10 Days Xian & Xining & Lhasa & Namtso Lake Train Tour

Highlights: Upon arriving in Xian, your local guide will meet you and take you to your hotel.Rest of the day is free for you to explore the city on your own. 

Highlights: This morning you will visit the incredible life-size Terracotta Warriors ---a lifetime view of the extraordinary 2200-year-old terra-cotta Army of China' First Emperor-Qin Shihuang., and then pay a visit to the Ceramics Factory to learn the Chinese ceramics culture. Afterwards you will visit the Ancient City Walls--a symbol of great significance of the famous historic cultural city of Xian, you will have a biking tour on the wall, it could be very special experience.

Terracotta Warriors: The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum in Lintong, Xian, Shaanxi Province. It is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China.

Ancient City Walls: The first landmark visitors will encounter in Xi'an is the ancient city wall, which stretches round the old city. The northern side runs parallel to the railway. Xi'an was originally a walled city, and even today the wall is considered a landmark dividing the city into the inner part and the outer part. The city wall is massive - tall, long and thick. The South Gate and North Gate are the two main entrances to the inner city. The city itself is neatly arranged along the city wall. Having a biking tour on the wall is very special experience. 

Highlights: Today you will visit The Shanxi Provincial Museum---a large modern museum of the national level. Then move to visit the Muslim community. After the tour, by flight to Xining and check in hotel. 

Shaanxi Provincial Museum: Built at the site of a former Confucian temple in the southern part of Xian, this is the largest comprehensive museum in the province. It exhibits primarily historical relics of past dynasties and displays precious art treasures and stone carvings of the Han and Tang dynasties.

Muslim Quarter: Muslim quarter is a fascinating area where you can find exotic food, interesting people (some of the residents are still look like their Arabian cousins) and great souvenir stalls. You can taste many authentic Islamic snacks, like beef or mutton Rou Jia Mo (Chinese Hamburger), northwestern style noodles, Yangrou Paomo and many other attractive snacks that will not make you disappointed. The restaurants and eateries here are serving their food in budget prices.

Highlights: Today you will be driven 3 hours to visit Qinghai Lake and the Bird Island, stay overnight at Qinghai Lake. 

Qinghai Lake: Located 130km from Xining and 3205m above the sea level, Qinghai Lake is the largest salt water lake In China. The lake is surrounded by amazing mountains and endless beautiful grasslands, you can enjoy the great views by walking, riding or biking. The lake is the paradise for birders, during summer time, the birds will be up to 100000. 

Highlights: Today you will drive back to Xining city, and visit the famous Ta'erMonastery, then embark your lifetime Qinghai-Tibet Train to Lhasa. Enjoy the fantastic plateau views along this highest railway in the world. 

Ta'er Monastery: As the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhism master – Tsongkhapa Ta'er Monastery is one of the most famous 6 monasteries of Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and a very important institute to learn Buddhism, Astronomy and Medicine. There are many Buddhist ceremonies organized here in each year. The 3 treasures of Ta'er Monastery are murals, barbola and butter sculptures. 

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 just 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's morning you will visit the famous Drepung Monastery . Afternoon visit to Sera Monastery and enjoy the famous debate there. 

Drepung Monastery: Located 5 km from the western suburb of Lhasa, the Drepung Monastery is known for its high standards in academic study of Tibetan Buddhism. In its heyday, the monastery accommodated 7,700 monks and possessed 141 fazendas and 540 pastures, as the most important monastery of Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the Drepung is one of the 'Greatest Tree Monasteries' in Lhasa, with the other two are the Ganden Monastery and the Sera Monastery. 

Sera Monastery: Which 5km north of Jokhang Temple. It was built in 1419 and considered as one of the top three greatest monasteries in Lhasa, along with the Drepung Monastery and  Ganden Monastery.  The origin of the name 'Sera' is not certain, but might come from the wild roses (sera in Tibetan) surrounding the original site. The highlights of Sera monastery is the daily 'monk debates' , every afternoon, the monks gather and debate in a central courtyard and debate points. 

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

Distance: 500 round-way   Drive: 10 hours    Elevation: 4730m 

Highlights: This morning you will get up early to catch a 4hrs drive to visit the Tibetan holy lake---Namtso Lake. The high plateau sceneries of yaks, sheep, grasslands, snow mountains will certainly impress you. 

Namtso Lake: Located 250km aways from Lhasa, sitting at 4,718 meters above sea level, Namtso Lake is the highest lake in the world and one of the 3 holy lakes in Tibet and one of the 5 most beautiful lakes in China. The Namtso Lake is highly adored by the local Tibetans, during the Tibetan year of sheep, pilgrims from far away come to walk around the lake for pilgrimage, which ttakes over ten days to complete. With the lake surface assuming sky blue, the lake and the sky seem to form a perfect picture, makes visitors feel themselves are strolling in a fairy land.  

Highlights: Today you will be escorted to airport for the flight to next city. Your lifetime Tibet tour is now completed.