Feilaisi Overview
1. Basic Information
● Chinese Name: 飞来寺
● Area: 1,500 square kilometer
● Population: 500
● Zip code: 674500
● Dialing code: (+86) 0887
● Altitude: 3,300 meters
● Recommanded time for a visit: 3-4 hours
●Best time for visit: Winter and spring from January to May
●Opening time: 8:00-17:00
●Accommodation: In the vicinity of Feilaisi Temple, there are some hostels for choice.
●Food: All the hostels provide food for their guests; other several snack bars nearby provide food in inexpensive price.
2. Location
Feilaisi is located in the Hengduan Mountains approximately 10 km southwest of Deqin (Deqen) in the far northwest of the Yunnan Province in southwest China. Feilai Si (Feilaisi or Fei Lai Si) is nestled high above the Mekong valley at an altitude of 3,300 meters on the road to Lhasa.
3. Administrative Division
There are two town-level and six township-level divisions in Diqing, they are respectively Shengping Town (升平镇), Benzilan Town (奔子栏镇), Foshan Township (佛山乡), Yunling Township (云岭乡), Yanmen Township (燕门乡), Xiaruo Lisu Township (霞若傈僳族乡), Tuoding Lisu Township (拖顶傈僳族乡), Yangla Township (羊拉乡).
4. Climate
The climate in Feilaisi belongs to cold temperate mountain monsoon climate. The climate is greatly affected by altitude. The latitude effect is not obvious. As the altitude rises, the temperature decreases and the precipitation increases. Most of the seasons are unclear. The winter is long and the summer is short. The dry season and wet season are usually obvious.
5. Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Feilaisi is from January to May between winter and spring. The period between October and December is suggested if you wish to see Meili Snow Mountain from Feilaisi. The sunrise time at the Feilaisi is at about 6 a.m. around the summer solstice, and at about 8 a.m. during the winter solstice. Only between the lunar mid-July and September, you can have the opportunity of shooting the scenery of the moon hanging over the Meili Snow Mountain at sunrise.
6. Things to Do
Feilaisi enjoys a fabulous view of Meili Snow Mountain, regarded by the public as the best spot to catch the fascinating sight of Meili Snow Mountain at sunrise or sunset . It’s a vital place to get into Yubeng Village and Mingyong Glacier. Feilai Temple was built according to the mountain terrain with architecture at random discretion. The whole temple consists of Zisun (Descendants) Hall, the Hall of God, Haichao (Sea Tide Hall), Liangxiang (Wing-rooms) Hall, Liang’er (Two Ears) Hall, and Sipei (Side) Hall. The temple is a combination of three religions- Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Many attractions around Feilaisi such as Wunongding Viewing Platform of Meili Snow Mountain, Mingzhu Langka Viewing Platform in Feilaisi, Diqing, Feilaisi Templein Deqin County, Diqing.
7. History
Originally built in the 42 of Ming Wanli (AD 1614), it has a history of nearly 390 years.
8. Transportation
No matter where you start, you need to transfer from Deqin County to Feilai. Compared with other famous tourist attractions, the traffic to Feilai Temple is relatively closed. Take a bus departing from Deqin Bus Station for Mingyong Village at 16:30 every day, and get off at Feilai (about 20 minutes).
8. Shopping
Most of the inhabitants around Feilaisi are Tibetans. There are some typical local products that you can take, such as highland barly wine, ophiocordyceps sinensis and yak meat.
9. Introduction
Feilaisi enjoys a fabulous view of Meili Snow Mountain, regarded by the public as the best spot to catch the fascinating sight of Meili Snow Mountain at sunrise or sunset . It’s a vital place to get into Yubeng Village and Mingyong Glacier. Feilai Temple was built according to the mountain terrain with architecture at random discretion. The whole temple consists of Zisun (Descendants) Hall, the Hall of God, Haichao (Sea Tide Hall), Liangxiang (Wing-rooms) Hall, Liang’er (Two Ears) Hall, and Sipei (Side) Hall. The temple is a combination of three religions- Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.
10. Recommended Hotels in Feilaisi Deqin County
There are some hotels, which enjoy high reputation, such as Deqin Feilaisi Temple Shenshan Hotel (德钦飞来寺神山大酒店), Meli Holiday Hotel(梅里假日酒店), Shenshan Hotel(神山大酒店), which are equipped with best facilities and best service.
