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| Explore — Worldwide 2008/09 |
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Zang Plateau T I B E
TONGREN
Jokhang Temple Ani Tsangkang Nunnery Sera Monastery & Potala Palace
Big Wild Goose Pagoda Bell & Drum Towers Old Muslim Quarter
Hima laya
LHASA
R e d B a s i n
0
iv
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NORTH & CENTRAL ASIA, CHINA & TIBET
CHINA * TIBET
The Forbidden City in Beijing La Sa Te bridge near Lhasa
Railroad to Lhasa
18 DAYS HOTELS/SLEEPER TRAIN FROM BEIJING TO LHASA
Ref RTB
JFMAMJJASOND JFMA
This special tour offers the chance to travel along the newly opened railroad to the fabulous Tibetan city of Lhasa. An awesome feat of engineering, the line climbs from the semi-desert of Qinghai across the high passes and plateaux, to the fluttering prayer flags and white-washed monasteries of the Tibetan capital. Starting from Beijing, we take in Xian and the little-visited region of SinoTibet en route.
Beijing & Xian In Beijing, we discover the impressive grandeur of the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall before an overnight train takes us to Xian, home to the amazing life-size Terracotta Warriors, unearthed after 2000 years. From Lanzhou, on the old Silk Road, we journey by boat along the Yellow River to marvel at the exquisitely carved Buddhas at Bingling Si. Dangling precariously from ropes, sculptors carved hundreds of niches and statues from the porous sandstone of the canyon walls, including an immense 27m seated Buddha. Treasures of Sino-Tibet We venture into the Sino-Tibetan heartlands to colourful Xiahe; set in a beautiful mountain valley it is the leading Tibetan monastery town outside of Lhasa. Here we explore the warrenlike alleyways of Labrang monastery and wander yak-grazing grasslands. The artists of Tongren are famed for their Buddhist Thanka paintings and are a mixture of ethnic Tibetans and Tu, closely related to the Mongols. From Xining, capital of Qinghai province, we visit the Taer Yellow Hat monastery before boarding our final train for the unforgettable journey to Lhasa. Tracks to Lhasa For almost 2000 kilometres from Xining we cross the Roof of the World to Lhasa. Traversing the vast wilderness of the Tibetan plateau, where herds of yak and antelope graze and nomads wander, distant snowcapped mountains shimmer in the intense sunlight before us. We cross snowbound passes, including Tanggula Pass (5072m), the highest rail track in the world, through numerous tunnels and across bridges, travelling for much of the journey on elevated
tracks, specially constructed to avoid melting the permafrost beneath us. Arriving in Lhasa, three full days in exploration of its wonders await us, including the awe-inspiring 1000roomed Potala Palace, Jokhang temple, the holiest place in the Tibetan-Buddhist world, and the pilgrim-filled winding streets of the old quarter.
Railroad to Lhasa Ref RTB
Q i l i a n
Mutianyu Great Wall
K u n l a n
Quing
S h a n
S h a Lake n Qinghai Hu
C H I N A
Forbidden City Bay Tiananmen Square
BEIJING Bo Hai
Taer Si Yellow Hat' Monastery
XINING LANZHOU
Bingling Si R Buddhist Grottoes Yellow Yellow River Wutun Si Monastery XIAHE Boat trip Terracotta Warriors Labrang Monastery Visit Sangke village T XIAN
r
km 600
Potala Palace, Lhasa/Romilly Turl
FACTFILE
Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Beijing. 2 Arrive Beijing. 3 Visit Great Wall at Mutianyu. 4 Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square; overnight train Xian. 5 Arrive Xian; late AM city tour, PM free. 6 Visit Terracotta Warriors; overnight train Lanzhou. 7 Arrive Lanzhou; by boat on Yellow River to Bingling Si grottoes. 8 Drive Xiahe. 9 Visit Labrang monastery, Sangke village and grasslands. 10 Drive Tongren; visit Long Wu monastery. 11 Drive Xining via Wutun Si monastery. 12 Visit Taer monastery; Qinghai-Tibet railway to Lhasa. 13 By train across Tibet, arrive Lhasa late evening. 14 Visit Jokhang, Ani Tsangkang nunnery and Sera monastery. 15 Potala Palace; PM free in Lhasa. 16 Excursion to Ganden monastery (optional); PM visit Norbulingka. 17 Fly Beijing. 18 Fly London. Accommodation & Meals: 13nts hotels, 3nts sleeper train; 13 breakfasts included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Bus/Train/Boat/Flight. Comment: We travel along the newly opened Qinghai to Lhasa railway; a spectacular feat of modern engineering. Along the way we take in the highlights of Beijing, Xian and the fascinating but little-visited region of Sino-Tibet. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader, some local guides and driver(s). Group Size: Approx. 13 to 18.
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