Donggar Ruins

Some 40 kilometers to the north of Zanda County seat, there is a newly discovered grotto. It is said to be the largest Buddhist grotto ruins ever found in China. The initial studies show that the Donggar ruins are of one of the eight monasteries built during the reign of Rinchen Sampu of the Guge Kingdom. Built in the 10th century, the monastery was an important political, economic and cultural center of the Guge Kingdom. On the two kilometer wide cliff, there are more than 200 caves. These beehive-like caves look so wonderful and house some excellent murals. To the north of the ruins are the Piyang Grottoes composed of more than 1,000 caves. Here there are pagoda forests, temples and remains of castle walls.

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