The Zagu West Gorge, located 4 kilometers north of the area between Upper and Lower Yanjing in Mangkang County, is also known as “Jurong,” which means “Twisted Valley” in Tibetan. The gorge is enveloped in the legend of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) subduing a demoness. According to folklore, Padmasambhava, in the guise of a farmer, pursued a rakshasi (demoness) to this gorge. He is said to have immobilized her at this spot with a giant stone using a secret method. Since then, the locals have referred to this place as “Jurong.”
The gorge showcases a fully developed karst landscape, with cliffs on either side stretching up to the skies, imposing peaks facing each other across deep valleys, and vertical drops of up to 600 meters. The narrowest part of the gorge measures just 100 meters across, creating a phenomenon known as “a slit of sky.” The caverns dotting the cliffs are said to have been meditation sites for high monks and lamas. At the base of the cliff lies the Temple of Princess Wencheng, housing a large rock with natural formations resembling the figures of Songtsen Gampo, the Tibetan king, and Princess Wencheng of the Tang dynasty. These naturally sculpted figures, detailed and lifelike, are considered a marvel of nature’s craftsmanship.
Within the gorge, there is a group of stone carvings believed to have been created by Tang dynasty craftsmen during Princess Wencheng’s journey to Tibet. The centerpiece of the carvings is Songtsen Gampo, flanked by Princess Wencheng, Princess Chizun, and a Buddha statue. Legend has it that when Padmasambhava visited Zagu West, the carvings of the Temple of Princess Wencheng were still underground. He prophesied that someday the cliff doors would be opened, revealing something sacred. Today, visitors can witness the handprint that Padmasambhava is said to have left on the rock, a testament to the enduring spiritual legacy of
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