Day01 20.07 TUE Arrival Xining
Today we arrive in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province. This city is mainly inhabited with Tibetan but also a home of Uygur, Kazak and Hui minorities. Meet with and escorted to our hotel in town. Overnight at 4-star Xining Mansion or simillar Day02 21.07 WED Xining – Kumbum - Koko Nor Lake B/L/D
Breakfast at hotel. Check out and leave for Ko Ko Nor. First of all we will drive to visit Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Si) of Gelukpa-sect, which was built in AD1560 in Huangzhong county and also one of the six grand monasteries in the entire Tibetan culture realm. Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Lamaistic "yellow hat sect", was born here. After the visit we will cross over Sun-and-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-and-Moon mountain has always been an distinguish line between meadow and agriculture area. Later in the afternoon we arrive in Koko Nor Lake and check in hotel. Overnight at 2-star Tent Hotel or similar Day03 22.07 THU Koko Nor Lake – Huashixia B/L/D
Enjoy Koko Nor Lake in the morning. Meaning the “blue sea” in Mongolian, Koko Nor lake, the biggest salty lake in China, with an area of 4,500 square kilometers and an altitude of 3,194m high 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. After the visit leave for Huashixia, a village with beautiful white rock cliff on which grows dense green vegetations where we can get a nice view to the majestic mountain Amnye Machen. Overnight at simple Xueshan guesthouse Day04 23.07 FRI Huashixia – Madoi – Yushu B/L/D
Drive to Yushu today. Our first stop will be at Madoi, a small city in the upper reaches of the Yellow river. The Yellow river is the second longest river in China with a length of 5,464 km. It is just in Madoi County that the Yellow river takes its original course. Continue to Yushu and on the way visit Shewudo monastery, which was initiated at the beginning of the 11th Century as a Kaguyu Sect (White Sect) monastery, and was converted into a Sakyapa Sect in the 13th Century when the Sakyapa became in power as a dominative religion sect. Take a short excursion the most enormous Mani-stone in the earth – Jiana Mani-stones. On arrival Yushu (Jyekundo), check in hotel and free. Overnight at simple Labusi Hotel or similar Day05 24.07 SAT Yushu B/L/D
Full day guided tour in and around Yushu. We will visit the temples of Jiegu monastery of Sakya-sect, Dongkar monastery of Gagyuepa-sect. In addition, take a tour to the monastery of Wencheng princess. In the legend the princess of Tang Dynasty once stayed in this monastery for a month. Overnight at simple Labusi Hotel or similar Day06 25.07 SUN Yushu B/L/D
Today the Yushu Horse Racing Festival takes place. We will participate in the openning ceremony and enjoy the shows of traditional Tibetan costume, rich programmes of singing and dancing celebrations, and above all, enjoy the majesty of nomad horse racing contest and, of course, enjoy the acrobatic stunts on horsebacks. The Yushu Horse Racing Festival is a joyous combination to appreciate and experience the Tibetan cultures. Overnight at simple Labusi Hotel or similar Day07 26.07 MON Yushu – Machen – Tongde B/L/D
Today we will leave Yushu for Tongde. Drive on the same road we came from Huashixia and make a right to Machen, and lucky enough we may have chance to clear view holy mountain Amnye Machen. In the late afternoon we arrive in Tongde and check in hotel. Overnight at 2-star Tongde Hotel or similar Day08 27.07 TUE Tongde – Tongren B/L/D
Set off in the morning for Tongren. Visit Hor Monastery in Zeku (Tsekhok) County. Located 90km NW to the county seat of Zeku, the Hor Monastery was founded in AD1831 by the 1st Derdun (abbot chief) as a Ningmapa sect (Red sect) Buddhist chapel. The monastery is noted for the Buddhist sutra carved on the face of a stone wall consisting of over 2,000 Buddhist images and paintings. Have a lunch break at Zeku and transferred to our hotel in Tongren. Overnight at 2-star Yunlong Hotel or similar Day09 28.07 WED Tongren B/L/D
The Shaman Festival in Tongren (Repkong) is a large-scale sacrificial performance activity prevailing among the local Tibetan and the Tu villages in Repkong area, which is held annually between June 17th and 25th of the lunar calendar. The June Festival celebration is a complex that rich in cultural patterns and connotations. Today we will first drive to the Tibetan village by the name of “Siheji” to see the festival activities such as offering sacrifices to deities, inviting deities, welcoming deities, dancing for deities, and above all, enjoy the unique military dancing performance. The June Festival will be held in scores of Tibetan and Tu villages along the Wutun River basin. In addition participating the crowds at Siheji village, we will enjoy military dancing at Gomargar and Gashari village. Drive back hotel. Overnight at 2-star Yunlong Hotel or similar Day10 29.07 THU Tongren B/L/D
Another day for the June Festival in Repkong. We will join the locals at Wutun Village to enjoy mask dances and visit Wutun Monastery, the center of Tibetan Regong-Art, which is a successful mixture of religion and folk art. Overnight at 2-star Yunlong Hotel or similar Day11 30.07 FRI Tongren – Xiahe B/L/D
Leave in the morning for Xiahe and upon arrival, 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. Overnight at 2-star Gang-gyan Hotel or similar Day12 31.07 SAT Xiahe – Lanzhou B/L/D
Leave Xiahe for Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu provice. En route make an excursion to the grottos of 1000-Buddha's-temple in Bingling over the yellow. The grottos of the monastery are firstly built in 420AD. Figures here are older than those in Dunghuang-Grottos. Late in the afternoon we drive to Lanzhou and check in hotel. 1N at 4-star Legend Hotel or similar Day13 01.08 SUN See off B
Free till check out and transfer to Lanzhou airport for departure flight. End of the festival trip to Kham and Amdo in this summer.
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"We had a great time there and we were very pleased to have chosen China Panorama.
