Zhire Temple

Zhire Monastery is located in Xiongba Township, Geji County, Ngari Prefecture, Tibet, at an altitude of approximately 5070 meters. Founded in 1379 by the high monk Guocangpa, it initially served as a meditation retreat and was gradually expanded into a monastery. The Tibetan word “Zhire” means “mother yak horn,” originating from a miraculous legend about the master’s ascetic practice. Built against the mountainside, the monastery features typical Tibetan architecture with red walls and golden roofs. Inside, it houses statues of Guocangpa, the Lion-faced Tara, numerous other Buddhist images, scriptures, and stupas. Surrounded by mountains and the confluence of three rivers, the monastery enjoys a serene and solemn environment. Nearby is a well-known sky burial site, making it an important religious and cultural landmark on the Ngari Plateau.