Archive · 21 Jul 2026
China Demolishes Homes at Larung Gar Buddhist Academy
China has started tearing down homes at Larung Gar, a big place for learning about Tibetan Buddhism.
They have marked 1,060 homes for demolition, and six have already been torn down.
This is happening at night to avoid being seen.
The International Campaign for Tibet is worried because this is part of China's stricter rules on religion in Tibet.
Larung Gar was founded in 1980 and has been targeted before.
In 2001 and 2016-2017, many homes were demolished, and thousands of monks and nuns were forced to leave.
The United Nations has also expressed concerns about these actions.
Chinese authorities have begun demolishing residences at Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in eastern Tibet.
At least 1,060 residences are marked for demolition, with six already demolished by July 15.
The demolitions are being carried out at night to prevent documentation and surveillance.
The International Campaign for Tibet views this as a tightening of restrictions on religious practice in Tibet.
Larung Gar has been targeted before, with large-scale demolitions in 2001 and 2016-2017.
- Who
- Chinese authorities, International Campaign for Tibet, Tibetan monks and nuns, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok
- What
- Demolition of residences at Larung Gar Buddhist Academy
- When
- Around July 13, with six residences demolished by July 15
- Where
- Serthar, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province, China
- Why
- Reasons unclear due to strict restrictions on information, but likely part of China's coercive assimilation policies and enforcement of regulations
International Campaign for Tibet
Chinese Authorities
Demolition of Residences
International Campaign for Tibet
The demolitions are a further tightening of restrictions on religious practice in Tibet and violate international human rights law.
Chinese Authorities
The demolitions are part of an effort to enforce regulations and maintain order in the region.
- Location
- Serthar, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province, China
- Number of Residences Marked for Demolition
- 1,060
- Date of Demolition Start
- Around July 13
- Number of Residences Demolished by July 15
- 6
- Founder of Larung Gar
- Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok
- Year of Larung Gar Foundation
- 1980
- Previous Large-Scale Demolitions
- 2001, 2016-2017
- UN Concerns
- 2017, six UN human rights experts raised concerns about violations of international human rights law