Every year on the 13th day of the first lunar month, before dawn even settles over Langmusi Town, the air is filled with the sharp cold of the plateau winter. At Saichi Monastery, monks begin their day by blowing long ceremonial horns, while a 50-meter-long thangka painting is quietly lifted from the hall and carried toward the Buddha-Unveiling Platform.
That morning, we arrived just after seven. It was –18°C, and after sitting on the slope for hours, my fingers and toes were painfully numb. But no one moved. We were all waiting for the moment that only happens once a year, or perhaps once in a lifetime.
When the colorful silk cloth slowly opened and the massive Buddha image appeared under the first beam of sunlight, everything around me fell silent. The crowd must have been noisy—I could see people crying, chanting, exclaiming—yet I heard nothing. Just a wave of peace washing over my mind.
For the Tibetan community, the Unveiling Festival is a sacred annual ceremony. For travelers like us, witnessing it even once is enough to stay in our hearts forever.
This guide will help you experience the best of the Gannan Buddha Unveiling Festival, as well as the Monlam Ceremony in Labrang, the summer Xianglang Festival, and the exhilarating horse-racing fairs across the plateau.
Buddha Unveiling Festival
1. What Makes the Buddha Unveiling Festival So Special?
📍 Location: Saichi Monastery, Langmusi Town, Luqu County, Gannan Prefecture
🗓 Date: 13th day of the first lunar month
Langmusi Town is home to two major monasteries:
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Saichi Monastery (Gansu side)
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Gertideng Monastery (Sichuan side)
The Buddha Unveiling is held at Saichi Monastery and is one of the most anticipated winter events in all of Gannan.
What Happens During the Ceremony?
1. The pre-dawn preparation
Monks gather at dawn, carrying the giant thangka out with solemn chanting.
2. The thangka ascends the mountain
Dozens of monks bear the weight of the massive Buddha portrait, and local Tibetans gently touch their foreheads to the thangka—believed to bring blessings for the new year.
3. The legendary “sunbeam moment”
Locals say that even on cloudy days, the sun appears when the thangka is opened.
And it truly happened: a single beam pierced the clouds the moment the Buddha’s face was revealed, and thousands dropped to their knees in unison. A wave of goosebumps ran through the entire valley.
4. The sound of prayer fills the mountains
Prayer flags flutter, horns and chanting echo across the snow-covered slopes—an unforgettable spiritual experience.
2. How to View the Buddha Unveiling (Important Tips)
📸 Best Photography Spots
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Opposite hillside facing the unveiling platform
Ideal for wide-angle or telephoto shots. -
Along the thangka procession route
Perfect for capturing emotion, movement, and storytelling images. -
At the base of the platform
Great for close-up portraits of pilgrims and monks.
🧣 Winter Survival Tips
Expect temperatures around –18°C to –20°C.
Must-bring items:
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Heavy down jacket
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Thermal gloves + hat
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Snow boots with grip
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Hand warmers (many!)
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Power bank (batteries drain fast in the cold)
🙏 Etiquette You Must Follow
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❌ Never step on prayer flags
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❌ Do not touch the Buddha image
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❌ Avoid loud conversation or random drone flying
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✅ Offering butter, barley, or a khata scarf is welcomed
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✅ Keep a respectful distance when photographing
Buddha Unveiling Festival
3. Don’t Miss the Winter Monlam Ceremony at Labrang Monastery
📍 Location: Labrang Monastery, Xiahe
🗓 Date: 3rd–17th day of the first lunar month
Labrang Monastery is one of the most important centers of Tibetan Buddhism and holds the world’s longest corridor of prayer wheels. Its Monlam Ceremony is the grandest annual event in Xiahe.
Highlights of the Monlam Ceremony
1. The Buddha Unveiling (13th day)
A giant silk thangka is unveiled on the hillside, attracting thousands of pilgrims.
2. Cham Dance (14th day)
Masked monks perform ritual dances to ward off evil spirits—intense, powerful, and culturally rich.
3. Butter Sculpture Exhibition (15th day)
Monks carve unbelievably intricate designs out of yak butter, despite freezing temperatures. These sculptures are considered the “butter thangkas” of the plateau.
4. If You Visit in Summer: The Xianglang Festival
📍 Location: Around Xiahe County
🗓 Date: Around the sixth lunar month
“Xianglang” means “gathering firewood,” originating from an ancient monastic tradition. Today it has become one of the most joyful outdoor festivals for local Tibetan families.
What You’ll See at the Xianglang Festival
1. Seas of tents across the grasslands
White canvas tents cover the hillsides, and riverside meadows turn into large camping grounds.
2. The incense-burning and arrow-raising ritual
Cypress branches, butter, and barley are burned for blessings, followed by raising a wooden arrow pole over ten meters tall.
3. A family reunion more important than New Year
Young people working in cities return home just for this festival—it’s a celebration of reunion and gratitude.
Buddha Unveiling Festival
5. The Thrilling Horse Racing Festivals of Gannan
📍 Location: Grassland areas across Gannan
🗓 Date: Different towns throughout summer
Horse racing is at the heart of Tibetan nomadic culture.
Highlights
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Speed racing, walking races, stunt riding
Child riders perform astonishing tricks while galloping at full speed. -
Traditional competitions
Archery, tug-of-war, Tibetan weightlifting, and the famous Guozhuang circle dance. -
Nomadic trade fairs
A lively marketplace full of barley wine, dried meat, butter, and handmade Tibetan goods.
6. Practical Travel Tips for Gannan Festival Trips
Transportation to Langmusi
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Lanzhou → Langmusi
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5-hour bus
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Private car recommended for winter conditions
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Where to Stay
Book at least 2 weeks early during festival season.
Accommodation options include:
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Tibetan-style guesthouses
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Boutique inns
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Simple hotels with heating (very important)
Food to Warm You Up
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Yak meat hot pot
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Tsampa (barley flour)
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Butter tea
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Hand-pulled noodles
Packing Checklist
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Warm layers
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Thermos bottle
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Sunglasses (snow glare is strong)
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Camera + backup batteries
Buddha Unveiling Festival
7. Why Gannan’s Festivals Are Truly Worth the Journey
In Gannan, festivals are not performances for tourists—they are living traditions woven into the daily lives of Tibetan people.
The Buddha Unveiling is awe-inspiring not because it’s grand, but because of the deep devotion behind it.
The Monlam Ceremony shows you what sacred dedication feels like.
The Xianglang Festival and summer horse races show you the warmth, unity, and joy of Tibetan communities.
Sometimes, travel gifts us moments that feel like they were meant only for us.
For me, it was the moment when a single beam of sunlight illuminated the Buddha’s forehead at –18°C.
For you, it may be the prayer chants, the color of the thangka, or simply the silence of that mountain valley.
May your journey to Gannan be filled not just with beautiful photos, but with stories that stay with you long after you’ve returned home.
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