Gyantse, China - Monastery

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One of the more lovely townships around Tibet, Gyantse, situated in the Nyang-chu Valley, is celebrated for the Gyantse Kumbum, the largest chörten in Tibet. The white chörten, an outstanding tiered formation, contains a outwardly never-ending series of mural-filled chapels and offers stupendous views from its higher levels.

Most people hurry through Gyantse, stopping only to see the kumbum (100, 000 Buddha images), but the Gyantse Dzong, which governs the town’s skyline, should not be missed, particularly if you are feeling a little Buddha-burnout from eternal monastery breaks. For those with additional time, there are some enjoyable day trips that engage backpackers to little-visited monasteries in the environs.