The largest temple in Gansu

China • Gansu • Labrang Monastery was founded in 1709 AD (the 48th year of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty) by the first Jamyang Zhepa, Awang Zongzhe. It is one of the largest monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism (Gelug sect). The total area covers more than 866,000 square meters, with a building area of more than 500,000 square meters. The monastery has six major colleges: the College of Buddhist Philosophy, which offers exoteric philosophy debates, the Upper and Lower Tantric Colleges, which offer esoteric practices, the College of Vajra, the College of Kalachakra, which offers astronomy and calendar calculations and compiles the Tibetan and Chinese calendars annually; and the Medical College, which mainly researches and develops Tibetan medical techniques and pharmacology. The monastery holds major Buddhist events every year, such as the New Year's Prayer Festival in January, the Butter Lamp Festival in February, the Debate Festival in April, and the Cham Dance Festival in July, among others, totaling more than a dozen times. The monastery is a key national cultural relic protection unit and a national 5A-level tourist attraction.