8 Days Chengdu – Lhasa – Zedang – Gyangze – Shigatze – Lhasa – Xining – Shanghai/Beijing

Day 1: Chengdu – Lhasa – Zedang (D)

Be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lhasa. Arrive in Lhasa, drive to Zedang. 

 

Day 2: Zedang (B, L)

Visit Yungbulakang Palace, the first palace constructed in the 2nd century B.C. according to the historical record; and Mausoleums of Tibetan King, comprised of nine tombs of Tibetan kings.

 

Day 3: Zedang – Gyantze – Shigatze (B, L)

Drive to Gyantze to visit Yamdrok Tso (literally “lake of jade” in Tibetan), one of the Three Holy Lakes of Tibet; Palgor Chorten (also called Palcho Monastery), famous for the architecture, sculpture, and mural painting art; and also the Gyantse Castle on the way.

 

Day 4: Shigatse – Lhasa (B, L)

Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, which was built in the 15th century and shares the fame of Four Great Monasteries of Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism together with the three ones in Lhasa. Drive back to Lhasa.

 

Day 5: Lhasa (B, L)

Visit Potala Palace, which was originally constructed in the first half of the 7th century for the marriage of the ruler Srongtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in the 17th century as the winter palace for Dalai Lama; the over 1300 years old Jokhang Monastery, which enjoys a supreme status in Tibetan Buddhism; and Barkhor Bazaar, where there are pilgrims circling clockwise around Jokhang Monastery and many Tibetan souvenir shops. 

 

Day 6: Lhasa (B, L)

Visit Tibetan hospital and local market to learn more about the locals’ lifestyle; Sera Monastery, which was completed in 1434 and known as one of the Three Great Monasteries of Lhasa”, here you have a chance to see monks’ debating about Buddha dharma. 

 

Day 7: Lhasa – Xining (B)

Be transferred to the railway station for the overnight train to Xining. The Qinghai-Tibet plateau railway is one of the most beautiful railways in China and you will harvest breathtaking highland scenery on the way.

 

Day 8: Xining – Shanghai/Beijing (B)

Arrive in Xining, be transferred to the airport for your connecting flights to Beijing/Shanghai. Service ends.