Langmusi

Langmusi Town (Chinese: 郎木寺镇; pinyin: Lángmùsìzhèn; Tibetan: སྟག་ཚང་ལྷ་མོ་, ZYPY: Taktsang Lhamo) is a small alpine town on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, nestled in a valley shared between Gansu and Sichuan provinces in China and straddled by two large monastery complexes. Administratively, the town is part of Luqu County in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu, although a small portion of the town in the south is actually located in Zoigê County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan. The town is commonly visited by tourists making the overland trip between Sichuan and Gansu. Inhabitants of the town are primarily Tibetan.[1]

Langmusi
郎木寺
Town
Langmusi, October 2023
Langmusi, October 2023
Langmusi is located in China
Langmusi
Langmusi
Location in China
Langmusi is located in Gansu
Langmusi
Langmusi
Langmusi (Gansu)
Coordinates: 34°05′29″N 102°38′11″E
CountryChina
ProvinceGansu
PrefectureGannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
CountyLuqu County
Named forLangmu Temple
Elevation
3,325 m (10,909 ft)
Population
 • Total4,000
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)

History
Aerial panorama of Langmusi. October 19, 2023.
Aerial panorama of Langmusi as seen from its valley gorge. October 19 2023.

The town emerged around the Tibetan Buddhist temple, Langmu Temple (Chinese: 郎木寺; pinyin: Lángmùsì) which was founded in 1748.[2][3] At the time, Langmusi was located in the southern portion of the Amdo region of historical Tibet during Qing occupation.

Geography

Langmusi is located at the headwaters of the Bailong River which eventually flows into the Yangtze at Chongqing. To the east of Langmusi are the Min Mountains which form the easternmost edge of the Tibetan Plateau. West of Langmusi are the Xiqing Mountains. The mountains directly south of Langmusi form the divide between the Yangtze and Yellow River basins. Beyond these mountains are the expansive Zoigê Wetlands which drain into the Yellow River.[4]

Tourism

Langmusi is a popular destination for domestic tourists and is accessible via Highway 213 which passes 3 km to the north of the town.[5] The nearest airport is Gannan Xiahe Airport, 125 km north.

In the southern (Sichuan) portion of the town is the Kirti Monastery. The northern (Gansu) portion of the town is dominated by the Sertri Monastery. Both monasteries are popular with tourists but only the Kirti Monastery charges an admission fee. South of the Kirti Monastery is Namo Gorge and its caves which are common destinations for hiking. In the surrounding countryside, multi-day horseback riding trips are available to tourists that may overnight with Tibetan nomads.

References
  1. Lobsang བློ་བཟང་ (February 21, 2014). "Langmusi". The Land of Snows. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  2. "stag tshang lha mo dgon, TBRC Resource ID G3278". Buddhist Digital Resource Center. Retrieved 2017-10-05. (also called: stag tshang lha mo dgon, lha mo dgon, stag tshang lha mo gser khri dgon, dga' ldan bshad sgrub pad dkar grol ba'i gling, stag tshang lha mo gse khri dgon dga' ldan bshad sgrub pad dkar grol ba'i gling, 郎木寺, 噶丹雪珠贝噶卓卫林, langmu si)
  3. "Kirti Namgyel Dechen Ling". The Treasury of Lives. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  4. Atlas of China. Beijing, China: SinoMaps Press. 2006. ISBN 9787503141782.
  5. Gansu Sheng Dituce. Beijing, China: Star Map Press. 2012. ISBN 9787547107287.
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