Places Covered : Peking - Lanzhou- Bingling - Xiahe - Xunhua - Tongren
- Xining - Kumbum - Koko Nor - Dulan - Golmud - Tuotuohe - Naqu
- Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Chengdu.
Theme : Adventure of the roof of the world
Highlights: Tibetan Buddhism monastery, Yellow sect of Tibetan Buddhism
monastery, Labrang Monastery, Kumbum Monastery, Jokhang Monastery,
Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Barkhor, Tashilunpo Monastery,
potala Palace, the roof of the world, the third pole of the world
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.
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 :
In the morning visit Labrang monastery nearby Xiahe, 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. 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.
Day07 Koko Nor Lake - Dulan 320 km 1N in
simple Xingdu hotel B/L/D :
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 - Tuotuohe 420 km 1N in simple
Tuotuohe hotel B/L/D :
Drive through the vast wilderness and Tsaidam meadow on the Tibet-Qinghai-Plateau
along the road in the foot of the Kunlun-mountain and go on upwards
by steep valley to cross over the 4.837- meter-high Kunlun Pass.
Afterwards pass by the First Bridge over the Yangtse River and arrive
in Tuotuoheyan, which is lain in the head stream of the Yangtse
River.
Day10 Tuotuohe - 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 :
In the morning visit Potala, which was constructed in 637 by Songtsen
Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet and later served as the
winter residence of the Dalai Lamas. Another aim is Dralha Lhupuk
(meditation cave) where Pelden Lhamo, the goddess of protection
is enshrined. In the afternoon visit Jokhang monastery, the center
of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers
where innumerable pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple,
built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing
in Tibet. Walk on the Barkhor street nearby Jokhang, a big free
market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties. Then
drive to Norbulingka, which means the garden of treasures in Tibetan
language. Located in the west suburbs of Lhasa, this palace complex
was built in the 18th century and served as the summer residence
of the Dalai Lamas.
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. |