Kumbum Tibetan Monastery (Ta'er Si) Qinghai

Exit of the Xining South motorway for Ta'er Temple	Entrance to Ta'er Si, also known as Kumbum Monastery	Dragon riding an elephant	Row of 8 stupas, Kumbum
Each of the 8 stupas commemorates an important event from the Sakyamuni Buddha's life	One of the 8 stupas at Kumbum	The stupas were built in 1776	The 8 stupas (Lotus, Bodhi, Dharma Wheel, Conquering Heresies, Rebirth, Peace, Victory and Nirvana)
Stupas and golden roof, Kumbum	Gate to Kumbum Monatery (Ta'er Si) Qinghai Province	Gate, Kumbum Monastery	Monk arriving in an odd 3-wheeled car
Yülkhorsung, Heavenly King of the East	Stone dragon on the gate to Kumbum Monastery	The Four Harmonious Friends (elephant-monkey-rabbit-bird)	Small Hall of the Golden Roof (Xiaojiwna Si) 1631
Kumbum Monastery was founded in around 1577 on the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug-pa (Yellow Hat sect)	Walls of a monastery building at Kumbum	XiningSep08 208.jpg	Chinese-style roof, Kumbum Monastery
Kumbum Monastery	Peace Pagoda, Kumbum (Qinghai)	Offerings of casy on a sacred stone	Buddhist monk of the Tibetan Yellow Hat sect
Courtyard of one of the institutes, Kumbum Monastery	Arcade, Kumbum Monastery	Prayer wheels and a Thangka painting of the Sakyamuni Buddha	Monk fetching pails of water
Tibetan prayer wheels	...careful taking pictures here...one very brusk "monk" wanted to disallow photos outside the building as well as inside	Large prayer wheel	Part of the roof of the Great Hall
Prayer wheels and a monk	Kumbum Monastery, Qinghai Province, China	Stone carving, Kumbum Monasatery	Great Hall of the Golden Roof, Kumbum Monastery
Kumbum Monastery	Great Hall of the Golden Roof, Kumbum Monastery	Kumbum Monastery	Commercial area adjacent to the monastery
Vendors outside Kumbum Monastery	Tourist bazaar, Kumbum Monastery	Hide of a wolf	Mao and other Chinese souvenirs
Chinese police Jeep Cherokee	Logo of the Chinese police