Sêrtar Town & Jinma Square
色达县城
A small county town on a high plateau at 3,900 meters. The golden horse sculpture in Jinma Square is its landmark, and it is the main place to stay and stock up before visiting the Buddhist academy.
Sertar County Town lies in the Serqu River valley at about 3,900 meters above sea level. In Tibetan, "Sertar" means "golden horse," from a legend that horse-shaped gold was unearthed here. In the center of town, Jinma Square features a golden horse sculpture that has become a popular landmark. The town is small, and its main street has hotels, Sichuan restaurants, Tibetan restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. It is the main base for lodging and supplies before visiting Larung Five Sciences Buddhist Academy, about 20 kilometers to the east. When the academy restricts overnight stays for visitors, most people stay in the county town. Highlights include Tibetan guozhuang dancing in Jinma Square at night, which visitors can join. On the north side of town, the Sertar Jinma Grassland is lush green in summer, with scattered yurts, and it is good for evening walks. The free Sertar County Museum introduces Gesar culture. Recommended food includes yak hotpot, butter tea, and Tibetan steamed buns, and many restaurants are run by people from Sichuan. Keep in mind that the county town is even higher than the academy, so sleep may be poor on the first night. Avoid drinking alcohol. Nights are cold and dry, and most hotels have no heating or oxygen, so consider renting an oxygen tank. Complete parking and refueling in the county town, because there are no gas stations in Larung Gorge. Minibus shared rides run from the county town to the academy for about 15 to 20 yuan per person.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Jinma Grassland
- Dongga Monastery
- Yarlung Monastery
- Sertar Sky Burial Site
- Red Houses Viewpoint
- Larung Gar Buddhist Academy
- Luoruo Town
- Larung Gar Mandala (Tanchen)