The Songzanlin monastery

The Songzanlin monastery (also known as Gadan Songzanlin Temple) is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province and one of the centers of the Gelugpa (Yellow Sect) in the Sichuan Yunnan region, known as the "Little Potala Palace".

Iconic elements:
Golden roof: The roof of the main hall is covered with gilded copper tiles, shining brightly in the sunlight, symbolizing the solemnity of Buddhism.
Murals and Tangkas: The hall houses a large collection of Buddhist murals, Tangkas, and scriptures, covering Buddhist stories, historical figures, and more.
The prayer tube and prayer flags: There is a long corridor for prayer tubes outside the temple, and there is a continuous stream of people chanting and praying for blessings.

Religious and Cultural Status
Gelugpa stronghold: Songzanlin Temple is the core of political and religious integration in the Tibetan areas of Yunnan, and has historically governed hundreds of affiliated temples.
Buddhist activities:
Grand ceremonies are held during festivals such as Tibetan New Year and Lantern Festival.
During the winter grand ceremony, rituals such as monks debating scriptures and jumping gods (Qiangmu) attract many believers.
Academic Center: The temple has schools of Buddhism for both Xianzong and Esoteric Buddhism, which have trained a large number of eminent monks and scholars.