Gönlung Jampa Ling monastery, Buddhist monastery in Huzhu Tu Autonomous County, China.
Gönlung Jampa Ling is a large monastery complex in Qinghai province featuring traditional Tibetan architecture with prayer halls and residential quarters for monks. The grounds display the characteristic layout of a Tibetan Buddhist center, with multiple buildings and courtyards that organize the community's daily life and religious activities.
Gönlung Jampa Ling was founded in 1604 by Gyeltse Donyo Chokyi Gyatso and housed the first Gelug seminary in northeastern Tibet. In 1724 Manchu troops destroyed it while suppressing Lhazang Khan; the great assembly hall, monks' quarters, and copies of the Kangyur and Tengyur were burned. Rebuilt in 1732 on the Yongzheng Emperor's order, it received the name Youning Si, meaning "protecting Xining".
The monastery serves as an active center for the Gelug school, where monks engage in daily prayers and religious study. Visitors can observe how this form of Tibetan Buddhism is practiced in contemporary life and witness the spiritual routines that structure the community.
The monastery is located in Huzhu Tu Autonomous County and is accessible by bus from Xining city, with signage directing visitors to the religious complex. Visitors should wear appropriate clothing and follow site rules to respect the spiritual environment and religious practices.
Gönlung Jampa Ling held the first Geluk seminary in northeastern Tibet and was the seat of the Changkya and Thuken incarnation lineages. The first Changkya, Zabzhe Ösel, was born nearby in Zhangjia, Hongyazigou township, which gave the lineage its name.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,050 contributors worldwide.