The Zhongdian Guihua Temple
is in the Foping Mountains north of Zhongdian
county. It was built in the Ming Dynasty
as one of the 13 big Lamaist Temples in
the Kangzang region. The " Kangzang
region " refers to the joint ports
of Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan inhabited only
by Zang people. During its time of greatest
prosperity, there were more than 3,000 monks
in the temple. The present monasteries were
rebuilt on the original location using the
similar pattern and imposing manner of the
former ones. It is composed of well - arranged
flat-roof houses row upon row from the foot
to the top of the mountains, like a neatly
set-up mountain castle.
