Also known as Ta’er Si in Chinese, the Kumbum Monastery is one of the leading Yellow Hat Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. It was originally built in 1577 and is a large wandering complex of temples, prayer halls, prayer wheels and housing for the monks. The central temple is the Grand Hall of the Golden Tile which houses a 30 foot golden Chorten that marks the spot where the monastery’s founder (the founder of the Yellow Hat sect) was born.There were pilgrims walking circuits around the outside of this green tiled building as well as others prostrating on the ground in front and around it. 

 Overall, the monastery is quite touristy. Only 27 km from Xining, and reachable by city bus for only 50 cents a person, it is full of Chinese tourists, some just taking photos and others clearly interested in learning about Buddhism. I saw one young man getting instruction from a guide about how to properly pray in front of a Buddha. We had a good time during our short visit here, turning prayer wheels and checking out the varied temples. Dylan was certainly more engrossed from Ella who did mention, “another temple?”