The Samphel Monastery, short for Ganden Samphel Norbuling Monastery, is located in Xiangcheng (also known as Chatreng) County of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. The monastery, built in 1669, is one of the 13 monasteries of Gelug sect founded by the fifth Dalai Lama in Kham Tibetan-inhabited area. The walls of the monastery imitate those of the Potala Palace. Stretching East to West, the main hall is 6 stories tall and covers 2,001 square meters with 280 pillars on the bottom. Inside the monastery stands a 34-meter-tall statue of Tsongkhapa, founder of Gelug Sect, which is the largest of its kind in China’s Tibetan-inhabited areas. Because of the magnificent main hall and exquisite engravings and paintings, the Samphel Monastery is hailed as the "first monastery in Kham". [Photo/Baidu]

The Samphel Monastery, short for Ganden Samphel Norbuling Monastery, is located in Xiangcheng (also known as Chatreng) County of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. The monastery, built in 1669, is one of the 13 monasteries of Gelug sect founded by the fifth Dalai Lama in Kham Tibetan-inhabited area. The walls of the monastery imitate those of the Potala Palace. Stretching East to West, the main hall is 6 stories tall and covers 2,001 square meters with 280 pillars on the bottom. Inside the monastery stands a 34-meter-tall statue of Tsongkhapa, founder of Gelug Sect, which is the largest of its kind in China’s Tibetan-inhabited areas. Because of the magnificent main hall and exquisite engravings and paintings, the Samphel Monastery is hailed as the "first monastery in Kham". [Photo/Baidu]

The Samphel Monastery, short for Ganden Samphel Norbuling Monastery, is located in Xiangcheng (also known as Chatreng) County of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. The monastery, built in 1669, is one of the 13 monasteries of Gelug sect founded by the fifth Dalai Lama in Kham Tibetan-inhabited area. The walls of the monastery imitate those of the Potala Palace. Stretching East to West, the main hall is 6 stories tall and covers 2,001 square meters with 280 pillars on the bottom. Inside the monastery stands a 34-meter-tall statue of Tsongkhapa, founder of Gelug Sect, which is the largest of its kind in China’s Tibetan-inhabited areas. Because of the magnificent main hall and exquisite engravings and paintings, the Samphel Monastery is hailed as the "first monastery in Kham". [Photo/Baidu]

The Samphel Monastery, short for Ganden Samphel Norbuling Monastery, is located in Xiangcheng (also known as Chatreng) County of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. The monastery, built in 1669, is one of the 13 monasteries of Gelug sect founded by the fifth Dalai Lama in Kham Tibetan-inhabited area. The walls of the monastery imitate those of the Potala Palace. Stretching East to West, the main hall is 6 stories tall and covers 2,001 square meters with 280 pillars on the bottom. Inside the monastery stands a 34-meter-tall statue of Tsongkhapa, founder of Gelug Sect, which is the largest of its kind in China’s Tibetan-inhabited areas. Because of the magnificent main hall and exquisite engravings and paintings, the Samphel Monastery is hailed as the "first monastery in Kham". [Photo/Baidu]

The Samphel Monastery, short for Ganden Samphel Norbuling Monastery, is located in Xiangcheng (also known as Chatreng) County of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. The monastery, built in 1669, is one of the 13 monasteries of Gelug sect founded by the fifth Dalai Lama in Kham Tibetan-inhabited area. The walls of the monastery imitate those of the Potala Palace. Stretching East to West, the main hall is 6 stories tall and covers 2,001 square meters with 280 pillars on the bottom. Inside the monastery stands a 34-meter-tall statue of Tsongkhapa, founder of Gelug Sect, which is the largest of its kind in China’s Tibetan-inhabited areas. Because of the magnificent main hall and exquisite engravings and paintings, the Samphel Monastery is hailed as the "first monastery in Kham". [Photo/Baidu]