Lunch at a traditional Tibetan family's house in Conggulong Village

14 September 2024

We went by car to the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery Scenic Area, after our morning visit to Potatso National Park. Ganden Sumtseling Monastery Scenic Area is a big place, consisting of Ganden Sumtseling Monastery (also known as Songzanlin Monastery), Lamuyangcuo Lake in the front, Conggulong Village in its east, Xiaojiezi Village and Dongqusheng Hill in its west, and the celestial burial platform in its south.

After lighting from our car in the large parking lot attached to the Tourist Service Center of Ganden Sumtseling Monastery Scenic Area, we entered the clean and spacious service center. There was a diorama in the service center that our guide used to explain our plan at this area. The main attraction is, of course, the Songzanlin Monastery. Prior to the visit to the monastery, our guide had arranged for us to visit a Tibetan family’s house in the Conggulong Village and have our lunch there.

Our guide purchased the entrance tickets which included a shuttle bus service from the service center to the monastery which is about 3 kilometers away. We have the option to walk but the roads are under maintenance and hence muddy or dusty.

Once on the shuttle bus, our guide requested the shuttle bus driver to make an unscheduled stop at Conggulong Village. From there we took a short walk into the village. We could see many traditional Tibetan houses. Traditional Tibetan houses are designed to blend in with, rather than stand out from, the beautiful natural landscape that surrounds them. As such, they are constructed largely from natural materials, such as wood, stones, and dirt or mud. Many families raise animals as well, including cows, yaks, sheep, and horses. We saw only chickens running around in the village.

Typical Tibetan residential houses are painted white in colour.

Beautifully decorated window with colourful eaves on top and black frame.

Firewood and a lone chicken outside a house.

We went to one of the largest and most beautiful building in the village.  Upon entering the large nicely decorated door, we found ourselves in a spacious courtyard. The courtyard is covered with a transparent roof allowing natural light in and keeping the place warm.

 We will be visiting this Tibetan family home.  

Exquisitely decorated doorway leading to a courtyard.

Covered courtyard with transparent roof. Photos of the Chinese flags, China’s past and present leaders are hung on the eaves.

We were then invited to view the residential area which consists of a 2 story building made entirely from wood. The living quarters for the family were on the second floor.

Living room with traditional wooden furniture but modern flat screen TV.

Much of the space was open with a wood-burning stove for heat and cooking in a corner.

Traditional stove with 4 chambers sits in a corner.

Mythical Qilin figures sit on top of the stove’s cover.  The Qilin symbolizes goodwill, benevolence, gentleness, integrity, and kindness towards other living beings.

There is a room with a shrine for worship and meditation. Next to this room is a guestroom with a queen size bed for guests which may include a monk who comes for prayers with the family and then stay over.

Our guide also showed us the apparatus used to make the traditional yak butter tea or po cha. The po cha is made from tea leaves, yak butter, and salt that is churned and mixed in the long cylindrical apparatus.

Apparatus used to make the traditional yak butter tea or po cha.

We then proceed down to the dining area on the ground floor. We had the option to have lunch in the courtyard or inside the house. Our guide recommended that we sit in the house as it would be more comfortable.

Walking down to the dining room. The entire house is made of wood and look and feels solid. We could see the thick wooden columns made from local pine trees.

Dining room with a pot of pre-made yak butter tea sitting on a electric stove.

Yak butter tea.

Table already preset with some appetisers and sauces.

We sat and helped ourselves to some homemade Tibetan snacks which included dumplings, cured salty pork, peanuts, yogurt and pancakes.

More snacks brought to our table.Eating pancakes the local way. 

More hot, freshly cooked dishes for our lunch were then brought to our table.

So much food for just the three of us.

Stir fried mushrooms with vegetable.

Minced yak meat with celery and chilli.

Pickled cucumbers.

Fried egg with bitter gourd.

Grilled chicken that is surprising well seasoned and tender.

While we were enjoying our lunch, the family sat in the table next to us to have their lunch too. I noticed their food was not as elaborate as ours. Due to language difference, we did not interact much with them except the smiles and nods of heads to express our gratitude of having us in their home.

We were also served some homemade barley wine to try. The clear white colour liquid has high alcoholic content and tastes like the more familiar Korean soju.

Enjoying Tibetan hospitality and delicious lunch.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience, delicious lunch and opportunity to see the insides of a typical Tibetan home In Shangri-La.

From there, we took a short walk from the village to the entrance of Songzanlin Monastery, perched on top of a hill. We could see some of the quarters that the monks lived in along the way and some cosmos flowers that were in bloom.

Walking to Songzanlin Monastery. 

Next post: Our visit to Songzanlin Monastery.