The Golden Sanctuary of the Grasslands: Gemo Monastery and the World's Largest Buddha Hall

The "Little Potala Palace" of Amdo

Located about 13 kilometers from the county seat of Aba County in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gemo Monastery (also known as Huiyuan Monastery or Gemusi) stands as a magnificent testament to the Gelug (Yellow Hat) school of Tibetan Buddhism. Situated on the vast Aba Grassland at an altitude of approximately 3,450 meters, the monastery presents a stunning visual contrast: gleaming golden roofs and crimson walls rise majestically against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains and emerald pastures. Originally founded in 1790 (the 56th year of the Qianlong reign), it has a history of over 230 years and is revered as one of the three great Gelug monasteries in the region. The monastery is often referred to as the "Little Potala Palace" of the hidden lands due to its grand scale, exquisite architecture, and the wealth of spiritual treasures it houses. It serves as a branch of the prestigious Labrang Monastery, maintaining a rigorous tradition of academic and spiritual practice that attracts pilgrims and scholars alike,.

A Record-Breaking Architectural Marvel

Gemo Monastery is renowned for its breathtaking architecture, blending traditional Tibetan styles with modern engineering feats. The complex covers an area of 18,000 square meters and features two iconic structures. The first is the Bodhi Great Precious Pagoda (Puti Da Baota), a 35-meter-high, seven-story stupa adorned with 140 brass prayer wheels and intricate gold plating. It is a sanctuary of immense sanctity, housing one of the only two known parietal bone relics of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school, along with millions of clay Buddha statues (Tsa-tsa). The second and perhaps most imposing structure is the Faxi Yuan (Dharma Joy Courtyard). This massive, continuous building stretches 226 meters in length and rises over 80 meters high, holding the Guinness World Record for the "Largest Connected Buddha Hall." Inside this architectural giant sits a colossal Maitreya Buddha statue standing 37 meters tall—the tallest indoor sitting Maitreya statue in the world. The hall is supported by eight massive golden nanmu pillars, so thick that a single person cannot wrap their arms around them, creating an atmosphere of awe-inspiring solemnity and grandeur,.

A Treasury of Art and Faith

1.Walking through Gemo: Monastery is like entering a living museum of Tibetan art and culture. The Faxi Yuan houses a museum on its eighth floor, displaying a priceless collection of porcelain, jade, gold, silver, coral, and agate artifacts that rival provincial museums. On the ninth floor, visitors can witness a breathtaking three-dimensional Mandala, a masterpiece of spiritual geometry. The monastery's walls are adorned with exquisite Thangkas and murals depicting Buddhist narratives, painted in vibrant colors that have withstood the test of time. The outer perimeter features a long Prayer Wheel Corridor with 36 large and over 1,500 small prayer wheels. As monks and pilgrims circumambulate the complex clockwise, the spinning wheels and the low hum of chanting create a profound sense of peace. During major religious festivals in the first and tenth lunar months, the monastery comes alive with sacred Cham dances and the unfolding of giant Thangkas, offering visitors a deep dive into the spiritual soul of the Amdo Tibetan people,.