Jasmine's China Adventure Tours - Journey to the Roof of the World

Potala Palace, Lhasa

Journey to the Roof of the World

19 Days
Beijing—Lijiang—Zhongdian (Shangri-La)—Lhasa—Gyantze—Shigatse—Train Travel to Xining—Beijing (19 days)
Monthly departure on the 2nd Saturday of April –October, 2010-2011
$4,480 USD per person, double occupancy
Land cost only; does not include international airfare
Guaranteed departure with a minimum of 2 people

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This is a tour designed for the truly adventurous. It begins in Beijing, the capital of Imperial and modern China, moves on to mountainous Yunnan Province for a first taste of Tibetan culture, then “steps up” to Tibet proper for seven days exploring the sacred monuments of that highland Buddhist realm, sometimes called the "roof of the world". The climax of the tour is a trip on the new Tibetan Railway, the highest railroad in the world, from Lhasa to Xining, in remote Qinghai Province. High altitudes and mountain roads will challenge your stamina, but the rewards are rich.

Begin with a full program of sightseeing which shows you all aspects of ancient and modern Beijing, as well as a special Beijing Roast Duck dinner and a performance of the Beijing Opera or an acrobatic show. Then journey far to the southwest to rugged Yunnan Province, a true cultural and political borderland with historical links to Vietnam, Laos, Burma and Tibet. Yunnan is a land of shining snow peaks and deep river gorges, of terraced rice fields and high grasslands. In spring, the fields glow with the bloom of yellow rapeseed flowers; in autumn, the stone and mud-brick farm houses dress themselves up with garlands of corn and red chili peppers. Blue skies and abundant sunshine make Yunnan one of the most photogenic parts of China. It is also the melting pot of China with 25 minority nationalities, including Naxi and Tibetan peoples.

Naxi woman musician

Naxi woman: Naxi woman musician with her unique flute (Photo courtesy of John Stamper)

Lijiang, the homeland of the Naxi minority people, is the first stop in Yunnan. Lijiang’s Old Town has been named as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. Take time to wander through the Old Town’s maze of narrow cobblestone lanes to find flower-filled courtyard houses and small shops offering local crafts, such as wooden plates decorated with the local “Dongba” pictographic script. Hear an orchestra of Naxi musicians performing traditional folk songs and courtly music that dates back to the 8th Century T’ang Dynasty. (As a special option while you are in Lijiang, Jasmine can arrange for any of you from the group to stay at her local Naxi friends' beautiful home, with a courtyard full of blooming flowers, and to have a traditional Naxi breakfast there. If you are interested in this option, please contact her for more details. )

From Lijiang, the road heads north to Zhongdian (Shangri-La). This is the main highway to Tibet, and when you reach Zhongdian you are on the southernmost grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau. Along the way lie two of the great scenic wonders of Yunnan: the sweeping First Bend and the tremendous Tiger Leaping Gorge of the upper Yangtze River, where the river forces its way between two giant snow peaks, Haba Snow Mountain and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Zhongdian provides the first taste of Tibetan culture. From the highway leading into town, you’ll see prayer flags flying from Tibetan farm houses supported by massive wood columns and decorated with ornate wood carvings. Yaks graze beside the road, and the occasional sight of a red-robed monk hitchhiking into town hints at Zhongdian’s status as one of the great Tibetan religious centers. Just to the north of town, the large Songzanlin Yellow Hat Monastery overlooks the city from its hilltop location, reminiscent of the famous Potala Palace in Lhasa. Explore the prayer halls of this active monastery, hearing the monks debate scripture or chant their prayers, and visit the homes of Tibetan families living nearby.

Tibetan monks debating

Tibetan monks debating (Photo courtesy of the Lane family, Elk Grove, CA)

From Zhongdian, fly over the snowcapped peaks of western Yunnan to Tibet, the "roof of the world". In Lhasa, the capital of Tibet and the site of its most famous monuments, visit the Norbulingka Palace, the former summer residence of the Dalai Lamas; the magnificent Potala Palace, perhaps the single most recognizable image of Tibet; and the large Sera Thekchenling Monastery. A visit to the ancient heart of Lhasa, the 1300-year-old Jokhang Temple and the pilgrimage center and market jamboree of Barkhor Square, reveals the centuries-old customs and rituals of Buddhist devotion. You will also have the chance to visit a nunnery to see the daily life of the nuns.

From Lhasa, a three-day adventure takes you to the high, wild countryside of the Tibetan plateau. The first stage travels to the town of Gyantse by way of the magnificent Yamdrok Yutso mountain lake and the 7,191-meter Nojin Gangzang snow peak, and includes a crossing of 5,045-meter Khari La pass. Along the road, pass between two glaciers and have the chance to observe Tibetan rural life. Gyantse offers two remarkable sights: the great monastic complex of Pelkhor Chode, which includes the magnificent Kumbum, a nine-level octagonal stupa named for its 10,000 images of the Buddha; and the hilltop Gyantse Dzong fortress.

Gyantze Kumbum

Gyantze Kumbum (Photo courtesy of Liu Qiang)

After an overnight stay in Gyantse, travel onward to visit the stunning red-and-gold monastery of Tashilhunpo, one of the largest in Tibet and the seat of the Panchen Lama. An overnight stay in the small city of Shigatse provides another chance to experience rural Tibetan life before your return to Lhasa by way of the valley of the upper Brahmaputra River.

Your Tibetan adventure comes to a climax with a trip from Lhasa to Xining on the new Tibetan Railway, the highest railroad in the world. The train reaches a high point of nearly 17,000 feet on its trip across the vast and empty Tibetan Plateau, and crosses the upper reaches of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers near their headwaters. The trip lasts just over 24 hours, departing from Lhasa in the morning so that most of the trip over the Tibetan Plateau is in daylight. You'll travel in comfortable sleeper compartments on this memorable rail journey. (The train has a special oxygen system as well as personal oxygen canisters.) To conclude the tour, you will fly from Xining to Beijing.

Please note: This is a tour for the adventurous and physically fit. The tour visits areas of high elevation. In Yunnan, the tour ascends from approximately 7,000 feet in Lijiang to nearly 10,000 feet in Zhongdian. The elevation in Lhasa is nearly 12,000 feet, and your travel to other parts of Tibet will take you to even higher elevations (nearly 17,000 feet on the train). Please be sure to consult your personal physician regarding your fitness to travel at such high elevations, because medical care may not be immediately available.

We recommend that you be in good physical condition and have some experience traveling in areas of relatively high elevation before selecting this tour. A flexible and adventurous attitude is a must for full enjoyment of this tour!

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 (Saturday): Depart from the United States.

Day 2 (Sunday): Arrive in Beijing, and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Beijing.

Day 3-5 (Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday): Sightseeing in and around Beijing. including: an all-day excursion to the Great Wall, a visit to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the beautiful Summer Palace; wander around in some old neighborhoods of "Hutong" alleyway homes; walk through the lively Wangfujing area with its interesting night food street. In the morning, get up early to take part in local people's morning exercises at the park--you will be surprised how many people there are! In the evenings, enjoy a performance of Chinese acrobats and taste the famous Beijing Roast Duck in a neighborhood restaurant--where the local people enjoy it.

Day 6 (Thursday):
Fly from Beijing to Lijiang, with a change of planes in Kunming. Transfer to the hotel after arrival in Lijiang and explore the Old Town of Lijiang if time permits. Enjoy a unique performance of the Naxi ancient music orchestra in the evening. Overnight in Lijiang.

(As a special option while we are in Lijiang, Jasmine can arrange for any of the group to stay 1 night at her local Naxi friends' beautiful home, with a courtyard full of blooming flowers, and to have a traditional Naxi breakfast there. If you are interested in this option, please contact Jasmine for more details. )

Day 7 (Friday): Sightseeing in and around Lijiang, the home of the Naxi minority people. Including: Walk in the nearby countryside through the beautiful Naxi people's villages to an active local Lama Temple; visit the local colorful fresh produce farmer’s market; wander through the beautiful Jade Spring Park, with its splendid view of 18,000-foot Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. In the evening, enjoy a special dinner of Naxi-style home cooking at my local friends’ home.

Day 8 (Saturday): This day is set aside for you to have a free day to relax or to discover the Old Town Lijiang on your own. (**Lunch and dinner are not included for this day. There are a lot of very good restaurants with beautiful décor inside the Old Town Lijiang, many of which have English menus.)

Day 9 (Sunday): Drive from Lijiang to Zhongdian, stopping along the way to view the First Bend of the Yangtze River and visit the tremendous Tiger Leaping Gorge, where the river forces its way between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain. Continue upcountry to Zhongdian, on the edge of the Tibetan plateau. After arrival, a tour of the old Tibetan quarter if time permits. Overnight in Zhongdian.

Day 10 (Monday): Explore Zhongdian and the surrounding Tibetan cultural areas. One highlight is the short trip to the large Songzanlin Monastery, where you can see the daily life of the monks. On the way, stop at a nearby village to visit my local Tibetan friend Yangzong at her traditional home. You will also have chance to visit the local farmers’ market (where you will find cone-shaped local yak and goat cheeses), and to explore the Old Town Zhongdian on foot. In the evening, you can even join the local people’s dancing group in the town square!

Day 11 (Tuesday): Fly from Zhongdian to Lhasa in the morning. After arrival, transfer from the airport to the hotel (about 1.5 hours). The rest of the day is for you to have a rest for adjusting to the high elevation. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 12 (Wednesday): Sightseeing in Lhasa, including: the Potala Palace; the colorful and lively Barkhor Square and market area; and one of Tibet’s holiest shrines, the Jokhang Temple.

Day 13 (Thursday): Sightseeing in Lhasa, including: the Norbulingka Palace (the summer palace for the Dalai Lamas); Drepung Monastery, which is a study academy for Tibetan Buddhism; and a visit to a nunnery.

Day 14 (Friday): Drive to Gyantse (about 4 hours). On the way, have a short walk along the heavenly Yamdrok Yutso mountain lake. Balance of the day for a visit to the Pelkhor Chode monastery complex and a walking tour to get to know this small town; overnight stay in Gyantse.

Day 15 (Saturday): Drive from Gyantse to Shigatse (about 2 hours); visit the Tashilhunpo monastery; overnight stay in Shigatse.

Day 16 (Sunday): Drive from Shigatse along the Brahmaputra River back to Lhasa (about 4 hours.) The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the city or do some shopping on your own. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 17 (Monday): Board the train from Lhasa to Xining (Qinghai Province) in the morning, and travel through the heart of Tibetan plateau, arriving in Xining the next morning. Overnight in a first class sleeper compartment on the train.

Day 18 (Tuesday): Arrive in Xining, the administrative center of remote Qinghai Province, in the morning. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport to fly Beijing. Overnight in Beijing.

Day 19 (Wednesday): Fly from Beijing back to the United States, arriving home the same day.

C.S.T. Number 2034611-40

Web Design by Brian H. Day

Day 1 (Saturday):	Depart from the United States.
Day 2 (Sunday):	Arrive in Beijing, and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Beijing.
Day 3-5 (Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday):	Sightseeing in and around Beijing. including: an all-day excursion to the Great Wall, a visit to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the beautiful Summer Palace; wander around in some old neighborhoods of "Hutong" alleyway homes; walk through the lively Wangfujing area with its interesting night food street. In the morning, get up early to take part in local people's morning exercises at the park--you will be surprised how many people there are! In the evenings, enjoy a performance of Chinese acrobats and taste the famous Beijing Roast Duck in a neighborhood restaurant--where the local people enjoy it.
Day 6 (Thursday):	Fly from Beijing to Lijiang, with a change of planes in Kunming. Transfer to the hotel after arrival in Lijiang and explore the Old Town of Lijiang if time permits. Enjoy a unique performance of the Naxi ancient music orchestra in the evening. Overnight in Lijiang. (As a special option while we are in Lijiang, Jasmine can arrange for any of the group to stay 1 night at her local Naxi friends' beautiful home, with a courtyard full of blooming flowers, and to have a traditional Naxi breakfast there. If you are interested in this option, please contact Jasmine for more details. )
Day 7 (Friday):	Sightseeing in and around Lijiang, the home of the Naxi minority people. Including: Walk in the nearby countryside through the beautiful Naxi people's villages to an active local Lama Temple; visit the local colorful fresh produce farmer’s market; wander through the beautiful Jade Spring Park, with its splendid view of 18,000-foot Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. In the evening, enjoy a special dinner of Naxi-style home cooking at my local friends’ home.
Day 8 (Saturday):	This day is set aside for you to have a free day to relax or to discover the Old Town Lijiang on your own. (**Lunch and dinner are not included for this day. There are a lot of very good restaurants with beautiful décor inside the Old Town Lijiang, many of which have English menus.)
Day 9 (Sunday):	Drive from Lijiang to Zhongdian, stopping along the way to view the First Bend of the Yangtze River and visit the tremendous Tiger Leaping Gorge, where the river forces its way between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain. Continue upcountry to Zhongdian, on the edge of the Tibetan plateau. After arrival, a tour of the old Tibetan quarter if time permits. Overnight in Zhongdian.
Day 10 (Monday):	Explore Zhongdian and the surrounding Tibetan cultural areas. One highlight is the short trip to the large Songzanlin Monastery, where you can see the daily life of the monks. On the way, stop at a nearby village to visit my local Tibetan friend Yangzong at her traditional home. You will also have chance to visit the local farmers’ market (where you will find cone-shaped local yak and goat cheeses), and to explore the Old Town Zhongdian on foot. In the evening, you can even join the local people’s dancing group in the town square!
Day 11 (Tuesday):	Fly from Zhongdian to Lhasa in the morning. After arrival, transfer from the airport to the hotel (about 1.5 hours). The rest of the day is for you to have a rest for adjusting to the high elevation. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 12 (Wednesday):	Sightseeing in Lhasa, including: the Potala Palace; the colorful and lively Barkhor Square and market area; and one of Tibet’s holiest shrines, the Jokhang Temple.
Day 13 (Thursday):	Sightseeing in Lhasa, including: the Norbulingka Palace (the summer palace for the Dalai Lamas); Drepung Monastery, which is a study academy for Tibetan Buddhism; and a visit to a nunnery.
Day 14 (Friday):	Drive to Gyantse (about 4 hours). On the way, have a short walk along the heavenly Yamdrok Yutso mountain lake. Balance of the day for a visit to the Pelkhor Chode monastery complex and a walking tour to get to know this small town; overnight stay in Gyantse.
Day 15 (Saturday):	Drive from Gyantse to Shigatse (about 2 hours); visit the Tashilhunpo monastery; overnight stay in Shigatse.
Day 16 (Sunday):	Drive from Shigatse along the Brahmaputra River back to Lhasa (about 4 hours.) The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the city or do some shopping on your own. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 17 (Monday):	Board the train from Lhasa to Xining (Qinghai Province) in the morning, and travel through the heart of Tibetan plateau, arriving in Xining the next morning. Overnight in a first class sleeper compartment on the train.
Day 18 (Tuesday):	Arrive in Xining, the administrative center of remote Qinghai Province, in the morning. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport to fly Beijing. Overnight in Beijing.
Day 19 (Wednesday):	Fly from Beijing back to the United States, arriving home the same day.