The Ruins of the Guge Kingdom is among the first batch of national key cultural heritage sites. Rising over 300 meters from the mountain foot to the peak, the site is covered with earthen buildings and caves in the same hue as the local soil. Except for a few temples, almost all buildings have lost their roofs, leaving only earthen walls. The ancient site is enclosed by city walls with watchtowers standing at the four corners.

Built on a small earthen hill, the complex is divided into three tiers: the royal palace on the upper level, temples in the middle and civilian residences at the bottom. The carvings, statues and murals inside the Red Temple, White Temple and Wheel of Life Temple are exquisite art treasures. Surrounding the ancient Guge capital are other important relic sites including Dongga, Daba, Piyang and Xiangzi, which house a large number of cultural artifacts.