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Located in the Ngari Region, Tibet Autonomous Region，Ruins of Guge
Kingdom are the Old Summer Palace of Tibet. While these ruins were once
an imperial estate which fell into disrepair after the civil revolt and
the invasion of the allied armies of eight foreign countries, the Guge
kingdom also encountered civil strife and foreign attacks which
fragmented the once prosperous state. However, the legendary kingdom
hasn't been totally lost as much can be learned about it from its remains.
Established in about the 10th century, the Guge Kingdom was founded by
one branch of descendants of a nearby crumbled Kingdom. It was ruled by
about 16 kings with armies of tens of thousands of soldiers during the
over 700 years in which it flourished. Then in the 1660s, conflicts
resulting from power disputes within the imperial family emerged which
engendered restlessness in society and induced civil uprisings. To win
power in the disordered state, the brother of the king asked the ruler of
the neighboring country Ladakh (the present Kashmir) to send his army to
help. This army overthrew and conquered the kingdom. Only years later was
power returned to Tibet. During its lifetime the Guge Kingdom played an
important part in the economic and cultural development of Tibet. The
kingdom advocated Buddhism, and many versions of this religion were
created here and their teachings were spread from here into the heart of
Tibet. The kingdom also served as a major center for Tibet's foreign
trade.
The Ruins of Guge Kingdom now extend around the sides of a mountain more
than 300 m. (984 ft.) high. Explorers have found over 400 rooms and 800
caves here, as well as some fortresses, secret paths, pagodas, arm
storerooms, granaries and all kinds of burial places. Except for some
temples, all the roofs of the rooms have collapsed, leaving only the
walls. The ruins are surrounded by a city wall and a fortress marks each
of the corners. Palaces, temples and local residences are distributed
from the top to the bottom and only secret roads lead to the top, a
layout designed to indicate the supremacy of the king and to ensure the
safety of the palaces. Due to its great research value, the Ruins of Guge
Kingdom have been listed under the first group of Cultural Relics of
National Importance under the Protection of the State.
Perhaps the most interesting aspects of the Ruins are the five temples
and palaces – the White Temple, Red Temple, Samsara Temple, Imperial
Palace, and Assembly Palace. Many inscriptions, statues and murals are
displayed inside these. The most complete and valuable artifacts
remaining are the murals, which are mainly pictures of Sakyamuni, the
king, queen, prince and other royal servants. Beside, in the sanctuary
pictures of the cultivation of male and female Esoteric Buddhas can be
found. The margins are painted with dozens of nude Dakinis. The colors
and lines of the murals can be compared with those of the Mogao Caves in
Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. Most of the statues here are golden and
silver Buddhist statues, among these the Silver Eyes of Guge is of the
highest achievement.
Travel tips: The Ruins of Guge Kingdom lie 18 km. (11.18 mi.) from Zanda
County. Access is by taxi or motorbike to the village nearby. There is a
hotel and guesthouse where you can stay.
Admission Fee: CNY 320
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