Benpo Monastery (or Bangpu Temple) was built by the Buddhist master Karmapa Dusongqinba in 1144 AD and has a history of more than 800 years. Benpo Monastery is located in the Sangdui River Valley, 30 kilometers north of Daocheng County, with an altitude of 3,940 meters. Benpo Monastery is the oldest temple in Daocheng County.
Benpo Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist temple of the White Sect. The White Sect’s inheritance is mainly passed down orally by the master to the disciples and does not rely much on books. So it is also called “Tantra”.
The practice of Tantra is very harsh. Because every monk has to practice for at least three years, three months, and three days. At the same time, they cannot meet with outsiders during the practice. Only the family members can communicate through the wall once a year. There is an exam after practice, which requires a monk to jump onto a cliff dozens of meters high to pass.
Benpo Monastery Facts
Location: North of Sangdui Town, Daocheng County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province
Opening Time: 7:00-18:00
Ticket Price: Free of charge
What to See in Benpo Monastery
1. Authentic Work of Karmapa Dusongqinba
The main hall of the Benpo Monastery houses an extremely precious and rare self-statue of Karmapa Dusongqinba, as well as other Buddha statues and ritual implements. What is peculiar is that this statue is the height of an eight-year-old child and has the face of an 80-year-old man.
There are many ancient rock paintings and caves for meditation on the rock walls behind the Bangpu Temple. You can still see the predictions left by Karmapa Dusongqinpa about his second to eighth incarnations. He also wrote a text with his nosebleed, which no one could decipher for thousands of years. It was not until 1999 that the Tibetan Living Buddha Agong came to Benpo Monastery and translated it: “I have traveled all over Kang District, and this is the most beautiful place.”
2. Feel the Peace of Mind
Around the wall of Benpo Monastery is a circle of prayer wheels, and believers need to walk clockwise around the wheel to express their devotion to Buddha. When you walk into the Benpo Monastery, you can see murals and thangkas on both sides. They show various stories of Bodhisattvas and demons fighting wits and courage. Pay attention to not make loud noises in this solemn place.
Benpo Monastery is surrounded by mountains and rivers and boasts picturesque scenery. The monks are either chanting scriptures or meditating or feeding the fish in the Sangdui River with tsamba. Visitors will also temporarily forget the troubles of the world and gain peace of mind.
How to Get to Benpo Monastery
Self-driving: Drive from Chengdu along Chengya highway first, then enter the Beijing-Kunming highway to Ya ‘an. Then you drive along 318 National highway to Daocheng County, and finally drive along the Liya highway to Bangpu Temple. It is not too far if you plan to travel to Daocheng Yading in Sichuan next.
Public transport: You can take a flight to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport or take a train to Chengdu Railway Station, and then take a long-distance bus at Xinnanmen Bus Station to Daocheng County. After arriving in Daocheng County, it is recommended that you rent a car or join a tour group to Bangpu Temple. Also, we can help you customize Sichuan tours to Daocheng Yading if you are interested.
Attractions Nearby Benpo Monastery
- Yading Nature Reserve: The purpose of the reserve is to preserve biodiversity and protect the alpine natural ecosystem, while also isa great place for visitors to enjoy natural beauty and learn about Tibetan culture and religion.
- Daocheng White Tower: It consists of one main tower and 119 smaller towers surrounding it. The design and decoration of the White Towerare full of Tibetan culture and Buddhist characteristics.
