Yarchen gar

A peek into the island nunnery of Yarchen Gar - SilverKris

"Perched at about 4,000 metres on the harsh Sichuan grasslands, this island nunnery is home to over 10,000 nuns and hosts the world’s largest gathering of practicing Tibetan Buddhists, drawn to hear the teachings of the revered Asong Tulku. Teachings are held every morning for several hours and during festivals can continue for days; each early November marks the start of a 100-day meditation ceremony when thousands of nuns retreat into makeshift hillside cubicles and crude meditation huts—some remaining in solitary prayer for up to three months—before emerging en masse to the main temples for rites presided over by the head lama. Prayer wheels (Mani wheels) are a central devotional practice here, and the community—many of whom say they have greater access to teachers and study than in Tibet—relies on sister nuns to bring food and water to those in retreat. Recent growth in Chinese converts and infrastructure upgrades have made the once-remote site increasingly accessible to intrepid travellers; the usual route is a private taxi from Chengdu to Garze (a six- to nine-hour mountain journey) followed by about an hour’s drive up onto the plateau." - cooper