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06 Jun 2009
After arriving at Xining, we had a quick lunch before proceeding to Ta'er Monastery (塔尔寺), also known as Kumbum Monastery, built in 1583 CE. This is the place where Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Yellow hat (Gelugpa) sect is supposed to be born and is one of the six important monasteries in the Tibetan areas. Also, onsite is the exhibition of the annual butter flower competition. Besides burning yak butter as offerings, the butter is also fashioned as flower ornaments and offered to the Buddhas. However, the butter takes on an extragavant form for the competition with large displays of elaborate scenes made solely from butter being housed in large refridgerated cabinents.
A structure within the Ta'er compound. It has some Chinese features i.e. the 3 doors, the middle being the biggest, usually for passage of important people like the Emperor.
The iconic 8 stupas
The ticket for the monastery
Comes complete with a CD
The main courtyard of the monastery right beyond the entrance
One of the many decorated doorways of the monastery
Entrance to the butter flower exhibition
Ta'er is famous for its art of flowers made from yak butter. Here the winner and runner up is on display. The "flower" is huge of at least 6m wide by 2m tall, every pieces of flowers, animal, human and a deity as the center piece, are delicately made. The butter flower is made in a room that is 0 Celsius, and the monk have to rub their hands on ice to keep it cool, usually deforming their hands.
Unfortunately, no pictures inside. This is the further's one can get with a picture. The glass cabinet is a large refridgerator that houses the most recent winner.
Back outside a panorama of the sprawling temple complex, although similar in many aspects to the other monasteries, Ta'er has a more distinct Chinese architectural style.
We returned to Xining for dinner at a Halal restaurant.
Walking down the street heading to our hotel. The Han Chinese constitute about 54% of the population in Qinghai. Other groups include the Tibetans 20.87%, Hui 16%, Tu 4%, Salar, and Mongols. There are many Muslim Halal restaurants around this area that has many Hui people who are Muslims.
Our hotel
You can get to a negative level from here
We took a walk to the nearby emporium for some snacks
Came back with some beer
To be cooled under the tap
