08 Days Tour Lhasa/Xigatse/Yangbajing/Namtso

Arrive Xi’ning, pick up and visit Kumbum Monastery--the religious activity center of both monks and followers of the Yellow Hat Sect (also named Gelugpa Sect, a branch of Tibetan Buddhism). Kumbum Monastery is called ’gongben’ in the Tibetan language, which means ’10,000 figures of Buddha’. It has gradually become a place of interest for its distinct ethnic and native style with its 400 years long of history. The whole area covers more than 144 thousand square meters (about 36 acres) with mountains surrounding it. It has 9,300 rooms and 52 halls. You could visualize what a splendid place it is just by judging these figures. The Kumbum Monastery is a group of fine buildings in a combination of both the Han and Tibetan styles of architecture on the mountain slopes. It has lofty temples and halls rising one upon another. The palace buildings, Buddhist halls, sleeping quarters, as well as the courtyards echo each other and thus enhance the beauty of the whole area.

 

Early Morning, visit Qinghai Lake - perched at 3,200m above sea level and sandwiched between the Hainan and Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures, lies Qinghai Lake (Qinghai hu). This huge expanse of deep, salty liquid receives its name, literally Blue Sea Lake, from the vastness of its azure waters. It is the largest salt water lake in China, with a circumference of 360km and a surface area of over 4,500km squared. In ancient times the lake was known as the Western Sea, and in Tibetan it is known as Koko Nor. Daotang River and Sun-Moon Mountain--It has been said that the Dao tang river is the tears the princess wencheng cry, and the sun-moon mountain is the place that the princess wencheng throw the mirror away, it is saying that princess wencheng’s mother give her a mirror when the princess wencheng came to Tibet and the mother said, you can see the hometown in it whenever you miss the home. When she got sun-moon mountain, she missed the home lot, and take the mirror to look at, but It didn’t work(in the fact, the Tibetan minister Ger’dongzan change the mirror secretly), so she throw it away.

 

Arrive Lhasa- Lhasa means holy land in Tibetan. On the northern bank of Lhasa River, a tributary of Yarlungtsanpo River, it is 3,650 meters above sea level. It is famous for its long history. Lhasa is also famous as a city of sunshine for its sunshine of more than 3,000 hours a year. It is the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region and is a political, economic and cultural center of the region. It boasts many historical sites and scenic spots both in its urban areas and outskirts. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Hotel. Having rest due to the high elevation. （accommodation according to your module）

 

Depart for tour of the Potala Palace—The Potala was the place of the Dalai Lama. It was originally built in the 7th century by King Songtsan Gampo and rebuilt to the present size by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Its 13-story main building is 117metershigh and is composed of the Red and White Palaces, with the red one in the middle. The main building consists of the Halls of Stupas of Dalai Lamas from various historical stages and halls of Buddhist statues. The White Palace is the residence of the Dalai Lamas and places for handing political affairs. The Potala Palace houses great amounts of rare cultural relics including the Pattra-leaf scripture from India, Bak’gyur and the imperial edicts, golden seals and titles of nobility granted by the Qing emperors to the Dalai Lamas. Jokhang Monastery- Located in the center of the ancient city of Lhasa, the Jokhang Temple was built in the seventh century by Songtsan Gambo, the Tang Princess Wen Cheng and Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti. Its four-story main building demonstrates a combination of the Han, Tibetan, Indian and Nepaless architectural styles, as well as a Mandala world outlook of Buddhism. With the Hall of Amitayus Sutra as its center, the temple symbolizes the nucleus of the universe. The Hall of Sakyamuni is the essence of the temple., Barkor Street- This area bursts with atmosphere and contradictions. On the one hand, this is one of THE holiest areas of Tibet, awash with pilgrims, monks, nuns and temples. On the other, the streets around here are the hubs of Lhasa’s commercial zone. Street traders, hawkers and market sellers fill the pavements around the Barkhor area.

 

After breakfast, drive to Yangbajing-a small basin 90 kilometers from Lhasa, was the earliest heat base to be developed. In 1975, scientists and engineers arrived to test its potential power. And then many workers arrived and built China’s first geothermal power station. It has many hot springs and mysterious hot water lake with a heat explosion unseen elsewhere. You would take a bath in the hot spring. Namtso Lake-Namtso, literally heavenly lake, is situated in a mountainous area about 60 km northwest of Damshung County, Namtso Lake extents 70 km from east to west, and 30 km from south to north, covering an area of 1920 sq.km and altitude of 4748 m above sea level. It is the biggest lake in Tibet and the second biggest salt lake in China as well as the highest lake in the world. Namtso Lake is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, playing an important role among Tibetans. Drive back to Lhasa and stay overnight!

 

Driving out of Lhasa past the turquoise Lake Yamdrok –one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Yamdrok Lake is situated in the Lhoka area, covers 621 square KM with the elevation of 4441M. That is the largest lake on the northern slope of the Himalayas, enjoying the beautiful sightseeing of the lakes and taking some pictures. Continue to Gyantse-here you can tour at your own expense: Palcho Monastery- is so famous that its remarkable feature accommodates the three sects of Tibetan Buddhism in one monastery coexisting in peace with each other. The Palcho Monastery is in coexistence of the three sects namely, the Sakya, the Kagyu and the Gelug. The full name of the Palcho Monastery is called “The Auspicious Wheel Joy Monastery”. According to the historical records, this monastery was built in 14^th or 15^th century. It consists of the Assembly Hall, the 100000-Buddha pagoda, dratsangs and an enclosure wall as its construction units. Dzong Fort- On the Dzong Fort, the artillery fort used in that war to fight against the British invaders is still kept. Dzong Fort is the former location of Gyantse local government in old Tibet. Four steles put up by the high-rank commissioners dispatched by the emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty are still kept in good order for extremely precious value as the historical cultural relics. Continue to Shigatse and stay overnight.

Shigatse and stay over night.

 

Driving out of Lhasa to Shigatse, Here you will visit Tashilunpo Monastery- At the foot of the Nyima Mountain on the outskirts of Xigatse, the monastery was built in 1447 under the supervision of the First Dalai Lama Gedun Tsuba, one of the disciples of Tsonggaba. It was expanded by the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Panchen Lamas and has become the place of the reincarnation of the Panchen Lamas. The monastery houses a 22.4-meter-high gilded bronze statue of Qiangba Buddha, the tallest of its kind in the world. The image of the Buddha is kind, generous and vivid. Stay overnight in Xigatse.

 

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Chengdu with fond memories of a holiday