About four kelometers north of Lhasa at the base of Mount Peibuqie, the Sera Monastery was founded in 1419 by disciples of Tsong Khapa. Sera means Merciful Hail in contrast with the Rice Heap (Drepung). Sera was smaller than Drepung, with fewer monks. The Sera Monastery had three colleges. The chanting halls in the colleges contain precious cultural relics and more than ten thousand images of Vajrapani carved by local Tibetan artisans and many bronze Buddhist statues brought back from China's interior and India.

The Taer Lamasery, situated in Lushaer Town, Huangzhong County 25 kilometers south of Xining, is thebirth place of Tsongkapa, founder of the Yellow Sect (Gelugpa) of Tibetan Buddhism. The complex is one of the six major lamaseries of the sect. Built on a mountain slope, the lamasery includes the Big Golden Tile Palace, Small Golden Tile Palace and the Big Scripture Hall, etc., as a perfect combination of Tibetan and Han architectural styles. In the Big Golden Tile Palace is a gilded niche holding a clay statue of Tsongkapa. The butter sculpture, mural, and appliques (piled embroidery) are known as the lamasery's three wonders of art. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival when the lamasery holds an exhibition of butter sculptures, which has become a major tourist attraction.

Trashilhunpo Monastery at Xigaze

Located in the south of Nyioeri Mountain west of Xigaze, the monastery was first built in 1447 under the guidance of the First Dalai Lama Gedun Chubba, a disciple of Zongkaba of the Gelugba (Yellow Hat). As one of the four great monasteries of Gelungba in Tibet, it was listed as one of the historical monuments and cultural relics preserved under state protection.

Inside the monastery are more than 50 scripture halls and quarters for more than 3,600 monks. The main structure, located at the top, has three parts. The upper part of the west side is the Hall of Buddha Maitreya (known as Buddha Qamba in Tibet) and is 30 meters high. Being the largest and highest indoor bronze statue of Buddha in the world, the Buddha Qamba is 26.2 meters high and made of pure bronze, weighing 115,000 kilometers.