Labrang Monastery (Photo/Xinhua)

Top 5: Labrang Monastery 拉卜楞寺

Labrang Monastery, one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries located outside of Tibet, is located in Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Built in 1709, it covers an area of 1234 mu (82.3 hectares) and contains six sutra halls, 84 temple halls, 31 Tibetan-styled penthouses, 30 buddha palaces, 500 rooms for prayer wheels and 10,000 monk rooms. It is one of the six great monasteries of the Geluk (Yellow Hat) school of Tibetan Buddhism. In addition, it has preserved the best Buddhism teaching system implemented at present.

Admission: 40 yuan

Best time to visit: September to December