Located in weste Xiahe County in Gansu Province, Labrang Lamasery can be reached by a 5 to 6 hour drive south from Lanzhou. Since 1709 in Qing Dynasty, the Labrang Lamasery has been one of the six leading Lamaseries of the Tibetan Buddhism (Yellow Sect).
The layout of Labrang is built in the traditional Tibetan architecture. Reddish brown and white are the dominant colors that contrast wonderfully with a vast tract of gold roofs glittering in the sun. To enjoy a bird's-eye view of Labrang, hike to the top of the hill facing it.
This giant Lamasery covers an area of 80 hectares, following closely behind Tibet's famous Potala Palace. There are thousands of buildings that accommodate more the 100 lamas as well as an enormous collection of the local Tibetans' religious and cultural heritage.
In addition, a number of Tibetan grand religious ceremonies and festivals are held annually in the Lamasery, the most famous being the Moslem Festival. The entire celebration lasts for two weeks and takes place during the first lunar month. The climax of the festival is the Sunning Buddha. A huge portrait of the Buddha, standing over 60 meters high and measuring over 30 meters wide, is carried out by a crowd of monks and opened up on the hillside opposite the Lamasery. The Sunning Buddha takes place on the 13th day of the lunar month.
