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Day01 Arrival in Chengdu Arrival in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, the home town of Panda. Picked up by the local guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel. 1N at 4*Tianfu Sunshine Hotel Day02 Air Chengdu – Lhasa BL In the morning drive to Chengdu Giant Panda Base of Breeding and Research. Founded in 1985, today there are over 50 giant pandas living here. In the afternoon transfer to airport, fly to Lhasa (3650 m), the capital of Tibet, transfer to hotel. Stay at the hotel to acclimatize to the high altitude. For the first few days, try to drink some water regularly. 3N at 3*Thangka Hotel Day03 Lhasa BL In the morning, visit of the Potala, which was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and used as the Dalai Lamas’ winter residence and as the religious and political center of traditional Tibet. The crowds of pilgrims, the innumerable and magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures and rare treasures put altogether create a dense religious and artistic atmosphere that impresses every visitor. In the afternoon, visit of Jokhang monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist believers, where thousands of pilgrims come to worship every day. The temple, built in 647, is the oldest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Walk on the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big market selling local specialities. Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel Day04 Lhasa BL In the morning visit of Drepung monastery, the sacred land of Gelug Sect., which was established in 1416, and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama place of living. After, visit of Norbulinka, the Dalai Lamas’summer residence. In the afternoon, visit of Sera monastery, which was built in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As roses are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild roses”. Today 200 lamas still live there. The "Buddhism Scriptures Debate" in Sera is very famous. Day05 Train Lhasa – Chengdu B In the morning transfer to the railway station, train ride to Chengdu (soft sleeper, 4-bed-cabin). It is a whole 43hrs train ride from Lhasa to Chengdu. The train will be passing through Nagqu, Golmud, Xining, Lanzhou und Guangyuan. A highlight of the ride, without doubt, is the leg from Lhasa to Xining, a journey of 1956 km on the highest rail of the world. It is a fascinating hand scroll of natural beauty. The snowy mountains, meadows, creeks and the immense grasslands are its components. Yaks, sheep flock, horses and other different wild species are active alongside the railway. If you are lucky, you might have the chance to see the most rare and protected animal of the plateau, the Tibetan Antelope or known as “chiru”, which lives on snowy plateau of 3500 – 5000 m high. 2N in the train Day06 Train ride to Chengdu Day07 Arrival in Chengdu BL In the morning arrive in Chengdu, transfer to hotel. Breakfast in the hotel, then spare time. In the afternoon visit of the Taoist Temple Qingyang Gong. 1N at 4*Tianfu Sunshine Hotel Day 08 Leave Chengdu B Transfer to the airport, leave Chengdu.
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