Located at the foot of Fengling Mountain by the side of Daxia River, in the western suburb of Xiahe County, Labrang Monastery is one of six major monasteries of Gelugpa of Tibetan Buddhism. Labrang Monastery has graced the Xiahe County for more than 300 years. Founded in 1710 by the first-generation Jamyang Zhaypa Ngawang Tsondru, Labrang Monastery is now the most important religious and cultural activity center for Gansu Province. It boasts the best Tibetan Buddhism system and is hailed as the world’s institution of Tibetology. It is reported to have 108 smaller monasteries affiliated with Labrang Monastery in history. 

Labrang Monastery is famed for its artistic architectures and splendid religious culture. It covers a floor space of 822,584 square meters. Encircled by long rows of prayer wheels, it contains many temple halls, Living Buddha’s residences, monks’ living quarter and six prominent Buddhist institutes of learning，the Institute of Esoteric Buddhism, the Higher & Lower Institute of Theology, the Institute of Medicine, the Institute of Astrology and the Institute of Law, being the world’s largest Buddhist institute. Institute of Esoteric Buddhism is center of the monastery. It is composed of three parts. The front hall enshrines Songtsen Gampo, the founder of Tubo Kindom in ancient China. It is decorated by colorful prayer flags and numerous butter lanterns. Shouxi Temple is the largest one in Labrang Monastery. The statue of Sakyamuni in it stands 15 meters tall. At the southwest corner of the monastery stands the magnificent Gongtang Pagoda.

Labrang Monastery collects more than 60,000 volumes of scriptures including both Buddhist sutras and books covering other fields. Labrang Monastery has different styles and sizes of Buddhist pagodas made of gold foil, jade, ivory and precious timber, exquisitely carved, life-like Buddha statues ranging from over ten meters tall to two centimeters tall. In addition, there are many Thankas, barbolas and colored drawings. 

Labrang Monastery is shrouded in burning incense all the year round. It serves as an important gathering point for ceremonies and festivals of Tibetan Buddhism. Great Prayer the grandest festival of Gelugpa, starts three days after Tibetan New Year (approximately during the months of February and early March and lasts for 15 days. During the 15 days, all monks of Labrang Monastery chant sutras sixth times every day in the main Prayer Hall. There are many other ceremonies held during the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th day of the month.