Chonggu Temple

Chonggu Temple is within the park of Yading. It is also called Chonggu Gompa.

Chonggu Temple is by the foot of Mt. Chenrezig and at the end of the tourist bus terminal. The temple itself is small.

Chonggu Temple (3880 m) is located at the foot of Mt. Chenrezig. The temple was seriously damaged, and no exact record of when this temple was built. The Chonggu Temple is affiliated to the Gongga Langjiling Temple. The Gungo Renpoche School has Zhaba here to recite the Buddha, and there is a clay sculpture in the small hall. Chonggu Temple seems to have the best location in the Yading Nature Reserve: It is the starting point of Yading Small Kora and the Ending point of Yading Middle Kora. Standing in front of the Chonggu Temple, you can see green and yellow grass at Chonggu Prairie, a snow-capped mountain in the distance, behind a sleeping canyon, Chonggu Temple is like a paradise.

Chonggu Gompa is a Tibetan Gelugpa Monastery right at the foot of Chenrezig beside the trail to the major spots of Yading Reserve. It is also recognized by the pilgrimages as the starting point of their Mountain Kora. This monastery was destroyed largely during the Culture Revolution and sliphodly renovated later. It is a two-level construction of its exact origin unknown to people. This Gompa can be a stopover for not only the pilgrimages but also a lodge for visitors. Travelers can find very basic accommodation at the first floor of this Gompa while the second floor is off-limit to visitor used exclusively by monks. Electric power is available in this monastery and everything is quite basic.

Joseph Rock, the Australia botanist, stayed three days in the monastery of one of his southwestern China Expeditions, which further made many believed that this place, Yading Reserve is the "Shangri-La".

The meadow outside of the Gompa is favoured photo spot of greenery, forest streams, prayer flags and mani stones. A walking trail and some fenced pastures have been established recently by lcoal toursit administration bureau. This is a good location with views of two of the three holy mountains, Peak Chenadorje and Peak Chenrezig. During tourist busy season, this meadow is filled with tourists and photographers taking good pictures in sunny days.