The Lost Kingdom of the Lama: Muli Grand Monastery and the Real Shangri-La

The Center of the Last Lama Kingdom

1.Located in Wachang: Town, Muli Tibetan Autonomous County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, Muli Grand Monastery (Muli Gadan Xizhu Qule Langba Jiwalin) stands as a majestic testament to a bygone theocratic era. Situated approximately 120 kilometers from the county seat in the deep Niyi Dian Village, the monastery rests at an altitude between 2,637 and 2,700 meters. It occupies a spectacular position in a deep canyon, backed by the sacred Daniyabu Mountain and facing the rushing Wuliang River. As the largest Gelug (Yellow Hat) sect monastery in the Kangba Tibetan area of Sichuan, Muli Grand Monastery was once the political, religious, and cultural heart of the "Muli Kingdom"—a semi-independent theocratic state that existed until the mid-20th century. Today, it remains a provincial cultural relic protection unit and a pilgrimage site known for its profound history and mysterious religious atmosphere,.

A Golden Temple in the Wilderness

2.The history of Muli Grand: Monastery dates back to 1656 (the 13th year of the Qing Emperor Shunzhi), when the second Grand Lama, Sangden Rongbu, founded the site modeled after the Drepung Monastery in Lhasa. Over centuries of expansion, it grew into a magnificent complex covering 80,000 square meters, becoming the head of the three great monasteries of Muli. At its peak, it housed over 700 monks and served as the seat of power where the Muli Living Buddha and Grand Lama ruled the region. The monastery's architecture is a stunning blend of Tibetan fortress style and Han Chinese influences, featuring the majestic Cuoqin Hall (Great Assembly Hall) and the Jiawa Qiangba Hall. The buildings are adorned with golden roofs and red walls that shine brilliantly against the backdrop of the verdant forest and rugged mountains, creating a visual contrast that is both solemn and breathtaking,.

The Largest Indoor Gilded Copper Buddha

3.The crowning jewel of Muli Grand: Monastery is the Jiawa Qiangba Buddha (Maitreya Buddha) housed in the main hall. The original statue, built in 1711, was a marvel of its time. The current statue, reconstructed in recent decades, stands an impressive 28 meters high, making it the largest indoor gilded copper Buddha statue in Asia. This towering figure is majestic and radiant, containing precious relics and scriptures within. Visitors standing before it are often overcome by a sense of awe as the flickering butter lamps and the chanting of monks create an atmosphere of intense spiritual power. The monastery also features the Qula Monastery (School of Dialectics), a "monastery within a monastery" where monks engage in rigorous philosophical debates, preserving the scholarly traditions of the Gelug school,,.

The Blueprint for Shangri-La

4.Muli Grand: Monastery holds a unique place in Western literature and exploration history. In the 1920s and 1930s, the Austrian-American explorer Joseph Rock visited Muli three times, using the monastery as his base to explore the surrounding peaks like Gongga and Yading. His articles in National Geographic, which described the "Kingdom of the Lama" as a land of mystery, gold, and harmony, deeply inspired the British author James Hilton. It is widely believed that Rock's descriptions of Muli provided the prototype for the fictional utopia of "Shangri-La" in Hilton's novel Lost Horizon. Walking through the monastery today, visitors can trace the footsteps of these early explorers and experience the "Garden of God" that captivated the world a century ago,.

Living Traditions and Festivals

Despite the passage of time, Muli Grand Monastery remains a vibrant center of religious life. It preserves the fusion of Bimo culture (from the local Yi people) and Tibetan Buddhism, reflecting the region's ethnic diversity. The monastery is famous for its religious festivals, particularly the Cham Dance (Vajra Dharma Dance) held during the Tibetan calendar's 10th month. Monks donning masks and elaborate costumes perform ancient dances to exorcise evil spirits, accompanied by the lighting of thousands of butter lamps that illuminate the canyon night. Whether you are a history buff fascinated by the "Last Kingdom," a pilgrim seeking spiritual solace, or an adventurer looking for the real Shangri-La, Muli Grand Monastery offers a profound journey into the heart of the Himalayas,.