8 Days Chengdu Tibet via Sky Train

Highlights: Welcome to Chengdu---home of giant pandas. Upon arrival, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Rest of the day will be free for you to relax.

Highlights: Today you will visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, followed by a trip to the Wenshu Temple, then wander around Jinli Old Street for shopping.                                                                                                           

Chengdu Panda Base: Which is 10km from Chengdu downtown, and takes 35 drive to get there. The panda based was founded in 1987 with with 6 giant pandas that rescued from the wild. Through 2015, it has had 161 panda births, and its panda population has grown to 108. Located in the base, the Giant Panda Museum is the world’s only museum that focuses entirely on the critically endangered giant panda.

Wenshu Temple: Located in the northwest of Chengdu, the Wenshu Temple is a famous Buddhist temple in China. The present temple grounds were built in 1697 of the Qing Dynasty. Wenshu is the Chinese word for the future Buddha Maitreya, whose presence was found during the construction of the original temple in the form of persistent lights. Here you can find a fine cup of green tea and the best vegetarian food in the city. A tourist district called Wenshufang is around the temple, it is great place for food, souvenirs ,etc. 

Jinli Old Street: Originally built in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Jinli Street is 350m long and a concentration of Chengdu nightlife, snacks and folk culture. There are many cafes and bars here - including Starbucks. They blend modern elements with the old buildings harmoniously. It is enjoyable to sit on a wooden or bamboo chair with a cup of delicious coffee. When night falls, the whole street is decorated with beautiful red lanterns on the each eave of the ancient buildings. 

Recommended paid add-on Sichuan Opera show (RMB260=USD43/per): As one of the oldest and most interesting opera forms in Southwestern China, Sichuan Opera is an important part of Chengdu culture and a perfect combination of local dialect along with the customs, folk music, and dances from other regions. Besides the normal singing, and martial arts, Sichuan Opera has many unique features that set it apart, features such as fire breathing, changing faces, and juggling pottery. When enjoying the performance, visitors always amaze at different facial make-ups that are changed fast and mysteriously.

Highlights: Today you will visit the People' Park where you will mix with local people who are dancing, practicing Thachi,Kungfu, ect. After the tour, take the overnight train to Lhasa (the train is over 40 hours and arrives on the 3rd day)    

People's Park: Which is one of the most popular parks in the city. There are several teahouses on the grounds, including one of the more famous in the city, the Hemin Teahouse. You can row on a lake, dance, watch people dance, play chess or work out at People’s Park. There is also a large monument here commemorating an uprising that helped lead to the fall of the Qing Dynasty

Highlights: Today you are on the Qinghai-Tibet railway --- world's highest altitude railway. Even though taking train to Tibet is much longer time than flight, but you will get the great opportunity to see the most stunning highland landscapes along the railway. 

Tips: 

1) There are battey charging accesses on the train, but make sure you have a socket adapter; 

2) Only Chinese foods are served aboard but not free, Breakfast for RMB10RMB, Box Lunch for RMB25, Self-selected Meal from RMB38

Highlights: Today the train runs along Qinghai-Tibet Railway, you will see land of snows, deserts, immense grassland, snow mountains, beautiful highland lakes. After arrival in Lhasa in the afternoon at about 16:50, you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide and escorted to hotel. Rest of the day you will have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude. 

Tips: 

As the altitude of Lhasa is up to 3,500meters, so it is recommended to avoid strenuous activities or alcohol drinking for the first few days, taking NO shower upon new arrival is advisable. New commers usually have different level of high altitude sickness symptom, the best treatment is to drink more water, have enough rest , if neccessory you can ask the guide to bring you some oxgen bags to better acclimatize. These measures will help you to overcome or prevent the sickness.

Elevation: 3500m 

Highlights: Today you will visit the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street 

Potala Palace: Which is known as the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the residence of the Dalai Lama lineages. Stands 13 stories high and owes over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues, the Potala Palace formed a small world in it. 

Jokhang Temple: Listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2000 as part of the Potala Palace,Jokhang Temple is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Pilgrims. The temple is a four-storey timber complex with a golden top, with the combination of  Tang Dynasty, Tibetan and Nepal architectural styles. Every day, pilgrims come from every corner of Tibet worship here, make it a perfect site for photograpers.

Barkhor Street: As the oldest street in Lhasa, Barkhor Street is considered as the center of the old city, and a perfect place to lear Tibetan culture, economy, religion, and arts. The street is full of handicarfts, such as ornaments, knives, tangka,  religious musical instruments, gold and silver ware, masks and a lot more. If you intend to buy some souvenirs for friends or famiy, Barkhor Street will be an ideal place.

Tips: 

1) Some visitors might feel a bit hard to breath when climbing the Potala Palace, so please climb slowly. 

2) Some places are not allowed to take photos, please kindly inquire your guide for details. 

3) When shopping around Barkor Street, you can compare and bargain for the unique souvenirs 

4) During the summer time, the musical fountain show at the Potala Plalace Square is 19:30—22:00PM. 

5) Please bring water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses for today’s tour as you will be at outside for a long day. 

Elevation: 3500m 

Highlights: Today you will visit Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and enjoy the debate. 

Drepung Monastery: Located 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the western suburb of Lhasa, Drepung Monastery is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It is considered one of the 'Three Great Monasteries' (the other two are the Ganden Monastery and the Sera Monastery. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given the name 'Drepung‘, which, in the Tibetan language, means 'Collecting Rice.. 

Sera Monastery: Which is located in the northern suburb of Lhasa City. The monastery was named Sera which means wild rose in the Tibetan language, because the hill behind it was covered with wild roses in bloom when the monastery was built. From of Mon ~ Fri, every afternoon, you ll be able to see monks debating at Sera Monastery.

Tips: 

1) Today's road condition is good. The tour involves some easy walking and climbing

2) Please bring water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses for today’s tour as you will be at outside for a long day. 

Highlights: Today will be free for you to be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to next city.