Buddha Kingdom

It has been nearly a week since I returned to Beijing from Seda, but my heart still cannot leave that holy plateau: the snow-capped mountains glow with golden light in the dim morning light, and red houses hang all over the mountains and plains. The prayer flags were fluttering in the wind, and the Tibetan grannies were shaking the prayer wheels and going around the mandala. Scenes of memories about Seda were reflected in my mind, which made me miss the simple and happy life in Seda. 11 days.

When I started this journey, I did not come here for pilgrimage, nor did I come here to seek solace when I was frustrated in life. Perhaps like most tourists, I was attracted by its famous red house. Departing from Chengdu Chadianzi Passenger Terminal at 6:40 in the morning on May 30, we bumped for 12 hours on the winding mountain road and arrived in Seda at 7:00 in the evening. As soon as I got off the bus, the low temperature and lack of oxygen on the plateau challenged me. My sister and I dragged our heavy suitcases from the bus parking lot to the parking lot of Larung Gar Buddhist College.

? Our friend in Seda drove a group of us from the parking lot at the mountain gate to our accommodation - the complex building of the Buddhist College. Accommodation in the complex costs 70 yuan per person per night (room for 6 people), and you need to book well in advance. There is a sales window of hot and sour noodles outside the first floor of the complex (7 yuan a bowl). I personally think it is very delicious. There are long lines of people waiting to eat a bowl of hot and sour noodles every day. The second floor of the complex building is a restaurant. Breakfast is 6 yuan per person and lunch buffet is 12 yuan per person. The price is reasonable and the dishes are rich.

I originally thought that prices would be high in a remote place like Seda (materials needed to be transported from Chengdu), so I was fully prepared before going up the mountain. In fact, this is not the case. The prices in Seda are not only similar to those outside, but even a little cheaper than outside. All aspects of supplies needed for daily life can be purchased here, including clothes, daily necessities, vegetables and fruits. This is because the shops located in Larung Gar are generally managed by the monastery, so there is generally no chance of cheating customers with high prices. The largest Jinsa store in the Buddhist academy (commonly known as the Han store, its business hours are generally 9:00-15:00) all its meager income is used to subsidize the lives of the Han monks who become monks here. The Larong Hotel can be said to be the most luxurious hotel in Sedar. There is a vegetarian buffet on the first floor (a regular buffet for 49 yuan per person and a hot pot buffet for 59 yuan per person). The dishes are quite rich and taste good. Compared with those in It’s much more affordable to have a buffet outside.

There are also many shops and restaurants in the Buddhist College that are not managed by the college. Some small restaurants’ maocai and hot soup noodles are also very delicious and the prices are very reasonable. Generally, a meal can be purchased for more than ten yuan. , almost everything you eat here is vegetarian. There are some privately run hotels within the Buddhist College, but no research has been done on the specific prices and environment. Maybe some people who come here will choose to live in Seda County (it’s about half an hour’s journey from Seda County to the Buddhist College). If you come here because of the reputation of the Buddhist College, it is recommended to stay in the Buddhist College, but it is hygienic. The conditions are still limited. The sheets and quilts may not be cleaned as neatly as in some hotels outside, and it is not very convenient to take a shower (it is recommended not to take a shower when you first go to the plateau, as the consequences of catching a cold on the plateau are still very serious).

It rained the night I arrived in Seda. Seda is currently in the rainy season. The temperature at night will be below zero, and during the day it will be less than 10 degrees above zero, so I always wear a jacket and fleece warm pants. When the weather is sunny during the day, the sun will be very strong, so you need to wear sun protection. It snowed in Seda for two days. Unlike the light and thin snowflakes in the plains, it snowed here with crystal ice particles. The snowy Seda is covered with a layer of pure white, and the red house under the white snow is even more breathtaking.

? There is only one cash machine in the Buddhist College. You need to queue up every time you withdraw money. If you go too early or too late, you may not be able to withdraw money. Fortunately, Alipay and WeChat are now popular, and you can use both to settle your purchases.

Generally, tourists who come to the Buddhist College for sightseeing can not only go up the stairs along the road to admire the red houses in the mountains, but also visit the mandala (the mandala is the most important building of the college. If you choose Please respect local religious customs and comply with visiting requirements). You can take a panoramic view of the college from the mandala. In addition, you can also visit the memorial hall of the Dharma King Jigme Phuntsok, which displays items used by the Dharma King during his lifetime and a life-size wax figure of the Dharma King.

Postscript: This part briefly introduces the basic situation of Larung Gar Buddhist College in Serthar County. It can be regarded as a small strategy post. Next time I want to write about some of my feelings during the journey.