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Day 01 Beijing - Xining 1N in Qinghai
Arrive in Xining City. Xining, 2300 m above sea level, is the capital of the Qinghai Province. Qinghai is the former Tibetan east province Amdo. Xining was an important transfer station to the caravan roads to Tibet.
Day 02 Xining - Kumbum - Koko Nor 190 km in Qinghai
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.
Day 03 Koko Nor Lake - Bird Island-Xining 320 km 1N in Xining
In the morning drive to the Bird Island. Birding on the Bird Island .The small island known as "the heaven of the birds" lies in the northwestern tip of the lake. Thousands of migrating birds stay on the island from Aprila to July each year. Late afternoon drive back to Xining.
Day 04/05 Xining – Golmud – Lhasa 2040 km 1N in soft sleeping car
Travel to Lhasa via Golmud. along Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Qinghai-Tibet section of the railway is the world's highest and longest railway, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Tibet plateau.
Day 06 Lhasa 2N in Lhasa
If Tibet is the "roof of the world", then its capital, Lhasa, is certainly the "city of the sun". Standing on a plain over 13,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by towering mountains, Lhasa is a town bathed in sunlight. In the morning arrive in the "holy city" Lhasa. Transfer to hotel to have an acclimatization rest in the hotel. In the afternoon visit 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. Then 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.
Day 07 Lhasa
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 Then drive to Drepung monastery the sacred land of Gelukpa sect., which was created in 1416 and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama once resided in. After that 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. Sometimes, we may see the lamas do Scripture Debating in Sera Monastery.
Day 08 Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse 260 + 90 km 1N in Shigatse
Today leaving for Shigatse. 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.
Day 09 Shigatse - Lhasa 290 km 1N in Lhasa
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 Buddhism, Panchen Lama is just the embodiment of Maitreya Buddha. After this sightseeing return to Lhasa.
Day 10 Lhasa – Beijing / Shangri-la ( airfare not included )
Transfer to Gongga Airport and departure.
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