Niǎnbó

Nianbo lies in the Huang River valley east of Xining. The Ming built a fortified town here in 1386, near the older site of Ledu, and maintained a military post at Nianbo. South of the valley stands Qutan Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist foundation whose buildings use the monumental forms of Chinese palace architecture. The monastery was founded in 1392 by the lama Sanluo and received its name from the Ming emperor the following year. Imperial support continued under later rulers, who sent craftsmen to enlarge it. Its courtyards, halls and painted corridors became an important religious centre in the Huang River region, bringing together Tibetan Buddhist worship and architectural traditions associated with the Ming court.