Changzhu (Changdrok, Tradruk) Temple is one of the 18 oldest temples in Tibet, as old as the Jokhang temple, this one was built in the 7th century. It was said that in historythe Master - Milariba and Pandhamasangbawa once practiced and medited nearby.

Changzhu temple is located at Gongri foothill, two kilometers south of outskirt Tsetang (Zetang) Town. It is about 2km to the south of Tsetang city, just on the main road to Luotsa county.

Changzhu (Changdrok) temple, the first Tibet temple for worshipping Buddha during the Turfan time was constructed in the prosperous bead temple. Legend has if that the master, named Lian Huasheng and Milariba and some other renowned Buddhist eminent monks all led a pious life near the temple before, thus making area the temple around the temple still a pilgrimage sacred land. The temple was composed by three parts namely the main hall, the turning of prayer wheel encircling the porch and the porch courtyard.

The main construction is Cuo Qin main hall. There is a consecrated Sanshi Buddha picture in the palace. The dissimilarity with other temples is that the Buddha image was made entirely with copper casting and has very special characteristic.

Tibetan legends goes that in the 7th century, a lot of naturak disasters caused damages and threat to life, because the Tang princess was good at star observing and Fengshui, she told the locals that the shape of snow Tibet was an Evil lying on her back, in order to subdue her, temples should be built on her body joints, based on this direction and her instructions, 18 temples were constructed accross Tibet. Jokhang temple and Changdrok are two of them.

There is also another legend behind the monastery. It is said that once upon a time, the site of the monastery was an extremely deep lake. In the lake there is a five-head dragon. After Srontsan Gampo got the control of Tibet, he wanted to drain the lake and build a castle there. So he invited two Masters to lure a big bird to attack the dragon. The two Masters, first of all, imitated the sound of the bird and lured the dragon out, then they imitated the sound of the dragon to lure the bird out. So the dragon and the bird started a fight. The bird at last chopped offtwo of the dragon's heads with its wings. Seven days later, the lake disappeared. Some pearls were buried as the cornerstone for the monastery. That is how the monastery got its name.

The must for your visit to this temple is to see the Pearl made Tangkha (a kind of embroidery made of 29026 pieces of pearls,1 diamond,1 ruby,1 sapphire,15 grams of gold), it is a miracle to see it passed down generations to generations without being damaged or lost during choases of political struggles and wars.

China tours inclusive of visiting the Changzhu Temple