Xiahe is a small town on the Daxia River in southern Gansu, in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. It exists because of Labrang Monastery, which was founded in 1709 and is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The prefecture is traditionally part of Amdo, and Tibetans make up about 55% of its 705,000 people.
| Labrang Monastery | founded 1709 by the first Jamyang; national protected site since 1982; the largest monastery in the Tibetan areas of southern Gansu |
|---|---|
| Monks | at most over 3,000 |
| Library | 17,833 titles counted in 1959, at least 100,000 volumes |
| Medical college | Menkhang, founded 1782; some of its medicines are listed in the national pharmacopoeia |
| Restoration | first full conservation in over 300 years, finished July 2021; over 400 million yuan |
| Climate | average temperature about 2.6 °C; annual rain about 516 mm; frost-free about 56 days a year |
Labrang Monastery
The first Jamyang, Ngawang Tsondru, founded the monastery in 1709 in the Kangxi reign. The name Labrang comes from “labrang”, the residence of the monastery’s highest lama. It became the religious and political center of southern Gansu, and at its height it had more than 3,000 monks. Historical accounts claim it had 108 branch monasteries, and in fact the number was higher. It holds the most complete collection of Tibetan texts of any monastery in China, started by the second Jamyang, and a monastic education system that Chinese Wikipedia calls the best preserved for Tibetan Buddhism. Its six great colleges and many halls include the Tsongkhapa Hall, the Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara Hall and the Maitreya Hall. A large copper pot in the kitchen could boil four oxen.
A conservation program for the monastery’s halls, murals, wiring and fire safety was finished in July 2021, the first full-scale one in more than three centuries, costing over 400 million yuan. By then 14 restored halls, including the Maitreya Hall and the Jamyang residence, were awaiting acceptance by the heritage authority. Check which halls are open on your day.
Visiting
The usual visit is a walk with a guide through the halls and a pilgrim circuit around the monastery, turning prayer wheels clockwise. Dress modestly, ask before photographing inside halls, and do not touch religious objects. Xiahe sits at altitude and is cold: the town’s annual mean is about 2.6 degrees Celsius, and frost-free days number only 56, so bring warm layers even in summer. The monastery’s long monastic traditions are also seen in its debate courtyard and medical college, which has trained doctors since 1782.
Getting there and onward
Xiahe is usually reached from Lanzhou by road, and many travelers continue to Tibetan areas of Sichuan or to Jiuzhaigou on an overland route across the plateau; see our Jiuzhaigou page and Lhasa page. One night is usually enough for the monastery and the grassland nearby. See also our China tours.
Planning Xiahe with Absolute Asia Tours
Absolute Asia Tours has planned private trips in Asia since 1989. For Xiahe that means a driver from Lanzhou, a guide who can explain the monastery’s colleges and etiquette, and a warm guest house. We’re rated 4.8 out of 5 across about 900 traveler reviews. See our China tours or tell us your dates.
Sources (read in Chinese, Chinese Wikipedia): 拉卜楞寺, 夏河县, 甘南藏族自治州. Last checked November 2026.
Xiahe: FAQ
What is Labrang Monastery?
A Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Gelug school founded in 1709, and one of its six great monasteries.
When was Labrang Monastery founded?
In 1709, by the first Jamyang, Ngawang Tsondru.
How many monks lived at Labrang?
At its height, more than 3,000.
Is Xiahe cold?
Yes. The annual average is about 2.6 degrees Celsius, so bring warm clothing in every season.
How many days do you need in Xiahe?
One night is usually enough for the monastery and the nearby grassland.
Photo: Ariel Steiner, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5. Labrang Monastery, Xiahe.
