The Gandain Monastery was built after Zongkapa, founder of the Gelug Sect, pioneered the Grand Summons Ceremony in Lhasa in 1409. The event marked the official formation of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Zongkapa lived in the monastery, where he worked on books and did his best to spread Gelug doctrines. Upon his death in 1419, his disciple, Gyiacagyi, took over the Gandain Chiba post of the monastery.

Of the six monasteries belonging to the Gelug Sect, the Gandain is the most important and the largest. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the imperial court named it Yongshou Monastery while the Tibetans called it Dgav-ldan mam-par rgyal-bavi-gling.

Tucked away on the southern bank of the Lhasa River in Dagze County, Lhasa, the Gandain Monastery, with an elevation of 3,800 meters, is 57 km from Lhasa. It was built along the slopes of the Wangbori Mountain which resembles a reclining elephant. The monastery is composed of Buddha halls, palace residences for Living Buddhas, Buddhist colleges called Zhacang and Myicun in Tibetan, and related buildings.

The Lagyi Hall and the Yangbagyain Hall are the major ones of their kind in the monastery.

The Lagyi Hall, also called Coqen Hall, is located in the northern half of the monastery. With southern exposures, the hall is the largest of its kind in the monastery. It has three storeys, extending 43.8 meters from east to west and 44.7 meters from south to north. At the ground floor are the Entrance Hall, the Sutra Hall, and three Buddha halls. The Sutra Hall, lying in the middle, is the largest and can hold more than 3,000 lamas reciting sutras. In the hall are statues of Maitreya Buddha and Master Zongkapa. It is complete with the throne for the Gandain Chiba, the chief abbot of the monastery. To the left of the Sutra Hall is a hall gate, above which is a finely carved sculpture of the Tusita Heaven.

The Yangbagyain Hall, with four storeys, sit6s west of the Lagyi (Coqen) Hall. It is composed of the Buddhist Guardian Hall, the Master Hall, the Mandala Hall, the Master Hall, the Mandala Hall, the Sidongkang Hall and holy stupas for Gandain Chiba abbots various generations. Constructiion of the hall began in 1409 and it was completed in 1416. In 1610, the 4th Panchen Lama added a golden top to Yangbagyain Hall.

Chitokang and Angyiukang are the two Lhadrang palace residences for Living Buddhas of the Gandain Monastery. Chitokang was once the residence for Zongkapa. Inside the palace residence are painted and carved figures of Sakyamuni and Wisdom Buddha. Its doors and windows bear wood carvings popular with temples in the Han areas.

Xaze and Jamze are the two major Zhacang Buddhist colleges of the monastery. Their Sutra Halls, respectively covering an area of 665.92 square meters and 876 square meters, are venues for the study of Buddhism.

The Gandain Monastery boasts 23 Kamcuns and 20 Myicuns for monks to study Buddhist scriptures, as well as nine grounds for monks to hold religious activities or debates on Buddhist sutras.

All the monks must study in various Kamcuns and Myicuns organized in accordance with where they come from. During the period of the 5th Dalai Lama, the Gandain Monastery boasted more monks than any other five major monasteries of the Gelug Sect.

Monks of the Gandain Monastery study doctrines of the open and secret schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Tradition has it that they must study the former first, including the five major classics of the Gelug Sect, including Ornament and Clear Realization, Logic, Sila Sutra and Treasury of Knowledge. Those who receive the Geshi degree after completing these studies are allowed to enter the Tantric college for learning the secret school doctrines. Here they are required to complete the study of the four major volumes of Tantric classics. Generally speaking, it takes years to study one volume of the Buddhist classic.

The Gandain Monastery has a rich collection of historical relics, including one hamlet inlaid with gold and silver gems and written with words in the Han Chinese, Manchurian, Mongolian and Tibetan languages. It was a gift from Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong in 1757. Other relics include the set of Gangyur of Tibetan Tripitaka, which is written in gold powder ink, and 24 pieces of silk tangka paintings of the 16 arhats and the four Heavenly Demon Kings. The 24 pieces of silk tangka paintings are shown for three weeks during the Gandain Silk Tangka Festival in the first month of each Tibetan year. In recognition of its important role in religion, art, politics and cultural relics, the Gandain Monastery was made one of the cultural relics units subject to state protectioin in 1961.

The Gandain Monastery has been seriously damaged by war and natural calamities. The PRC Central Government established a plan for renovation in 1978. Monastery monks also donated money for the renovation. The Yangbagyain Hall, the Sidongkang Hall, the holy stupa for Zongkapa, golden tops of certain halls and part of residences for monastery monks were renovated around 1981. In 1987, the Central Government earmarked some 400,000 yuan for further renovation. In December 1992, the people's government of the Tibet Autonomous Region invested 26 million yuan, and veteran artisans with the Lhasa Antique Building Art Co. were organized for the renovation. In August 1995, the Central Government allocated a special fund totalling 5 million yuan, plus 22.9 kg of gold, for the renovation of Buddha statues and the Jamze Zhacang and some other major buildings of the monastery. Renovation of the monastery buildings will be completed soon.