Overview:

Labrang Monastery, located on the western part of the Tibetan Plateau, in Xiahe County, Gansu Province, is one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug sect in Tibetan Buddhism, and the largest monastery in all of Amdo, Tibet. It was founded in 1709 by the first Jamyang Zhepa, Ngawang Tsondru, to accommodate the monastic population and distance itself from the politics of Lhasa. Labrang Monastery serves as a cultural and economic center for the Monpa and Mongols in Amdo. It has a rich collection of Tibetan scriptures and is home to many important religious figures. Its annual monastic debating competitions are popular throughout the region, and the monastery itself is a popular tourist destination. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in China
Prominent Features:

1. As one of the six great monasteries of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism, Labrang Monastery is one of the largest and most important monastic universities in Tibet. 2. Founded in 1709, it is located in Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, at the strategic crossroads of the ancient Northern Silk Route trading routes. 3. The walled monastery complex covers an area of 40 hectares (100 acres), and is particularly noted for its many temples and a large array of satellite facilities including 16 colleges and 40 inns. 4. The main structures of the monastery cluster around a huge central courtyard. The main buildings include the Tantric College, Sangha College, Sutras College, and Kiytang College. 5. Each college specializes in training monks in different aspects of religion and culture and is also responsible for keeping the various scriptures and manuscripts that are housed at the monastery. 6. There is a large library containing thousands of Tibetan and Chinese Buddhist texts, as well as a temple dedicated to Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) as well as other religious buildings. 7. The main prayer hall, Barkhor assembles tens of thousands of pilgrims each year on the 15th day of the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar to celebrate the Shoton Festival. 8. The monastery complex is also used as a place of pilgrimage for Tibetans and Mongolians. 9. The monastery is home to more than 3000 monks and provides educational and medical services to the surrounding population. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in China.

History:

Labrang Monastery is one of the six largest and most important monasteries of the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It is located in the small town of Labrang in the traditional Tibetan area of Amdo, now part of Gansu province, in the north-western part of the People’s Republic of China. It was founded in 1709 by the Tibetan Lama Ngawang Tsondru. For two centuries, Labrang Monastery flourished and was renowned for its Buddhist scholarship, high quality religious teaching, and the important spiritual festivals that marked the annual calendar. The monastery was home to around 4,000 resident monks at the beginning of the 20th century, and had become one of the most important spiritual and cultural centers of the Tibetan world. In 1949, the Communist Red Army occupied Tibet, which brought an end to traditional monastic life at Labrang Monastery. During the Cultural Revolution of the late 1960s and 70s, the monastery—like many religious sites in China at the time—was closed, desecrated, and vandalized. Many of its precious artifacts were destroyed, its books were burned, and many of the monks and lamas were persecuted. Many were imprisoned and some even killed. In 1982, Labrang Monastery resumed its operations. The monastery buildings were restored, many of the precious artifacts were recovered, and the living quarters for the monks were renovated. Today, more than 1,000 monks live and study at the monastery, and it continues to be an important center of Tibetan Buddhism. In 2011, the monastery hosted a visit by the Dalai Lama to celebrate the 300th year anniversary of its founding. Visit one of the famous monuments of China with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Labrang Monastery is one of the six great Tibetan monasteries in the Tibetan region, and one of the largest and most influential in Tibetan Buddhism. 2. It is home to around 3,800 monks and lay people, who worship an estimated 3,000 golden Buddhas. 3. It is a traditional centre of learning for Buddhist culture and theology, being home to one of the largest libraries of Tibetan Buddhist literature in the world. 4. The monastery was first established in 1709 by Jamyang Shepa from the Tibetan Gelugpa tradition. 5. It is renowned for its sacred dances or ‘chaam’, which are performed during special events throughout the year. 6. The monastery contains an enormous prayer wheel, measuring 36 feet in diameter and containing hundreds of mantras. 7. Labrang Monastery is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists, and is visited by thousands of travelers and devotees annually. 8. The town that it is situated in, Labrang Tashi Khyet, is one of the largest monastery towns in the entire Tibetan region. 9. It is situated in a stunningly beautiful valley in Gansu province that is dotted with ancient structures, including stupas and prayer wheels. One of the historical monuments of China, it tells the story of a bygone era