Kumbum Monastery was initially built in the Ming Dynasty (1560 A.D.). It is one of the China's six (Gelu branch) Tibetan Buddhism monasteries. In 1749, Qing Emperor Qian Long named it as "Fan Zhong Monastery". The monastery is built over hillside, with an area of 40 hectares, 15 halls, 9,300 dormitory rooms for monks, building area of 450,000 square meters.
The building style of Kumbum Monastery is a mixture of Han and Tibetan. Major buildings of the monastery include: Babaoruyi tower, Dajinwadian hall, Xiaojinwadian hall, Grand Scripture Hall, Wenshu Bodhisattva temple, Larangjixiangxingong temple, Mizun Institute, butter flower exhibition hall and grand kitchen. Dajinwadian hall is a three story building with Han and Tibetan architecture style combined in one. As a main hall, it is located at the central position of Monastery. Wall paintings, butter flower sculpture and Buddha portrait embroidery are unique arts of the Kumbum Monastery.