This unusual journey leads you from Gansu province via Qinghai province to Tibet. You visit some very important monasteries of Gelukpa-sect in Tibet Buddhism like Labrang, Kumbum, Jokhang, Drepung, Sera, Barkhor and Tashilunpo as well as the Potala Palace, experience exotic local conditions and customs, and enjoy the natural landscapes: snow-covered mountains, crystal clear highland lakes, broad meadows, emerald-green forests, peculiar plants and rare wild animals in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Itinerary: (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner,
N=overnight) Day01
Flight to Peking Day02
Peking - Lanzhou flight WH2116 1710/1920 or WH2112 1125/1335 1N in 3*Jincheng
hotel Today
arrive in Peking airport and then fly to Lanzhou. Lanzhou, capital of
Gansu province, is in the middle of loess plateau of China and has long
been an important city on the Silk Road in history. The Yellow river flows
through the whole Gansu province. Day03
Lanzhou- Bingling - Xiahe 80+280 km 1N in 2*Labrang hotel B/L/D After the
breakfast visit Thousand-Buddha Caves in Bingling (approx. 80 km) over the
Yellow River by boat. The grottos were firstly built in 420 AD and statues
here are more older than those in Dunghuang Grottos. In the evening reach
in Xiahe, which is 2,900 meters high above sea level and almost
exclusively inhabited by Tibetans. In the afternoon visit Labrang
monastery, the most important religious centre on the northeast border of
the Tibet region. The monastery created in 1710, as one of the six grand
monasteries in Tibet area, has served for centuries there to connect the
Tibetan and Mongolian Lamaism. Day04
Xiahe - Xunhua - Tongren 260 km 1N in 2*Huangnan hotel B/L/D the six
grand monasteries in Tibet area, has served for centuries there to connect
the Tibetan and Mongolian Lamaism. On the way to Tongren make a stop in
Xunhua (the first station in Qinghai province), to visit the hometown of
the 10th Pantschan lama and especially the divine lucky tree. In the
legend he was finally recognized as the "holy child" by help of
recognition of the Pappel tree near the house his family lived. Arrive at
Tongren in the evening. Day05
Tongren - Xining 210 km 1N in 3*Qinghai hotel B/L/D Visit
Longwu monastery of Gelukpa sect which was initially constructed in Yuan
Dynasty (1271-1368) as a monastery of Sakya-sect, and Wutun village the
center of Tibetan Regong-art which is a successful mixture of religious
art and folk art. Afterwards go to Xining, the capital of Qinghai
province. This city is mainly inhabited with Tibetan but also a home of
Uygur, Kazak and Hui minorities. Day06
Xining - Kumbum - Koko Nor 26 + 160 km 1N in simple tent hotel B/L/D While
traveling, visit Kumbum monastery (Ta'er Si) of Gelukpa-sect which was
built in 1560 in Huangzhong county and also one of the six grand
monasteries in Tibet. Both Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Lamaistic
"yellow hat sect" and the 14th Dalai lama were born here. As
Kumbum-monastery has always been playing an important role to connect the
Mongolian with the Lamaism, today many Mongolian come to this place for
worship. Then cross over Sun-Moon-Mountain (Ri Yue Shan). In 641 Wencheng
princess of Tang Dynasty passed by this mountain where today a
sun-pavilion and a moon-pavilion are built on the summit for people to
have a break. The Sun-Moon mountain has always been a distinguish line
between meadow and agriculture area. Arrive at Koko Nor Lake in the late
afternoon and accommodate by the lake. In the
morning drive to Dulan along the Koko Nor Lake, the biggest salty lake in
China, with an area of 4,500 square kilometers and an altitude of 3,194 m
above sea level. The big lake is acclaimed as "pearl on the
highland" and the scenery of which is unusually fascinating and
appears different shapes even at the same time. "Koko Nor" in
Mongolian language means "blue lake" because of its lunar shape
and color. In addition a small island known as "the heaven of the
birds" lies in the lake. After a approx. 200 km long driving make a
short stopover by the Tsaka salty lake where even the wind should be
salty. Late in the afternoon arrive in Dulan. Day08
Dulan - Golmud 360 km 1N in 2*Golmud hotel B/L/D Drive
through the Tsaidam basin, among which most part is desert with some oasis
dotted in. This basin lies in the north of the Amnyemaqen mountain and the
road to Golmud is just along the foot of the mountain. The Xiangride oasis
is the last one seen in this desert. Late in the afternoon arrive in
Golmud, which is a civilazation center where Tibetan culture and Han
culture melt each other. Day09
Golmud - Tuotuoheyan 420 km 1N in simple Tuotuohe hotel B/L/D Day10 Tuotuoheyan - Naqu 430 km 1N in 1*Naqu hotel
B/L/D Cross southwards over the Tangra Shan mountain. On the
way the eagles, flocks of sheep and cattle, yaks, snow mountains, tents of
Tibetan farmers everywhere altogether form a harmonious unity and allow
the spirit and soul of people to relax.
Day11 Naqu - Lhasa 360 km 3N in 3*Shambala hotel B/L Leave Naqu and continue our trip southwards over the
Qing-Tibet plateau. On the way cross the 5,200-meter-high Queer pass while
driving through Nyainqentangra Shan mountain. In the late afternoon arrive
in the "holy city" Lhasa.
Day12 Lhasa B/L
Day13 Lhasa B/L In the morning visit Drepung monastery the sacred land
of Gelukpa sect., which was created in 1416 and the second, third and
fourth Dalai Lama once resided in. In the afternoon visit Sera monastery,
which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist
seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also
called "the court of wild rose". Today still 200 lamas live in
there.
Day14 Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse 260 + 90 km 1N in 3*Shigatse
hotel B/L Pass by the Yamdrok-Tso Lake, the third-biggest holy
lake in Tibet and a good place for taking photos. Then cross over Kangpa-La
Pass (5000 m) to arrive in Gyantse in the afternoon where visit Kumbum
Pagoda also called 100-thousand-Bouddha's-pagoda as well as Pelkor
Monastery famed with its splendid Buddhist Tibetan art, both of them were
built in the 15th century. Afterwards drive to Shigatse, the second
largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet.
Day15 Shigatse - Lhasa 290 km 1N in 3*Shambala hotel
B/L In the morning visit Tashilunpo monastery of Gelukpa
sect, the seat of the Panchan Lamas and one of the six grand monasteries
in Tibet region. In the monastery the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Bouddha
of the future) in China is enshrined. In Tibet Buddism, Panchen Lama is
just the embodiment of Maitreya Buddha. After this sightseeing return to
Lhasa.
Day16 Flights Lhasa - Chengdu - Peking 1N in 3*Taiwan
hotel B/L Early in the morning transfer to airport and then fly
to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. After arrival in Chengdu have
lunch in the airport and leave for Peking by air. After arrival in Peking
transfer to hotel.
Day17 Peking - home B Today Transfer to airport and fly back to home. End of the tour. |
