Sumtsen Ling Monastery, also called Ganden Songtsen Ling or Gyalthang Sumtsen Ling, is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the Yunnan Province of southwest China. [Photo/CRI online]

Sumtsen Ling Monastery, also called Ganden Songtsen Ling or Gyalthang Sumtsen Ling, is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the Yunnan Province of southwest China. It is also the centre of the Gelug Sect for the Tibetan-inhabited areas of Sichuan and Yunnan, holding a key position in these areas.

At an altitude of over 3,300 meters, the Sumtsen Ling Monastery is popularly known as the "small Potala Palace". Built in the mountains, the monastery resembles a castle and is famous for its highly accomplished Tibetan art, therefore it has won the reputation of being a "Tibetan art museum".

Construction began on the Sumtsen Ling Monastery in 1679, during the Qing Dynasty (1616-1912), and was completed in 1681. The fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lozang Gyatso personally gave the monastery the name "Ganden Songtsen Ling".

Sumtsen Ling Monastery, also called Ganden Songtsen Ling or Gyalthang Sumtsen Ling, is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the Yunnan Province of southwest China. [Photo/CRI online]

Sumtsen Ling Monastery, also called Ganden Songtsen Ling or Gyalthang Sumtsen Ling, is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the Yunnan Province of southwest China. [Photo/CRI online]

Sumtsen Ling Monastery, also called Ganden Songtsen Ling or Gyalthang Sumtsen Ling, is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the Yunnan Province of southwest China. [Photo/CRI online]