Yaowang Mountain

A Brief Introduction to Yaowang Mountain

In Tibetan, Yaowang Mountain is called "Jiabori", meaning a "mountain on the mountain corner". Yaowang Mountain is located on the right side of the Potala Palace with an elevation of about 3725 meters. Yaowang Mountain is on the opposite side of the Red Mountain on which the Potala Palace lies.

Attractions of Yaowang Mountain

Yaowang Mountain is the best site for photographing the Potala Palace, particularly on the halfway of the mountain. In the morning of the visiting season, crowds of photographers and shutterbugs come to the Yaowang Mountain, waiting for the holy moment of the first ray shining on the Potalta Palace.

Chalapula Temple on Yaowang Mountain

On the eastern side on the halfway of Yaowang Mountain stands a small temple. It is a stone temple in a peculiar shape, named Chalapula. After more than one thousand years history, the stone temple which is rare in the Lhasa area is now still in good condition. The stone cave is in the shape of irregular rectangle, covering an area of 27 square meters more or less. There is a central pillar in the mouth of the cave. Between the central pillar and the cave wall is the narrow circular road for circumambulation. There are altogether 69 stone statues on the cave walls, including 66 statues of deities. On the north wall of the cave are the statues of Songtsen Gampo, Princess Wencheng and Chizun and loyal ministers of Songtsen Gampo.

Wanfo Wall of Yaowang Mountain

Behind the Yaowang Mountain stands the Wanfo (thousands of Buddhas) Wall. The Wanfo Wall is quite famous in Lhasa area. There are countless Buddha statues on the wall, vivid and lively, very magnificent. Even today, you can hear the sound of carving the stones, which gives you a feeling of history. Many sacred Mani Stones engraved with patterns with the symbols of happiness and blessings can be found near the Wanfo Wall.

Legends of Yaowang Mountain

There is a shamble on the Yaowang Mountain. It was once Menbazhacang (a Tibetan medical college). Since that it was also religious, it was also called Yaowang Temple. In Chinese, "Yaowang" is similar to a pharmacist. It is believed that Sakyamuni is able to cure the patients. According to the legend, the Yaowang is the incarnation of Sakyamuni. He came to the mountain to help the patients to get rid of diseases.

Another legend about the Yaowang Mountain goes that the cliff of the mountain is the place for Princess Wencheng to pay respect to her hometown when she suffered from homesickness. It is said that the cave on the mountain was began to dig in the Songtsen Gampo period. More interestingly, it is said that when the carving the statue of Bramna, the craftmen were paid with salts. A liter of cliff powder was exchanged for a liter of salts.