Located in the southwestern suburb of Xining, Taer Monastery (also called Kumbum Monastery) is a very sacred Tibetan Buddhist temple. As the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa sect, it was listed in “the Six Greatest Monastery of Tibetan Gelugpa”, and the others are Sera, Drepung, Tashilhunpo, Ganden monasteries in Tibet, and the Labrang monastery in Gansu Province.
Built-in 1577, this monastery is a wonderful architectural complex that contains hundreds of structures, including Buddha halls, scripture halls, Buddhist pagodas, and lamas residences. The magnificent temples and halls are a perfect combination of the Han and Tibetan styles.
During your visit to the monastery, do not forget to see the Three Artistic Wonders: Yak Butter Sculptures, Murals, and Embroideries. After three months of preparation, a Yak Butter Sculptures exhibition takes place every 15th January of the Chinese lunar calendar. At this time, you can find the fine sculptures of statues of Buddha, human figures, landscape, pavilions, animals, and plants in Yak Butter Scripture Hall.
Chinese Name: 塔尔寺
Location: 30 km from Xining
Opening hours: 08h00-17h00
Ticket: 80 RMB/person
Recommended visit duration: 4-5 hrs