Day01 Arrival in Chengdu

Arrival in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, the home town of Panda. Picked up by the local guide at airport and transferred to hotel. 1N at 4*Tianfu Sunshine Hotel 

Day02 Chengdu – Leshan – Emei Shan BL

In the morning leave for Leshan. On the way enjoy the beautiful countryside landscape of western Chengdu Plains during about two hour’s driving on the expressway. Upon arrival in Leshan visit of the Grand Buddha in Lingyun Temple. The grand Buddha was completed in 803 of Tang Dynasty after 90 year’s construction and enjoys the fame of the biggest sitting stone sculpture in the world with a 71-meter height. Carved on the cliff face, the sculpture is well designed with perfect balance and effective water drainage system. After visit of the Lingyun Temple and the Grand Buddha boating on the Minjiang River to see the front site of the Grand Buddha and the “hidden sleeping Buddha”. Afterwards head for Mt. Emei, the main ritual place of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (Puxian Pusa) and one of the four most celebrated Buddhism mountains in China. Visit of Baoguo Si at the foot of Mt. Emei, the biggest temple in Emei Shan. 1N at 4*Wing of Hot Spring Hotel 

Day03 Emei Shan – Chengdu BL

Early in the morning take the sightseeing bus to the Leidongping Bus Station along the 52-kilometer zigzag mountain road. Upon arrival, take the cable car to the Golden Summit. With a 3099m altitude, if the weather is clear, you can have a very large view; the verdant forest waves surge along the mountain; Min River, Qingyi River and Dadu River are like three pieces of silk; Mt. Daxue and Mt. Gongga seem to stretch to the horizon; the sun emerges with all shimmering rays through the surging cloud. If you are lucky enough, you will see the Buddhist light. After the visit of Huazang Si Temple and the golden statue of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (Puxian Pusa), take cable car and bus down to visit of Wannian Si Temple, which is located at the waist of the mountain and accessible by cable car. The importance of the temple relies not only on its long history and glorious past, but also on being the main ritual place of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Inside the Mongolian tent-shaped beamless brick hall is a 7.3-meter statue of Samantabhadra sitting on an elephant. After the visit walk down along the zigzagging mountain pass via Qiangyin Pavilion and the “One-Thread-Sky” to Wuxiangang Bus Station. Drive back to Chengdu. 1N at 4*Tianfu Sunshine Hotel 

Day04 Chengdu – Jiuzhaigou BLD

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 Jiuzhaigou (Nine-villages Valley), which is listed as a World Natrual Heritage and reputed as a “fairyland” with its fantastic natural view. It is named after the nine Tibetan villages in the scenic area. 2N at 4*Gesang Hotel 

Day05 Jiuzhaigou BLD

Walking and sightseeing the whole day in three valleys of Jiuzhaigou (Nine-villages Valley). As the water, the “soul of Jiuzhaigou”, is purely and crystal-like clear and rich in colors, there goes the saying that no water is worth your attention after your visit to Jiuzhaigou. 

Day06 Jiuzhaigou – Huanglong, fly to Chengdu BL

In the morning drive to visit the Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Scenic Spot which is listed as a World Natural Heritage. Huanglong is marked by its low-temperature and highly calcified Karst landform, which forms numerous valuable colored ponds. In the afternoon transfer to airport, fly back to Chengdu. 1N im 4*Tianfu Sunshine Hotel 

Day07 Air Chengdu – Lhasa BL

Take a morning flight to Lhasa (3650m), the capital of Tibet, transfer to hotel. In the afternoon, visit of the beautiful Ani Sangkhung Nunnery. There are plants everywhere and it feels like you are in a garden in the middle of the city. In the nunnery there is a little shop where they print prayer books. If the nuns are working on it you are welcome inside to see how it is done. 3N at 3*Thangka Hotel

Day 08 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.

Day09 Lhasa BL

Day10 Lhasa – Yamdrok Lake – Gyantse – Shigatse BL
In the morning drive to Gyantse along the Kyichu River.

On the Kamba La (4.796 m) we have a fantastic view of Yamdrok Yumtso holy lake (4441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. On one of the peninsulas of the spear-shaped lake lies the holy Mt. Donang Sangwari (5,340m), and the snow peaks of Nojin Gangzang (7,191m) and Jangzang Lhomo rise in the distance. The lake and the Yarlungtsangpo River (3570) are separated by a mountain and the shortest distance between them is only 6 kilometers. The 800m difference in height contributes to provide rich water resources to this region. Many Tibetans believe that life of in Tibet will no longer continue if the lake dries up. Pass by the 5.010 m high Karo La and the Simi La to Gyantse (approx. 3.900 m). In the afternoon visit of Pelkor Chode Monastery as well as the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby, both of them built in the15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse. This typical Tibetan Buddhist monastery is the only large building complex in Tibet. That old monastery and stupas are completely preserved and characterized as a monument. It is recorded 14,000 kilograms of copper were used to make the 8-meter-high sitting statue of Sakyamuni Buddha housed in the grand hall of the temple. The 8-storey stupa is 42m high and 62m in diameter contains a total of 76 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art scholars around the world. In the afternoon, drive of about 90 kilometers to Shigatse, (3880m), the second largest city in Tibet with 40,000 inhabitants and the traditional capital of the Tsang. 1N at 3*Manasarovar Hotel

Day11 Shigatse – Lhasa BL

In the morning visit Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama built in 1447 and one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in China, and the grave of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels and gold. In Tibet Buddhism, Panchen Lama is just the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha. 1N at 3*Thangka Hotel

Day12 Leave Tibet B

Transfer to the airport or the railway station, leave Tibet.