Labrang Monastery is situated 1 km in the west of Xiahe County.Labrang monastery is an inflection of the Tibetan word "Ratzhang", which means the residence of the Living Buddha Master.Together with Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Gandan Monastery, Tashilhunpo Monastery in Tibet and Ta er monastery in Qinghai, they are collectively known as the six major monasteries of the Gelug Sect (yellow sect) of Lamaism in China. It is known as the "Tibetan institution of the world".