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Day
1
Arrive in Xining
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
When you arrive at Xining airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
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Day
2
Xining (B, L)
Sightseeing: Qinghai Lake, Cruise on Qinghai Lake
Today you will visit to the Qinghai Lake and have a cruise on Qinghai Lake. It is a saline lake situated in the province of Qinghai, and is the largest lake in China. It is located about 100 km west of the provincial capital of Xining at 3,205 m (10,515 feet) above sea level in a depression of the Tibetan Plateau in the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo. Twenty-three rivers and streams empty into Qinghai Lake. Scenery in Qinghai Lake varies according to seasons. Summer and autumn are the most comfortable weather conditions and the lake's scenery is most beautiful during these seasons.
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Day
3
Xining to Overnight train (B, L)
Transfer via: Overnight train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Ta'er Monastery
After breakfast, have a visit to Ta'er Monastery. It is one of the six great monasteries of the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism, built in 1557 on sacred land, still quite active with 600 monks. It is the birthplace of Tsong Khapa, founder of the Yellow Hat (Gelupa sect), and is known for its sculptures of human figures, animals and landscapes carved out of Yak Butter.
Then you will be transferred back to Qinghai railway station to take overnight train K9801 (14:56pm-15:40pm+1) for Lhasa.
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Day
4
Overnight train to Lhasa
After your arrival in Lhasa you will be met by your local guide and then be transferred to the hotel. Take the rest of the day for free, to adapt yourself to the high altitude.
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Day
5
Lhasa (B, L)
Sightseeing: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhore Street
We will go on a full day visit of Potala Palace. It is the greatest monumental structure all over Tibet. This ancient architectural complex is considered as a model of Tibetan architecture. Located on the Red Hill in Lhasa, it is 3,700 meters above sea level and covers an area of over 360,000 square meters. The palace has 13 stories, and is 117 meters high. In 641, Songtsan Gambo, ruler of the Tubo Kingdom, built the Potala Palace for Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, whom he was soon to marry.
Then we'll visit the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Every day, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple. The sacred image of Jowo Sakyamuni is the most venerated and beautiful image all over Tibet
After lunch in a local restaurant, we will visit Barkhor Street, which is the oldest street in Lhasa as well as the center of old Lhasa which remains very traditional. Located in the old area of Lhasa City, Tibet, Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple. Tibetan people are very proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, this street is also a must-see place.
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Day
6
Lhasa (B, L)
Sightseeing: Sera Monastery, Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery
In the morning we will visit the Sera Monastery, around 5 km north of central Lhasa, which was, along with Drepung, one of Lhasa's two great Gelugpa monasteries. Its once huge monastic population of about 5000 monks has now been reduced to several hundred.
Then we will visit Norbulingka Park; Norbulingka meaning "Jeweled Garden", the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lamas. The gardens are poorly tended and the palaces themselves are something of an anticlimax, especially as most rooms are currently closed to the public.
Our next stop will be Drepung Monastery. It is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It is considered as one of the 'Three Great Monasteries' (the other two are the Ganden Monastery and the Sera Monastery.
At last we will arrive at a local Tibetan Family. Common Tibetan people will welcome you to their homes; greet you in their traditional way and you will taste their typical food. You can feel Tibetan culture and religion vividly.
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Day
7
Lhasa / Chengdu (B)
Transfer via: Overnight train on your own arrangement
Enjoy some leisure time until our local guide will transfer you to railway station to take overnight train T24 (13:10pm-07:57am+1) for Chengdu.
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Day
8
Chengdu (B, L)
Sightseeing: Wuhou Memorial Temple, Jinli Street
Arrive in Chengdu in the morning, upon your arrival in Chengdu you will be met by your local guide and then be transferred to your hotel for check in and have breakfast.
And then you will visit the Wuhou Memorial Temple. The Temple is dedicated to Zhuge Liang, the Martial Marquis of Shu in the Three Kingdoms. His outstanding intelligence place Zhuge Liang above all emperors, generals, and ministers in history.
Afterwards you will take a walk along Jinli Street which is particularly representative for this city. It is recorded that as already during Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC), Jinli Street was the most famous place for baldachin - a rich, ornate cloth. During Shu Kingdom (221-263) it was one of the busiest commercial streets. Hence, it is known as 'First Street of the Shu Kingdom'. In order to reclaim the street's prosperity of former days, it was restored with contributions from the Wuhou Memorial Temple and was opened to public in October of 2004.
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Day
9
Chengdu / Departure (B, L)
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
Sightseeing: Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Base, Thatched Cottage of Dufu, Wangjianglou Park
This morning we will visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Base, which was built to imitate the wild ecological environment of pandas. It covers a space of 92 acres, with a green coverage of 96 percent. The base created a perfect ecological environment for the living and breeding of pandas and other precious and rare wild animals. It breeds over 20 pandas and lesser pandas, black-necked cranes, white cranes and others.
Then we will visit the Thatched Cottage of Dufu, located by the side of the Huanhua Stream in Chengdu's western suburb, will be our first stop today. It was the residence of Dufu, the great poet of the Tang Dynasty when he took refuge in Chengdu. Du Fu (712-70 AD),one of China's most famous poets, left home at the tender age of 20, becoming a court official at the former capital in Chang'an (near Xi'an). Du Fu's civil service duties did not last long however, and he was captured by rebels and forced to flee the city for Chengdu after only a few years. It was in Chengdu, at this small and simple house, that Du Fu was inspired to write more than 200 poems which are regarded today as masterpieces of realist poetry.
Finally we will take a walk around Wangjianglou Park, and enjoy the beautiful nature there. Afterwards you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight to the next destination.