Early Morning, transferred for flight to 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.

 

Driving out of Lhasa, about 430 KM to the south of Tibet via Baksum Tso Lake-a famous sacred lake of the Red Sect. It is located in Shoka in Kongpo Gyamda County, 55 km. to the east of Kongpo Gyamda and 300 km. from Lhasa. There is an ancient temple of the Nyingma sect in the Zhaxi Island in the middle of the lake built in the 17th century. People may go there by a ferryboat. On the 15th of fourth month in Tibetan calendar every year is the festival of turning around the lake Pilgrims from Nyingtri and Kham come here to turn around the lake. The scenery around the lake is magnificent which is well known as “Geneva of the east”.. You will meet the breath holding landscape called “Oriental Swiss”, as the lower altitude, there are primitive forest and vastness gorges Which is amazing wonderland in plateau.

 

Here you will visit the giant pine trees with the history of over 2,500 years old. In the afternoon, we will make our journey back to Lhasa.

 

Early Morning, driving out of Lhasa to Yangbajin, 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.

 

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. Drive back to Lhasa.

 

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