7 Days Guangzhou Lhasa Highlights with Ganden Monastery

Highlights: Today upon your Guangzhou arrival, be met by our guide and escorted to hotel.  Rest of the day will be free for you to relax.

Highlights: Today, you will take a city tour of Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Temple of the Six Banyan Trees and Yuexiu Park. Then transfer back to hotel.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall: Which is one of the most important historic buildings in Canton. It is built to honor Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the great architect of Chinese revolution. The hall was constructed between 1929 and 1931, on the site of the former Presidential Palace.

Yuexiu Park: originally named Yuexiu Hill, is the largest park in Guangzhou City with an area of 920,000 square meters. Inside the park, there are luxuriant trees and colorful flowers. Every year, the Spring Festival Flower Fair is hold here when the festival is approaching, besides the there is Chrysanthemum Exhibition in autumn. In the park, visitors can find a large stadium, which can hold more than 30,000 audiences, the Stone Sculpture of Five Rams which is the symbol of Guangzhou City, Zhenhai Tower, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and the ancient city walls built in the Ming Dynasty.

Temple of the Six Banyan Trees: Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, situated on Liurong Road, was constructed in the third year of Datong in the Southern Dynasty, and was originally named Baozhuangyan Temple. The temple has a history stretching back some 1,400 years and has seen many ups and downs. Having been raized to the ground by fire in the Northern Song Dynasty, it was rebuilt in the second year of Ruigong in the Song Dynasty and was subsequently named Jinghui Temple.  In 1100, the famous writer and calligrapher, Su Dongpo, visited this temple, and wrote the two words, “Six Banyan” after seeing the six old banyan trees near the temple. From this time, the temple has been known as the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees and was adjudged as one of the Top Ten Attractions in Guangzhou in 1997. 

Highlights: Today you will be free until be escorted to airport for the flight to Lhasa. Welcome to Lhasa! Today upon your Lhasa arrival, 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 our guide will meet you and drive you to visit Drak Yerpa, afternoon you will proceed to visit the ancestral Monastery--Ganden Monastery. Then drive back to Lhasa.

Drak Yerpa: Located on a hillside in the Yerpa Valley, 16 km northeast of Lhasa, Drak Yerpa is dotted with more than 80 meditation caves.  It is described as the "life tree" or spiritual axis of Lhasa. Before the Cultural Revolution is was the home of several hundred hermits, monks, and nuns. but many was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution (1968-76) , hence the decline of the valley as countless relics and temples were destroyed throughout Tibet. The cliffs were riddled with burrows and caves, some of which were so high up on the fact of the abrupt hill that it would have been risky to climb them.

Ganden Monastery: Located 47 kilometers from Lhasa, Ganden Monastery known as one of the 'Three Great Temples', together with the Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery. Ganden Monastery stands at an altitude of 3,800m (12,467 feet) above sea level, it is one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, and stands atop of the six famous temples of Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Its great significance in religion, art, politics and culture, and is now being well preserved by the government. The the famous Buddha Painting Unfolding Festival is conducted here every year, which has attracted countless visitors and pilgrims. 

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 you will be escorted to airport for the flight to next city, the lifetime Tibet tour ends.