Biri Mountain

Brief Introduction of Biri Mountain

The Biri Mountain is located in Bayi Town of Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet. The scenery of Biri Mountain is very beautiful. There are streams of believers coming here to worship. The museum of plants and animals living specimens with the subject of natural resource on Biri Mountain is the only one in Tibet, as well as the second largest in China. It is the best place for travelers to know more about Tibetan precious animals and plants. It is like an encyclopedia of Nyingchi.

Legend about Biri Mountain

The Biri Mountain is a holy mountain of Tibetan original Bon Religion. It is said that the Bon Religion disciple Aqiong Jiebo who was the first one opposing Buddhism in the disaccord period of Bon Religion and Buddhism ever competed magical abilities with Padmasambhava. The Padmasambhava tried to use the strong wind gathered by magical abilities to destroy villages and trees when he reached the conjunction place of Yarlong Zanpo River and Niyang River. The Aqiong Jiebo put giant stones on tree to avoid the disaster. Then, the Padmasambhava and Aqiong Jiebo flight with each other in the Gulu Village at the foot of Biri Mountain. The Padmasambhava wanted to destroy the Bon Religion totally. Consequently, he tried to push the Biri Mountain in Niyang River. But he failed for interference of Aqiong Jiebo. From this time on, the Bon Religion in Gongbu District was kept down. Until now, local people who believe in Bon Religion still place worshipping stones, worshipping holy birds and high ladders on the Biri Mountain (There is a giant tree on the Biri Mountain which is regarded as the tree to paradise in legends of Bon Religion because it is surrounded by fog around the year and towers into clouds. There are colorful prayer flags and sacrificial offerings hanging on the tree).

Features of Biri Mountain

On the Saga Dawa Festival in each year, the believers of Bon Religion will clockwise circumambulate the Biri Mountain. The Aqiong Jiebo is regarded as the hero who protected the holy mountain.

The Biri Mountain means "Monkey Mountain" in Tibetan language. It is the holy mountain with high prestige in Nyingchi Prefecture. The Biri Mountain can be divided into Holy Mountain Ecological Square, Stream Scenic Area, Tangcheng Monastery Scenic Area, Prayer Flags Array and Ancient Relics Area.

To look down from the mountain waist of Biri Mountain, the panorama of Bayi Town is in your view. The second largest natural history museum on the Biri Mountain collects a large amount of specimens of Tibetan antelope, Bengal Tiger, lesser panda, etc. The flying prayer flags on the mountain top were hanged by Tibetans. Tibetans have the custom of circumambulation. On 15th day of each month, Tibetans will come here to circumambulate Biri Mountain with prayer wheels in their hands to express their pious emotion to the holy mountain. The fifteenth day in Tibetan Calendar is the largest festival. There are various believers come here to circumambulate to pour forth their wishes and blessing to mountain god.