Labrang Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug Pa of Tibetan Buddhism, and is located in Xiahe County of Gansu province, which was in the traditional Tibetan Cultural Area of Amdo.
Brief
It was founded in 1709 by the first Jamyang Zhaypa, Ngawang Tsondru, and also a “home” to the largest number of monks outside Tibet Autonomous Region. It used to house more than 4,000 monks.
Destruction and reconstruction
As other monasteries and historic site, Labrang was severely damaged during the Cultural Revolution in the 60’s of 20th century. And now, its assembly Hall was rebuilt in 1990. The monastery’s white walls and gilded roofs feature a blend of Tibetan and Indian Vihara architectural styles. It contains 18 halls, six institutes of training , a huge gilded stupa, a courtyard for debating, and holds about 60,000 sutras. Together with Kumbum monastery, it is Gelug Pa’s most important monastery outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Buddhism Museum
In addition to the chapel, and temples, Labrang also contains one Buddhism Museum with a large collection of Buddha statues, sutras and murals. One printing house has been built, which is the 3rd one after the ones in Derge and Kumbum. Books that are printed in Tibetan language books are also available for purchase, categories including: Tibet medicine, Tibet calendar, Tibet culture, Tibet Language, Tibet music…etc,
Modern development
Nowadays, Labrang monastery has become an vital travl attractions, it apperanace and religious have been attracted to visitors across china as well as the Europe and America. There are religious activities organized by this monastery throughout a year, among of which festival in January and June are the most common ones, usually with programs of Thangkar Buddha Image -unfolding, sutra enchanting, praying, …etc;
Labrang Monastery Data
Address & contact
Add : Ren Min Dong Road, Xiahe Xian
Contact : +86 941 712-1128/712-1095
Altitude
2,900 meters
Opening hour
Monastic area: Full day
Wen Si hall & Gong Tang Chorten: 08:00 am – 18:00 pm
The other halls: 08:00am – 16:00pm
Entrance fee
Monastic area: Free of charge
Wen Si hall: RMB 40 per person
Gongtang Chorten: RMB 20 per person
How to get to there
The closest airport to Labrang monastery is Gannan Xiahe Airport, which 72 km north from Labrang monastery. Due to the matching of Xiahe Airport’s flights and your itinerary, Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport can be used as your backup plan
This 320-kilometer-long, high-quality highway between Lanzhou and Xiahe County has shortened the travel time by car from previously 8-9 hours to about 4 hours now.
Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport
IATA: LHW
Add: Zhongchuan Town, Yongdeng County
Phone: +86 931 816-8913
Altitude: 1947 meters
Gannan Xiahe Airport
IATA: GXH
Add: Kusaitang village, Xiahe County
Phone: +86 941 722-5555
Altitude: 1947 meters
By Bus
- From Lanzhou Bus South Terminal : departure at : 07:30 am, 08:30 am, 09:30 am, 14:00 pm, 15:00 pm, 5 buses leaving for Xiahe, about 4 hours’ drive, with rate RMB 75.00 per person
- From Hezuo Bus North Terminal : one bus departure for Xiahe at every 30 minutes from 07:00 am to 16:00 pm , about 1 hour’ drive, with rate RMB 15.00 per person
- From Langmu Si town : one bus departure for Xiahe at 14:00 pm , about 4 hours’ drive, with rate RMB 70.00 per person
Overland journey extension
The well-paved National Road connects this religious site to Chengdu to its South. The well-paved road curves in the mountains about 950 km to Chengdu. En route, there are numerous sites to visit. Langmu Si, Jiuzhai Valley, Huanglong, and the first bend of Yellow river…etc;
Accommodation
The best hotel in the town is a 4 star hotel. In general, there are more than 40 hotels, guesthouse in Xiahe, where Labrang is seated; room rate from RMB 30.00 per bed per night up to over RMB 1,000.00 per room per night; however, an early booking is recommended in high travel season or Labrang festival time
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