It is one of the 18 counties under the administration of the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, covering some 9,340 square kilometres.

Sêrtar is remotely located and requires more than half a day's driving if travelling from Chengdu via Maerkang.

Sêrtar is one of the places in Sichuan that witnesses occasional acts of self-immolation, usually carried out by Tibetans.

[3] On 26 November 2012, a monk allegedly self-immolated in front of the golden horse statue in Larung Gar.

On the evening of 10 January 2014, a fire broke out in Larung Gar, burning down more than a dozen structures and requiring 450 rescue workers to respond to the scene; however, there were no serious casualties.