Unique Yunnan and Tibet

breakfast and lunch

Today you will take the high-speed train to the city Dali with a history of more than 3000 years. Stroll through the old town, where you will get the impression that time stops. The old city of Dali is simple and quiet. Along the main street, there are all kinds of shops specializing in marble products, tie-dye, straw weaving and other famous special products and Bai residential-style restaurants. There are clear streams running in the city, and everywhere you can see the plain and simple traditional houses of Bai nationality.

Then ahead to Chongsheng Temple, facing Erhai lake in the east and Cangshan mountain in the west, is located one kilometer north of Dali ancient city. It is one of the most famous buddhist pagodas in China with the three imposing  pagodas, built in the style of the Bai minority. It is one of the oldest existing buildings in Yunnan and also a famous tower group in China.

Dali Ancient Town

breakfast and lunch

Today you will drive about 3.5 hrs to Lijiang. En route, stop and visit Xizhou Bai minority, which preserves the most and best architectural complex of Bai residents. You can also visit it's morning market and taste the Bai’s Three-Course Tea, followed by taking a horse-drawn cart to enjoy the countryside sceneries.

Then arrive in Old Town of Lijiang. It enjoys a long history of over 1300 years and unlike most of the old towns in China, there is no city wall due to a superstitious belief of the local ruler whose family name is Mu (tree), when encircled by walls, would be Kun (besieged). You will notice in the streets that customs and costumes of the Naxi minority determine the cityscape.

Lijiang

breakfast and lunch

Today you will set off to Jade Dragon snow mountain which goes 15 km away. Due to its height of over 5000 m, there are snow all year covering on the peaks.  As the sacred mountain of the Naxi people, Jade Dragon snow mountain means “sky mountain” in Naxi language. Its 13 snowy peaks are continuous, like a “dragon” soaring and flying. That’s why it is called “jade dragon“.

Next, take a visit to the Black Dragon Pond with the Dongba Culture Museum. The Black Dragon Pond Park is also known as Yuquan park. It is located at the foot of Xiangshan mountain in the north of Lijiang ancient city. Due to its spring water gushing from the rocks at the foot of the mountain, it gathers into a deep pool of 40,000 square meters. The Black dragon pool is a perfect combination of beautiful natural scenery and unique human landscape.

Black Dragon pool

breakfast and lunch

Today you are on your way to Shangri-La. We will make a stop at the Tiger Leaping Gorge, which stretches for about 15 miles from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to Shangri-La and is one of the deepest one in the world. Wedged tightly between titanic cliffs, the river is so narrow here, as legend tells us, that a hunted tiger could make his escape to the other side with a single bound.

Then go on your trip to the Ganden Songzanlin Monastery, the one founded in 17th century during the reign of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama. It is located only 2 kilometers to the north of the county proper, being one of the thirteen Tibetan monasteries in the Kangba Region, where Tibet, Yunnan and Sichuan join. Ganden Songzanglin Monastery is nicknamed by local the Lesser Potala Palace. Holding about 700 monks and one living Buddha, the monastery is a must-go in the region. Let yourself be immersed in the first experience of Tibetan Buddhism.

Songzanlin Monastery

breakfast and lunch

Today you will visit China’s first national park, the Pudacuo National Park. It is located in the centre of “Three Parallel Rivers” world natural heritage area, in the northwest of Yunnan Province. It make up of the Wetlands of International Importance Bita Lake Nature Reserve and the “Three Parallel Rivers” world natural heritage Redhill Area’s Shudu Lake. The park is 22 kilometers away from the Shangri-La county, with a total area of approximately 300 square kilometers. You can definitely have a good relaxation at Bita or Shudu Lake - tranquility is contagious!

Then it goes to the old town of Shangri-La - Dukezong ancient city. It is located in shangri-la county, deqing prefecture, yunnan province. It is the best preserved and largest Tibetan residence group in China. This ancient city with a history of more than 1,300 years was once the window of ethnic cultural exchanges among Tibetan townships and Yunnan and Sichuan region. "Dukezong” in Tibetan means white stone town, meaning moonlight city. What a beautiful and poetic name.

Pudacuo National Park

breakfast

Today you fly from Shangri-La to the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region--Lhasa whose name means "the Land of Gods" in Tibetan. Use the free time for a short tour to get used to the unfamiliar altitude (about 3600 m).

breakfast and lunch

There are several highlights on the program today. Morning visit to the Jokhang Temple-- the spiritual center of Tibet which is visited by countless pilgrims. The mysterious facility will impress you a lot. Then take a stroll down Barkhor Street. It is the oldest and traditional street in Tibet. It is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble. Tibetan handicrafts are offered in the shops.

Later, visit the awe-inspiring Potala Palace. It perched high above much of Lhasa, is the landmark of the city. The whole Palace is consist of Red and White Palace. The white Palace was for secular use and the Red Palace was for religious use. This traditional Tibetan architecture with 13 floors was used for the former residence of the Dalai Lama.

Potala Palace

breakfast and lunch

The first program of the day is the visit of the monastery of Sera, which belongs to the “Three Great Monasteries” of the Gelug Order. Today about 750 monks live and study here. When you arrive at the debating court at the right time, you will see groups of monks excitedly debating in a living atmosphere.

Then continue to Drepung Monastery-- was known for the high standards of its academic study, and was called the Nalanda of Tibet, a reference to the great Buddhist monastic university of India. And it used to be the former state monastery of Tibet, which served as the headquarters for the Dalai Lama before moving to the Potala Palace.

Last, visit Norbulingka - a traditional summer palace and residence starting from the 7th Dalai Lama. It is also the place they conduct their affairs and religious activities. The whole garden covers an area of 46 hectares, with more than 370 rooms of different sizes, known as “garden of the garden”, making it the largest, most scenic and most historic garden in Tibet.

Sere Monastery

breakfast and lunch

Today your journey continues to Gyantse, where you will find the horses and yaks along the way. Your first stop is at the crystal-clear Yamdrok Lake-- one of the three largest holy lakes in Tibet. Yamdrok lake is the largest inland lake in the northern foothills of the Himalayas. Yamdrok lakeside is a highland pasture with clear water and rich grass, so the local Tibetan folk song praise Yamdrok lake: “fairyland on the heaven, Yamdrok lake on earth. Stars in the sky, cows and sheep by the lake.” Meanwhile you can look far into the distance and marvel at the mountains that tower around the sky.

Then move on to Gyangtse Pelkor Chode. Monastery(4000m) is a typical Tibetan Buddhist temple building combined with a pagoda temple, and is the only one completely preserved to today. With a large group of monumental buildings, it is known as the king of the pagoda in Tibet. There is also the famous Kumbum, a chorten containing many sacred images.

Yamdrok Lake

breakfast and lunch

Climb up to the Dzong Castle today, which was used as a defense against the British attack at the beginning of the 20th century. Dzong castle is located in the urban area of Gyantse county, Shigatse region, Tibet. “Zong” means castle or fortress in Tibetan language. When the British invaded in 1904, it was the main fortress against foreign invasion, which was destroyed to some extent after its fall.

Then you drive to Shigatse, another city of Tibet. En route, you can visit one of the most famous monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism, the Shalu Monastery. Shalu Monastery is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet and the ancestral monastery of Shalu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. In addition to its eventful history, the construction of this temple is very special as it unites Tibetan and Chinese architecture style.

When arrive at Shigatse, you will visit the famous Tashihunpo Monastery-- one of the largest monastic centers of the Gelug School. It is also the seat of the 11th Panchen Lama, recognized by the Chinese government. A visit to this monastery is a must as you will get a glimpse into the life of the monks and their studying or teaching of Buddhist here.

Gyantse Dzong

breakfast and lunch

Today you will fly to the provincial capital city of Sichuan,  Chengdu. It is known not only for its fiery cuisine, but for its famous animal inhabitants, the Great Pandas. The Panda Breeding Station is a non-profit organization specializing in endangered wildlife research, breeding, conservation education. It has built a scientific research building, and panda activity field, swan lake, giant panda museum and so on, integrating natural mountain scenery and beautiful artificial landscape. It is suitable for the survival and reproduction of giant pandas and a variety of rare wild animals. At the Panda Breeding Station you have the opportunity to watch the national animal of China eating and rumbling.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

breakfast

Today you’re flying homeward with your fascinating impressions of China.