Labrang Monastery--turn left for the Buddha's gate, turn right for the mortal world, how do you choose

In Xiahe county town, there is only one main street, and at the end of the main street, a road divides Xiahe into left and right sides. On the left is Labrang Monastery, the 'Land of Joy and Purity'; on the right is the urban area of Xiahe, the 'Worldly Dusty Realm'. The boundary between the pure land and the dusty world is clear yet vague. The red-robed monks wandering in the secular world, or the travelers coming in and out of the gates of Labrang Monastery, make the coexistence of Buddha and the secular world particularly harmonious. I, a layperson immersed in the mortal world, occasionally pick up my long-lost sincere heart to devoutly admire this 'World Institute of Tibetan Studies'. Labrang Monastery Located in Xiahe County of Gannan region, Labrang Monastery is rumored to have been founded in 1709 by the first Jamyang Zhepa master, following a dream from the Buddha. As one of the ten major monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism and one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug sect, Labrang Monastery covers an area of 866,000 square meters, making it the most complete monastery in the entire Mongolian-Tibetan region, with 6 scripture halls, 84 Buddha halls, 31 Tibetan-style buildings, and over ten thousand monk quarters, truly deserving its title as the 'World Institute of Tibetan Studies'. Guardian Deity of Amdo Tibetan Region Labrang Monastery is not just a monastery; it is also seen as a guardian deity by the locals. During the New Democratic Revolution, the brother of the fifth Jamyang Zhepa living Buddha, Huang Zhengqing, led the monastery in making outstanding contributions to the peace and liberation of the Amdo Tibetan region. The Longest Mani Wheel The most special impression Labrang Monastery left on me is the world's longest mani wheel that surrounds the monastery, stretching 3.2 kilometers. Every morning and evening, red-robed monks and devout Tibetans turn the prayer wheels, offering up the sorrows of this life in exchange for happiness in the next. Ticket price: 40 RMB/person (includes guide) 🕰Opening hours: 08:30-18:00 Tips Visitors who have purchased tickets should gather at the tourist center, where they will be led by the monastery's Aka for a tour. If you do not enter the halls, you can also enter through the road entrance next to the Gongtang Pagoda for free. The tour guides at Labrang Monastery are part-time Akas from within the monastery, so the explanations might not be thorough. If you have any questions, just ask them directly. Photography is not allowed inside any of the Buddha halls at Labrang Monastery, outdoor photography is permitted but drone flying is prohibited within the monastery grounds. To capture a panoramic view of the monastery, you can go to the viewing platform outside the west gate of the monastery. Appropriate attire is required when visiting the monastery, hats must be removed when entering the halls, do not step on the thresholds, and please keep noise to a minimum during the tour. The monastery stops selling tickets after 4:30 pm, and some Buddha halls will gradually start to close. To have a comprehensive visit, at least 3 hours are needed.