Under cover of night, Larung Gar, Tibet is being taken apart

 

Under cover of night, Larung Gar is being taken apart

• Tencho Gyatso, ICT 

  www.savetibet.org

  From:members@savetibet.org

  
  

  To:m.mk@...

  Wed, Jul 22 2026 at 9:06 AM

  Dear Mark, When night fell on Larung Gar last week, the demolitions began again. One of the largest and most influential centers for Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet, it’s been a target of the Chinese government for years. Home to thousands of Tibetan monks and nuns, it’s also attracted many Chinese Buddhist practitioners since its founding in 1980. Over the years, China has gone after Larung Gar again and again, forcibly downsizing the campus by leveling thousands of dwellings. Now, ICT sources have informed us that over 1,000 residences of monks and nuns are slated to be destroyed, with some already dismantled—a massive blow to an institution that’s already been severely wounded. The planned devastation of Larung Gar is an ominous sign of things to come. China’s Ethnic Unity and Progress Law, which has codified a policy of forced assimilation and threatens the survival of Tibetan religion and culture, went into effect on July 1. The demolitions began less than two weeks later on July 13. An undated photo of Larung Gar. The large, vertical empty spaces were created by demolition by China’s authorities. Meanwhile, restrictions have dramatically increased for travelers to Serthar, the town where Larung Gar is located, with authorities controlling where people can go and how long they can stay. Altogether, it paints an alarming picture of what China’s government will do under new legal cover to stamp out Tibetan Buddhism and culture. That’s why your support of ICT is so important. China is conducting these demolitions at night—because, it’s believed, they want to evade public and satellite surveillance. But because of your help, we’re able to draw on a network of sources to get the truth out about what’s happening on the ground in Tibet. If our leaders know what’s going on, we have a chance to act before it’s too late. It’s because of people like you that ICT is equipped to do this work. A symbol of Tibetan resiliency, Larung Gar has been hit hard before. In 2001, China evicted half of the estimated 8,000 monks and nuns and destroyed their homes. By 2016, it had grown back to 10,000 residents when China struck again, demolishing 5,000 residences this time. Clearly China will not stop until this cradle of Tibetan Buddhism has been eradicated. We have to act now to ensure the spirit of Larung Gar will not be extinguished. While hundreds of monks and nuns stand to lose their homes, the demolition has only just begun. There is still time for Larung Gar—if members of our community of compassion like you, Mark, take a stand. Thank you for standing with Tibet, and for the Buddhists of Larung Gar. Sincerely, Tencho Gyatso President P.S. Larung Gar is one of the most influential Buddhist Academies in Tibet—and we can’t let it be turned into rubble