Authorities have initiated the relocation of a 19th-century Tibetan Buddhist monastery to make way for a new segment of the world’s tallest 3D-printed dam on the Yellow River, according to Radio Free Asia. The Atsok Gon Dechen Choekhorling Monastery, located in Dragkar county, Qinghai province, is being moved due to the expansion of the Yangqu hydropower station, which is set to complete later this year.
The decision to move the monastery came despite years of petitions from the monks at Atsok Gon Dechen Choekhorling, who have opposed the relocation since the project’s announcement. The local authorities have, however, determined that the artifacts and murals within the monastery hold “no significant value or importance” and have proceeded with the relocation plans.
Radio Free Asia reports that the Chinese government has assured funding for the dismantling and reconstruction of the monastery at a new site, including the costs for performing necessary ceremonies and rituals. Despite these promises, the relocation process will result in the loss of many irreplaceable murals and stupas which cannot be moved.
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This move has been met with distress within the Tibetan community, who regard the site as sacred. The monastery, established in 1889, has been a center of prayer and practice for generations, making it a site of significant cultural and spiritual importance.
Local residents have expressed their sorrow through prayers and prostrations during a recent ceremony, which was documented in videos showing them bidding farewell to their spiritual home. The displacement of the monastery is seen by many as a continuation of what they perceive as Beijing’s disregard for Tibetan culture and environmental concerns.
The ongoing construction of the Yangqu dam, initially established in 2010 and expanded to increase its capacity, is part of China‘s broader efforts to harness the hydroelectric potential of the Yellow River. The dam, when completed, is expected to serve as a major power source for Henan province, generating an estimated 5 billion kilowatts annually.
The project, however, requires the relocation of over 15,000 people, predominantly ethnic Tibetans from several local towns and villages. This has raised concerns about the social and environmental impact of such large-scale infrastructure projects on indigenous communities and their heritage.
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