Discover the Tibetan culture in Qinghai

From 4850RMB / person 4 Days

Tibetan lands

The Tibetan culture is awaiting your visit to unfold its mysteries before your eyes, even outside of the administrative region of Tibet. Indeed, the mountains of the Tibetan foothills have nothing to envy to the Tibetan plateau itself. Actually, you'll also feel less bothered by the altitude! In a few days only, this itinerary gives you the opportunity to discover some high Tibetan places of Qinghai. You'll navigate through nurturing and splendid landscapes and get a huge cultural change of scenery in Tibetan monasteries. Far from the tourist crowds, you'll explore natural parks unknown from the public eye, where meditation caves can be found in the middle of majestic red cliffs. You'll also discover the artistic Buddhist center of Amdo (one of the three old regions of Tibet). Tongren monks mastery and precision in thangka paintings used to be known all over Tibet.

Rebkong / Tongren

The artisitc centre of Amdo (that used to be one of the three regions of Tibet) or maybe even of Tibet itself developed for centuries in the mountains of south Tibet. Thereby, the painters of Rebkong (a small town called Tongren in Chinese) are known and asked for even in Lhasa. This artistic tradition continued up to this day: the thangka paintings of the Buddhist monks of Rebkong are popular even in Chinese collectors' homes. Have a good look at the murals of Rongwo monastery, just above town: its details are meticulously chiseled, fine and precise.

Itinerary

Upon your arrival in Xining, you'll take to road to Guide and discover its natural park. You'll go on to Kanbula national park where meditation caves are hidden in beautiful red cliffs. Then you'll visit Tongren an artistic center whose thangka paintings are known all over Tibet. You'll finish your trip back to Xining.

Day 1: Arrival to Xining

Upon arrival in Xining, your driver will welcome you. According to your arrival time, you’ll visit Kumbum monastery, where the great explorer Alexandra David-Neel stopped for 3 years between 1918 and 1921; there, she perfected her knowledge of Tibetan language and Buddhist scriptures. You may also visit the Tibetan traditional medicine museum, where splendid ancient thankga paintings are exhibited.

Day 2: Xining – Guide (B)

This morning, you’ll drive to Guide in the south of Qinghai province. You’ll follow the twists of the Yellow River, and go up in altitude to Laji pass. Admire the view on the Yellow River and its huge prayer wheels, before reaching Guide national park. You’ll hike through the park, and stay for the night in Guide.

Day 3: Guide – Kanbula – Tongren (B)

This morning, you’ll explore Kanbula national park and its majestic red cliffs. You’ll visit the Three Wise Men’s temple, and go on to the meditation caves above Achong Namdzong nunnery. These caves have been in use for more than a thousand years, and they still display some beautiful murals. Perched in altitude near Namdzong peak, the nunnery offers a wonderful panorama on the valley.

In the afternoon, you’ll keep driving to Tongren, an old thangka painting artistic center. You’ll visit the lower and upper parts of Wutong monastery that was renovated recently. Walk around to have a look at the Tibetan thangka shops around: these paintings will find their way in a temple or at a rich Chinese collector.

Day 4: Tongren – Xining departure (B)

This morning, you’ll visit Rongwu monastery (Longwo in Chinese), the town’s other monastery, perched above it. This monastery is known all over Tibet for its very fine and precise mural paintings. Finally, your driver will take you back to Xining airport, and you’ll take your flight back.

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