Shopping Places in Chamdo

There’s a long history of fine handcrafts in Chamdo, which has exerted a strong influence throughout the Tibetan region. The region is best known for its painting, sculpture (particularly of statues of Buddha), pottery, leather products, and dyeing.

Today, there still exist a group of craftsmen who are the elites in sculpting, painting and dyeing. They appear in every corner of Chamdo County, working diligently to decorate the life of the Tibetans, and their works have greatly influenced the neighborhood region in Qinghai, Shichuan and Yunnan Province.

Places to Purchase

Garma Town

The Garma Town, 120 kilometers from Chamdo County, is the centre of Chamdo’s fine craftsmanship. According to the records a local craftsman called Tuirichang designed the Garma monastery in 1185. Therefore, the painting in this area has covered a history of 700 to 800 years. The style of painting known as “Garshog” was developed in the mid 16th century; taking in elements of inland Chinese landscape style, and this became one of the most important branches of Tangka painting in Tibet. The style features compact composition, bold lines, fine detailed clothing, vivid facial expressions and bright colors. Artists here are famous for their paintings of flowers, trees and plants, mountains and waterfalls as well as for their portraits of the Buddha.

Chaidui Wendangang Village

A village called Chaidui Wendangang, which was founded in the late 14th century, is famous for the making of all kinds of Buddha figures to be worshiped in temples and monasteries. Historical records show in ancient time when the area was ruled by the living Buddha of Junior Garma, King of the Yuan Dynasty decided that the up-stream region of the Langchang River be collected into the territory of Garma. Therefore, the living Buddha of Junior Garma invited lots of craftsmen from Nepal, India, Sikkim, and Lhasa to build lots of monasteries in the area to signify his ruling of the region. Wisdoms from the craftsman in Han, Meng, Tibet, Naxi, from Nepal and India, enrich the handcraftsmanship in Chamdo, serving for the development of the local religions and handicrafts productions, thus handcrafts in Chamdo has its peculiar nationality flavor.

 

Tailor-made My Trip