PLACE GUIDE

Arou Monastery 阿柔大寺

Arou Dasi

Arou Monastery sits in grassland country east of Babao.

Arou Monastery (阿柔大寺)
Arou Monastery · 阿柔大寺 · Source photographer · License not provided
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About Arou Monastery

The Gelug monastery’s assembly hall, row of stupas and prayer-wheel corridor form a compact cultural stop on a Qilian road journey. Its courtyards combine Tibetan religious forms with Chinese-style roof details. It remains a place of worship: view the public areas quietly and treat ceremonies as religious activity rather than scheduled entertainment.

Arou Monastery, in Qinghai province, is also known by the alternative name Alike Monastery (阿力克大寺). Its Tibetan monastic name is given as Garideng Qunpailin (尕日登群派林), which is said to mean 'Arou Juxi Hongfa Zhou' (阿柔具喜宏法洲). The monastery stands in Arou township (阿柔乡) in Qilian County (祁连县), and it is described as the largest monastery of the Gelug school (格鲁派) within Qibian County (祁边县). It was designated a Qinghai provincial-level cultural heritage site (青海省文物保护单位) in the province's eighth batch of such listings, with the designation announced on 10 April 2008, under the heritage category of ancient buildings (古建筑).

What to look for

  • The assembly hall has an ornate roof and courtyard setting.
  • Stupas and a prayer-wheel corridor frame the religious complex.

Location & getting there

Getting to Arou Monastery

Navigate to Arou Monastery in Caodaban village, Arou township, east of Babao. It lies beside the Ebao–Qilian road corridor; agree the roadside stop and return pickup with your driver.

General visit reminders

Check the venue’s current entry arrangements and the return connection before travelling.

Combine your visit

Choose from these complementary stops when planning your visit.

  1. Monastery approach阿柔大寺入口

    See the grassland setting around the complex.

  2. Assembly-hall courtyard大经堂院落

    Look at the roof and architectural details.

  3. Stupas and public corridor如意塔与开放转经廊

    Follow the permitted visitor route.

This is a suggested combination, not a timed route; confirm the opening and transport arrangements for your date.

Historic sites & architecture · 历史古迹／建筑 →

Find Arou Monastery

阿柔大寺 · 海北州

Amap · 高德地图Approximate pin · 近似位置Apple Maps · 苹果地图

The pin marks the area, not the entrance.

More places nearby

Approximate straight-line distances between map pins, not travel distances.

Qilian Mountains · Zhuoer Mountain祁连山·卓尔山

20 km away

This map entry identifies Zhuoer Mountain above Babao, one visitor area within the much wider Qilian Mountains. Its red rock and grassy slopes overlook the Babao River valley, with Ami Dongsuo, also called Niuxin Mountain…

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Qilian County祁连

61 km away

Qilian County is a mountain and grassland region in northern Qinghai, with Babao as its main visitor base. Zhuoer Mountain gives an elevated view of the valley, while Arou Monastery adds a cultural stop along the eastern road…

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Qinghai Lake · regional lake reference青海湖·全湖区域示意点

122 km away

Qinghai Lake is a large saline lake in a closed basin on the northeastern plateau. Its broad water surface, surrounding grasslands and mountain horizon create a landscape experienced differently from each shore. The regional map…

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Sources & visit information

The sources below support the place-specific description and arrival information. Suggested combinations are editorial planning ideas; confirm current opening, entry arrangements and transport services for your date.

Geographic and historical facts selectively adapted from Wikipedia contributors, 阿柔大寺 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 86487984.

Background paragraphs translated and condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "阿柔大寺", Chinese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 86487984.

China Revealed · Editorially updated 2026-10-07