The roofs of the Monastery are gilded copper and can be seen for miles away shining in the sun. The exterior walls are painted in a variety of colors including white, red, and tan making the entire complex appear even more magnificent. The monastery is home to the largest prayer wheel in the world. Although smaller than Lhasa's Potala Palace, the Songzanlin Monastery is magnificent, and its picturesque location and beautiful buildings make this an important stop for any visit to Yunnan Province.The incense drifting in wisps, the fragrant oil lamps and the number of old monks instructing younger ones, can give one the impression that time has stood still in this little paradise since the creation of the temple.