Tibet Express by Plateau Train: Beijing, Xining, Lhasa, and Chengdu 8 Days

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of P.R.China. Upon arrival by flight or train, you will be met and transferred to Beijing hotel by our representative. 

Fly to Xining this morning, Xining is the capital of Qinghai Province with an altitude of 2000 meters. You will visit the Dongguan Mosque and local market in Xining.

Visit Kumbum Monastery, one of the six biggest Tibetan Buddhism temples, which is well-known for the yak-butter carving in the temple.

Afterwards you will catch 20-hour bullet train from Xining to Lhasa.

Enjoy the fantastic scenery along the plateau railway, you will view the grassland, the snow-covered mountain, and animals from the train.

Arrive in Lhasa this afternoon, then you will be met and transferred to your Lhasa hotel.

Today you will visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery. “Drepung” in Tibetan means "the hill of rice". The white Monastery looks like a big hill of rice which is situated halfway up Mt Ganpoi Uze in the western suburbs of Lhasa. It was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje, a Disciple of Trongkhaba, founder of the Yellow Hat sect. The monastery, occupying an area of 250,000 square meters with 7700 lamas in the past, is the largest monastery in Asia. 

Sera in Tibetan means "Haistone", legend tells that it hailed during the foundation of this famous monastery. It is situated at the foot of Mt. Peibuqie in the northern suburb of Lhasa. Sera monastery was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Choje, another disciple of Tsongkaba. It used to accommodate 5500 lamas in its golden age, and is proud of its glorious history during The Ming Dynasty. 

Today you will visit the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street. Potala Palace was first built in the 7th century by the famous Tibetan king—Songtsen Gampo. The current one was built by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. The Potala is divided into Red Palace and White Palace. The red palace was for religious use and the white one for political use. It takes the whole morning to visit Potala Palace.

Afterwards you will walk to visit Jokhang Monastery that is situated in the old section of Lhasa, which was built in the 7th century AD by king Songtsen Gampo. It is the most sacred place in Tibet as it houses the sculpture of 12-year-old Sakyamuni that was brought by Wencheng Princess in the7th century.

Barkhor street is a big free market around Jokhang Monastery where you can purchase all sorts of Tibetan souvenirs. Barkhor Streets is also an essential pilgrim route.

Take a morning flight to Chengdu. Upon arrival, you will visit the Panda Base where there are cute giant pandas. Note: we can arrange to visit the Panda Base next morning if your flight departs later, because the best time to visit the pandas is in the early morning while they are feeding bamboos. Afterwards you will visit the Wenshu Temple that is one of the biggest temples in Chengdu.

Today is departure day, you will transferred to Chengdu Airport to catch your flight flying to your next destination, where the wonderful tour concludes.