Established in 1583, the Kumbum Monastery is also called the “Little Tower Temple” and has four monastic colleges around its temples. The complex includes almost 10000 rooms and 52 halls that combine Han and Tibetan styles. The monastery is famous for its annual Sun Buddha Festival, and its barbolas, ghee sculptures and wall paintings.

1. Sun Buddha Festival

 

  The annual Sun Buddha Festival is Kumbum monastery’s biggest draw. Monks display the Sun Buddha in the form of a rare type of scroll painting called a Thangka — in the open air to prevent mildew, rot and insect damage while giving monks and nuns a special opportunity to worship. The scroll is unfolded at sunrise.

The festival is celebrated every April and June. One of the four Thangkas enshrined in the monastery, namely the “Lion’s Roar Buddha”, “Sakyamuni”, “Tsongkhapa” or the “Diamond Hammer Buddha”, is displayed and attracts a large audience including lamas from different sects and tourists from abroad. After the ceremony lamas wear all kinds of masks, perform Tibetan dramas, and do the cham dance while chanting.

2. Barbola

Barbola isa fabric handicraft from the area around Kumbum Monastery that depicts the daily activities of the Buddha, and is made by professional artist-monks. The patterns are filled with cotton to create depth. The monastery’s Eighteen Arhats artwork is perhaps the greatest barbola in the world.

3. Ghee Sculpture

 

  The traditional Tibetan art of making figurines with ghee, a butter-like substance, was listed as one of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritages in 2006. The sculptures, which depict nature, pagodas and Buddha figures, mostly take their themes from scriptures and historical legends.

It is said there are two specialized institutes for making ghee sculptures, traditionally called “the upper institute” and “the lower institute”. The two compete with each other by producing excellent artworks. Each one has around 20 monks who enter the institute in their mid-teens and devote their lives to the art.

4. Wall Paintings

The paintings, displayed around the monastery walls are especially prominent in the main halls and corridors. Religiously-themed and drawn with a distinct Tibetan painting style, they contain a bright stone-mineral material conducive to long-term preservation.

Best time to visit: July to August

Entry: 80 yuan/person

Transport: Take a train or airplane to Xining City, then take the bus to the Kumbum Monastery .

Opening hours: 08:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m.