Prayer Flag Valley
A line of eight white Tibetan stupas stands beside the temple, wrapped in countless colourful prayer flags that cover mountain slopes and the ravine. Pilgrims walk clockwise along the prayer wheel corridor encircling the stupas for kora circumambulation.
Princess Spring
A clear natural spring 20 metres right of the hall. Legend says Princess Wencheng washed her hair and clothes here during her stay, and locals regard its water as sacred.
Princess Wencheng Memorial Hall
Modern exhibition hall displaying thangkas, ancient documents and cultural replicas recording Princess Wencheng’s great contributions to Han-Tibetan communication and ethnic unity.
Bainagou Valley Scenery
Clear mountain streams, pine forests and wild alpine flowers bloom June–August, forming a quiet natural valley perfect for family walking.
Tickets
Free entry for all visitors. Voluntary donations to merit boxes for temple maintenance are optional.
Transport from Yushu Downtown
Charter 4-seat car (best for family): Round trip 120–150 CNY, 40–50 mins one way, flexible photo stops on the way
Shared van: Around 50 CNY per person round trip
No regular public bus service available
Opening Hours & Visiting Time
Open all day year-round; recommended visiting window: 08:30–18:00 (soft golden sunset light for photos)
Suggested stay: 1.5–2 hours
