Shannan is a beautiful city and tourist destination in China. TopChinaTravel would like to introduce some of the Best Places to visit in Shannan for you. Then, where to visit in Shannan? Come with us, you will not miss any top attraction of this city. You can visit the so well-known Samye Monastery, Yamdrok Lake, Trundruk Monastery, etc., you will be impressed by the architectures and natural landscapes in Shannan.
Samye Monastery
Samye Monastery, built in the 8th century, was the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet. Samye Monastery is famous for its sacred mandala design: the central temple symbolizes the legendary Mount Meru, center of the universe. It is a popular pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists, some of whom travel on foot for weeks to reach it.
It was originally built in 8th Century as the first tonsure monk’s monastery in Tibet. The temple’s layout is according to the Buddhist cosmology. The central Buddha hall combines the architectural styles of Tibet, Han and India. It is also the first temple with all the triad of the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha.
Trundruk Monastery
Trundruk Monastery is one of the earliest Buddhist temples in Tibet. It is said that the Trundruk Monastery was built by King Songtsan Gampo and later became the winter palace of the King and Princess Wencheng in Tsedang.
The very original layout of this monastery was only with 6 pillars. It's the earliest of the 12 worshipping halls built by Songtsan Gambo. According to the history, Trundruk Monastery is older than the Tibetan first official monastery Samye, may be 100 years over. The monastery comprises of two buildings, including the main hall and Naiding Lakang (a chapel). The main hall of the monastery is similar to that of Jokhang Temple.
Yamdrok Lake
Yamdrok Lake is one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet. It is over 72 km (45 miles) long. The lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and is fed by numerous small streams. The lake does have an outlet stream at its far western end. Around 90km to the west of the lake lies at the Tibetan town of Gyantse and Lhasa is a hundred km to the northwest. According to local mythology, Yamdrok Lake is the transformation of a goddess.
Yamdrok Lake has a power station that was completed and dedicated in 1996 near the small village of Pai-Ti at the lake western end. This power station is the largest in Tibet.
Yumbulagang Palace
Yumbulagang Palace, located on the summit of the Jormo Zhaxi Ceri Mountain on the east bank of the Yarlung River, is the first palace in Tibet. It was built for the first Tibetan King by Bon believers in the 2nd century, and became the summer palace of Songtsan Gampo and Princess Wencheng. Then the 5th Dalai Lama made it to be the temple of Old-Yellow Hat Sect.
The best time to visit Yumbulagang Palace is from June to August. The climate is fairly mild in winter and rather cool in summer. It is suitable for the most of time of the year to travel to Shannan.
Tombs of Early Tibetan Kings
Tombs of Early Tibetan Kingsis located on Mure Mountain at the southern bank of the Yarlung Zangbo River. It is one of the nine recognizable mausoleums for early Tibetan Kings including Songtsen Gambo cover an area of 3 square kilometers. Similarly shaped, they were all high, square earth heaps with flat tops of piled stone and pecked earth, imitating the early tomb styles of central China.
The Tombs was built from 7th Century to 9th Century, and was the largest emperors’ tombs in Tibet. The tombs are back against Peire Mountain, with Yalong River in front, showing that Tubo Dynasty payed great attention on geomantic omen. The whole tombs cover an area over ten thousand square meters, 10 m high above the ground.
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