Kumbum Monastery in autumn.

🔶🔹Kumbum Monastery is a center of Tibetan Buddhism in northwest China and is famous in China and Southeast Asia. It was first built in the 39th year of the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty (1560) to commemorate Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. It was originally a large silver pagoda and was later expanded into a monastery. 🔹Architectural features: Kumbum Monastery has a unique architectural style that combines Han and Tibetan architectural art. It was built according to the mountain terrain and forms a large architectural complex. 🔸Three artistic masterpieces: Butter sculptures, murals, and thangkas are known as the three artistic masterpieces of Kumbum Monastery and have high artistic value. 🔹Religious activities: Kumbum Monastery holds four major Dharma assemblies each year, attracting many believers and tourists to come and worship. 🔸Cultural value: Kumbum Monastery is one of the important monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism and is of great significance for the study of Tibetan Buddhist culture, history, and art. After visiting the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Songzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La, and Labrang Monastery in Gannan, the butter sculptures of Kumbum Monastery in Qinghai are still the most shocking.