Labrang Lamasery [Gannan]

Located in the alluvial basin of the Daxia River at ahout a kilometer to the west of the Xiahe county seat the lamasery backs on the Phoenix Mountain and faces the Dragon Mountain.It is a place known as the "Gold Basin for Raising Fish". The temple was initially built under the supervision of Jiamuyang, the first generation of Living Buddha in 1709 ,the 48th year in the reign of Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. With the following living Buddhas to carry on the job it has now become the largest center for the Tibetan riligious culture in Gansu,Qinghai and Sichuan priovinces.

Govering an area of around 82 hectares with a floor space of 82,300 square meters the Labrang Lamasery consists of 6 scripture----chanting halls,84 Buddha halls,31Tibetan style buildings,30 palace--yards for Buddhas and over 500 meditation rooms as well as more than 10,000 abodes for lamas.Together with Drepung,Sera,Ghandam,Tashihunpo and Ta'er monasteries in Tibet and Qinghai,they are considered the six sovereign monasteries for the Yellow Sect of the Chinese Tibetan Buddhism.Labrang is a transliteration of a Tibetan word pronounced as "Lazhang",which means a place for the location of a Buddhism palace.

Located in the alluvial basin of the Daxia River at ahout a kilometer to the west of the Xiahe county seat the lamasery backs on the Phoenix Mountain and faces the Dragon Mountain