Located in the Ngari Region, the Ruins of Guge Kingdom are the Old Summer Palace of Tibet. These ruins were once an imperial estate that fell into disrepair after the civil revolt and the invasion of the allied armies of eight for­eign countries. The area also encountered civil strife and foreign attacks, which frag­mented the once prosperous state. However, the legendary kingdom hasn't been totally lost, as much can be learned about it from its remains.

Established in about the tenth century, the Guge Kingdom played an important part in the economic and cultural devel­opment of Tibet. The kingdom advocated Buddhism, and many orders of this religion were founded here. The area also served as a major center for Tibet's foreign trade.

The Ruins of Guge Kingdom now extend around the sides of a mountain, which is about 984 feet high. Explorers have found more than 400 cham­bers and 800 caves here, as well as some fortresses, secret paths, pagodas, armories, granaries, and burial places. Except for some temples, the ceilings of all the chambers have collapsed, leaving only the walls. The ruins are sur rounded by a city wall, and a fortress marks each of the corners. Palaces, temples, and local residences can be found from the mountaintop to the base, and only secret roads lead to the top, a layout designed to signify the su­premacy of the king and en­sure the safety of the palaces. Due to its great research value, the Ruins of Guge Kingdom have been listed in the first group of cultural sites of national importance under the protection of the state.

Perhaps the most interesting aspects of the ruins are the five temples and palaces—the White Temple, Red Temple, Samsara Temple, Imperial Palace, and Assembly Palace, which contain many inscrip­tions, statues, and murals. The most intact and valuable remaining artifacts are the mu- rals, which are mainly pictures of Sakyamuni Buddha, kings, queens, princes, and other royal servants. In the sanctu­ary, pictures of the cultivation of male and female Esoteric Buddhas can be found. The colors and execution of these murals can be compared with those of the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu. Most of the statues here are gold and silver Buddhist statues, among these the Silver Eyes of Guge is of the highest quality.