Tibet
China
     
     

China & Central Tibet

Beijing - Xi'an - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Lhasa - Beijing

Whilst not the only man-made object visible from space, the Great Wall of China is without doubt one of the wonders of the world. Tiananmen, the Gate of Heavenly Peace shields the elaborate grandeur of the Forbidden City from the vast expanse of the great square.

Capital of Chinese empires for over 2000 years, Xi'an is a city of ancient treasures - most magnificent amongst them the celebrated Terracotta Warriors. Xi'an is also famous for its intricately crafted dumplings, a banquet dinner in itself - your fortune may be predicted by the mini dumplings in the final dish.

In the heart of central Tibet the great temples, monasteries, forts and palaces of Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse are powerful testaments to a long and volatile history and to the spiritual and artistic traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.

Explore the historic sights of central Tibet. The lure of Lhasa, capital on the roof of the world, cannot be under-estimated and it is truly a fascinating city, fully justifying its reputation. Dominated by the awe-inspiring grandeur of the Potala Palace and bustling with pilgrims circling the sacred Jokhang Temple it is a feast for the senses. Enjoy a Tibetan buffet dinner & cultural show and join pilgrims on a kora at spectacularly situated Ganden Monastery.


Itinerary
Days 1-3 Beijing Day 4 Xi'an Days 5-8 Lhasa Day 9 Gyantse Days 10-11 Shigatse Day 12 Lhasa Day 13 Ganden Day 14 Depart

Departures
A private departure at any time for groups of 2 or more using good 2-3 star accommodation.
Best: April-November
Great Wall of China
Whilst not the only man made object visible from space, the Wall is an impressive sigh,t stretching thousands of kilometers from the sea to the Gobi.
Tiananmen & Forbidden City
Behind the Gate of Heavenly Peace lies the vast Imperial City, home to Emperors of China, forbidden to commoners.
Terracotta Warriors
An army of over 7,000 life size warriors guard the tomb and afterlife of the 3rd Century emperor Qin Shi Huang Di.
Potala Palace
The symbol of Tibet, this awesome palace containing over 1000 rooms and 200,000 images dominates the city. The 7th century building was replaced by the current 130,000square meter structure in the 17th century.

Jokhang Temple
This 1300-year-old, golden-roofed building is the spiritual heart ofLhasa and of the Tibetan world. The courtyard in front of the entrance is almost constantly filled with prostrating pilgrims – inside the labyrinth of shrines, halls and galleries are dimly lit by butter lamps and filled with pilgrims and incense and house some of the finest treasures of Tibetan art.

Gyantse
Built at the center of the trade routes from Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan, by 1440 Gyantse’s most impressive architectural achievements had been completed – the Kumbum, the dzong and Pelkor Chode monastery.
Tashilumpo
Founded in 1447 the original building was built above a sacred sky-burial site, the stone slab of which can still be seen on the floor. At its peak it housed 4700 monks and is still the largest functioning monastic community in Tibet. The most amazing image is the 26m Maitreya, covered with 279 kg of gold.
Ganden
Join pilgrims on the high kora around this spectacularly situated monastery - almost completely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, restoration is well under way.

Physical Grading: Easy - Moderate
Culture Shock Grading: Low-Moderate
Accommodation: Twin share w/ private facilities
Transport: Private car or minibus. Flight
Accompanied by: Local guides
 Meals: 4 dinners. Allow approx €6-8 per day for meals not included.

Included Entry Fees & Activities:
Great Wall, Forbidden City, Beijing Duck dinner, Terracotta Warriors, Dumpling Banquet, Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Ganden Monastery, Pelkor Choede & Gyantse Kumbum, Tashilhumpo.
     


Tibetan Expeditions
100 Beijing Dong Lu, Lhasa, Tibet, PRC
Tel: +86-891-6330489
Fax: +86-891-6330482
Mobile: +86-891-6571338
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