Charm of Amdo and Kham in Western Sichuan

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13 Days Private Tour Chengdu – Dujiangyan – Taoping – Guer Gou – Aba – Rangtang – Wengda – Luhuo - Garze - Manigango - Yilhun Lhatso – Dege – Pelyul - Yarchen Gar – Garze – Tagong – Danba – Siguniang Shan – Wolong - Chengdu

The landscape of the Tibetan area Kham and Amdo is characterized by over 6000 m high mountain ranges, plateaus and deep gorges of mighty streams. Farmers and nomads live in the mountainous Kham. Monasteries with shiny gold roofs and castle-like houses with defensive towers, mani stones with colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind and the unmistakable black yak hair tents are scattered across the expanse of wild plateaus where snow-covered peaks surmount. Flower-strewn alpine meadows, forests, crystal-clear rivers and lakes give the mighty scenery a soft appearance. White clouds float in the deep blue sky and submerge the landscape in soft shadows.

The Tibetan cultural areas are divided into three parts: Tibet Autonomous Region/ Xizang, Amdo in the northeast (large part of the provinces of Qinghai, south Gansu and northwest Sichuan) and Kham in the southeast (Chamdo Prefecture of Tibet, Yushu Prefecture of Qinghai, west Sichuan and northwest Yunnan). This discovery tour takes you through the Tibetan areas Amdo and Kham in western Sichuan which includes the Aba (Ngawa) Autonomous Prefecture of Tibetan and Qiang Minority and the Ganzi (Garze) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. This area is characterized by many green mountains and extensive pastures. Lush plants thrive here and numerous wild animals live here, many of which are rare specimens such as Panda, Snub-nosed Monkey and David Deer. There are also a number of medicinal plants and mineral resources. And the area is particularly rich in water resources. In this area you will feel different religious atmosphere from Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), because both Nyingmapa Sect and Jonangpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism dominate in this area.

On this trip we would like to recommend the hidden cultural and natural highlights in the Tibetan areas Amdo and Kham in western Sichuan: Aba, Rangtang, Ganzi, Dege, Baiyu, Yarchen Gar, Tagong, Danba, Siguniang Shan, Panda in Wolong...

Highlights

Charm of Amdo and Kham in Western Sichuan

Itinerary

Itinerary
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DAY
1

Arrive in Chengdu

Enjoy Chengdu leisurely daily life, Kuanzhai Xiangzi, drink tea in People’s Park

Arrive in Chengdu, capital of province Sichuan, the home town of Panda. Pick up and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon stroll in the beautiful old block of Chengdu - Wide Alley and Narrow Alley (Kuan Xiangzi and Zhai Xiangzi), they are the relics of the Manchurian garrison since 1718 and consist of 3 parallel lanes with the old classical houses, which are unique in southern China just like the northern Chinese architectural style presented by Hutong. After a careful renovation in June 2008, the pubs, teahouses, restaurants and guesthouses concentrate here, and in no time at all, it becomes the "lobby of leisure capital Chengdu". A walk here gives you a first impression of the "city of loafers". Then visit the People’s Park in the city center, have a seat in an old teahouse, enjoy your covered-bowl tea in a comfortable environment with bamboo chair and bamboo table, the tea culture of Chengdu is well known throughout China.

Overnight at 4*Xinliang Hotel

Tea House in People’s Park

DAY
2

Chengdu - Dujiangyan - Taoping (1528 m) – Gu’er Gou (2279 m)

Dujiangyan irrigation system, Stockaded Village Taoping of Qiang Minority

In the morning we drive to Dujiangyan to visit the Irrigation System, which was built around 250 BC by Li Bin, a governor of Shu Prefecture in Qin State. The great project still works well today after more than two thousand year’s function, which not only puts an end of the water disaster to the local people but also makes Chengdu Plain “the land of abundance”. While visiting the water conservation work, you may find that the methods of harnessing the river the ancient people used are so simple but useful. In 2000, Dujiangyan became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon drive to the Stockaded Village Taoping of Qiang Minority. More than 2,000 years ago, the nomadic Qiang people moved from the adjoining areas of Shanxi, Gansu and Qinghai provinces to the Minjiang River valley in Sichuan and gradually developed from a nomadic to an agricultural society. Intelligent Qiangs made use of the nearby rocks from the mountains to build solid stone residences and blockhouses to defend themselves from invasions by other nationalities. These stone residences and blockhouses were built with neither designs nor blueprints, relying only on experience passed down from ancestors and taught by senior villagers. The entire stockaded village of the Qiangs is neatly arranged. Residences and blockhouses are scattered here and there, varying in height and in a pattern of an eight-trigram battle array. Having withstood winds and rains, earthquakes and thunderstorms for hundreds and even thousands of years, they are still in good condition. Afterwards drive to Gu’er Gou.

227 km
4 hours 40 minutes
Overnight at Xikang • Ya Hot Spring Hotel

Breakfast

Village Taoping of Qiang Minority

DAY
3

Gu’er Gou - Aba (3290 m)

Nangshig Monastery, Nunnery Jomo Gompa

In the morning drive to Aba (Ngawa). On the way enjoy the beautiful landscape. Aba means people from Ngari (Ali) in Tibetan. In this area all the sects of Tibetan Buddhism remain and exist in harmony. Visit Nangshig Monastery, located at a hillside to the northeast of the Aba County. Nangshig Monastery is one of the biggest Bon monasteries in China and has a history of about 900 years after it was built in 1107. Then visit the nunnery Jomo Gompa. Located at the Mami Mountain of Siwa Town six kilometers to the west of the county seat, the nunnery of Gelug Sect is the biggest one of its kind in Amdo-Kham regions. It was built in 1894 and has a history of more than 100 years.

255 km
4 hours 52 minutes
Overnight at Jude Hotel

Breakfast

Nangshig Monastery

DAY
4

Aba - Rangtang (3529 m)

Nyingmapa lamasery Bangtuo and Jonangpa lamasery Rangtang

Drive to visit Nyingmapa lamasery Bangtuo. Bangtuo Si was already famous for the throngs of choerten built from the 17th century up to 1910. The oldest of the Bangtuo choerten was built in 1618 and shelters a small number of 17th century murals. Then drive to the nearby Rangtang (Dzamthang) Monastery, the chief institution of the Jonangpa school.

167 km
3 hours 43 minutes
Overnight at Rangtang Hotel

Breakfast

Bangtuo Si Monastery

DAY
5

Rangtang - Wengda (3370m) - Luhuo (3250m)

Sirin Kar Monastery of Kagyupa school

Drive to Luhuo via Wengda, on the way visit the Sirin Kar Monastery (Zengke Si) of Kagyupa school, enjoy the beautiful landscape along the road.

218 km
5 hours
Overnight at Budala Hotel

Breakfast

Sirin Kar Monastery (Zengke Si)

DAY
6

Luhuo - Garze (3390 m) - Dargye – Manigango (3866 m) - Yilhun Lhatso (4017 m) - Dege (3270 m)

Kasa Lake, Dargye Monastery, Yilhun Lhatso (Xinlu Hai Lake), rock sculpture frescoes in Keluodong village

Drive to Dege via Garze (Ganzi) and Manigango. On the way visit beautiful Kasa Lake and Dargye Monastery. The Dargye represents the Gelukpa school and was founded in 1642. Pass by Manigango to visit Xinlu Hai Lake (Yilhun Lhatso), located at the foot of Chola Mountain (Que’er Shan). It is 4040 meters above the sea level, with an average depth of 10 meters and a maximum depth of 15 meters. There are plateau spruces, firs, Chinese weeping cypresses, azalea trees and meadows around the lake. It is also a preserve for wild animals like white-lipped deer. Short walking by the lake Yilhun Lhatso. Keep driving through the Chola (Que’er Shan) Tunnel, visit the rock sculpture frescoes in Keluodong village.

297 km
6 hours
Overnight at Ling Gesar Hotel

Breakfast

Kasa Lake

DAY
7

Dege - Pelyul (3006 m)

Dege Printing House, Dege Gonchen, Pelyul Monastery

In the morning visit the Dege Printing House which has always been well reputed as the cultural treasury at the foot of the snow mountain. It is the biggest printing house in Tibetan area. Another program is visit the Dege Gonchen, meaning “temple”, a monastery of Sakya sect. It was built in 1448, today about 300 monks live here. In the afternoon drive to Pelyul and visit Pelyul Monastery (Baiyu Si) nearby the county seat. This famous Nyingma Sect monastery had played a great role in history and held many subsidiary temples. Then enjoy the grandiose panoramic view of Pelyul Monastery from a hillside when the weather is good.

97 km
2 hours
Overnight at Kunrui Hotel

Breakfast

Dege Printing House

DAY
8

Pelyul - Yarchen Gar - Garze (3390 m)

Yarchen Gar (Yaqing Si). Han-Chinese Monastery

Today drive to Garze (Ganzi), the real cultural and religious center for the Tibetans living in Sichuan. In Tibetan "Garze" means "white and beauty", named after the famous in 1552 built temple of yellow sect (Gelukpa) in the county. On the way visit the Yarchen Gar (Yaqing Si) of Nyingma sect, a big nuns’ world! About 20000 nuns live, learn and meditate here. With 4000 meters above sea level, Yarchen Gar is the largest meditation place for women in the world. After reaching parking lot at Yarchen Gar, walk about 10 minutes to the hillside at the north of Juemu (a title for nun in Tibetan) Island. There is a vast Padmasambhava statue, and in the southwest orientation, you can overlook the grand panorama of whole Yarchen Gar and even Juemu Island. Then go downhill to riverside along small wooden houses where nuns practice meditation. One the way, everywhere you can see that these nuns are sitting in meditation, or scripture debating, or reading quiet, or chatting and relaxing. Yarchen Gar is divided by river into areas for Zhaba (monk) and Juemu (nun). River bank area is for Zhaba, island for Juemu. Cross the bridge on the river and get into Juemu Island, the core zone of Yarchen Gar. Here, the nun’s low and small meditation houses are very intensive and covered the whole peninsula. You can have a walk here and immerse yourself in the pure religious atmosphere of nuns' meditation place. In Garze visit the Han-Chinese Monastery. It is the oldest architecture in Garze built by Han-Chinese in 1274, the Han-Chinese and Tibetan buildings symbolize cultural integration and solidarity of Han-Chinese and Tibetan people.

240 km
6 hours
Overnight at Highland Barley Hotel

Breakfast

Yarchen Gar (Yaqing Si)

DAY
9

Garze - Tagong (3729 m)

Debate in Garze Monastery, Lhagang Monastery (Tagong Si), sunset of Yala Mountain

In the morning visit the Garze Monastery of Gelukpa school, it was originally constructed by the Qosot Mongols in 1662 on a hilltop overlooking their castles of Mazur and Khangsar. The monks will usually debate at around 9 am, it lasts about 40 minutes. Then drive to Tagong. In Tagong visit the Lhagang Monastery (Tagong Si) of Sayka Sect, which is surrounded by three hills symbolizing three Budhisattvas. It is said that the blessing of a reserved Jowo Shakyamuni image left by Wencheng Princess in this monastery to the pilgrims resembles the Lhasa Jowo Shakyamuni image in Lhasa. From the hillside next to the Muya Golden Pagoda, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the Zhara Lhatse (5.820 m, also Jara or Yala), when the weather is good, the scenery at sunset is especially spectacular.

272 km
5 hours 3 minutes
Overnight at Duwang Hotel

Breakfast

Monks of Garze Monastery

DAY
10

Tagong - Danba (2266 m)

Sunrise of Yala Mountain, Gyergo Nunnery, ancient block towers in Suopo, Jiaju village

If the weather is good, enjoy the beautiful landscape of sunrise of Yala Mountain. In the morning visit the impressive Gyergo Nunnery and the grand mani wall of Hepingfahui. Then drive along the Yak valley to Danba. In Danba, the local people are called Jiarong (Gyarong) Tibetans. You’ll visit the ancient block towers in Suopo Village. They are made of clay and block and looked well from outside with solid thick walls. Then walking in Jiaju village, the most beautiful village in China. There are more than one hundred buildings with the same architectural style, a complete and unique character of Jiarong Tibetan residences. Under the blue sky, the Tibetan residences decorated in red, white and black are strewed at random but also from the bottom to the middle slope of the valley.

112 km
2 hours 15 minutes
Overnight at Jiarong Sangzhukang Hotel

Breakfast

Nunnery of Hepingfahui in Tagong

DAY
11

Danba - Siguniang Shan Town (3134 m)

Wori Tusi Manor, Shuangqiao Valley, sunset of Siguniang Shan Mountain

In the morning drive to Siguniang Shan Town, on the way visit Wori Tusi Manor, the former official residence of the local Tusi, a kind of imperial kingship leader. The Siguniang Shan Mountain (also Four Sisters Mountain, Four Girls Mountain, Four Maidens Mountain) has four over 5000 m peaks, legend has it that each peak represents a girl of the 4 sisters. The highest peak, Yaomei Feng, the youngest girl and at 6250 m, is also known as the “queen of Sichuan's peaks”. Soft hiking in the Shuangqiao Valley (Double-bridge Valley) of the Siguniang Shan Mountain, the scenery is concentrated and charming. If the weather is good, you can enjoy the great panoramic view of Mt. Siguniang Shan at Maobiliang at sunset.

118 km
2 hours 31 minutes
Overnight at Yunshang Hotel

Breakfast

Tibetan Village Jiaju

DAY
12

Siguniang Shan Town - Wolong (1700 m) - Chengdu

Great panoramic view of Mt. Siguniang at sunrise, Panda in Wolong

If you have interest, if the weather is good, you can get early to enjoy the great panoramic view of Mt. Siguniang at Maobiliang at sunrise. Drive through the Balang Shan tunnel to Wolong National Nature Reserve. 52 km long from east to west and 62 km wide from south to north, the whole area is 200,000 hectares. It is one of the China earliest natural reserves, which is rated the preservation zones network of humankinds and living beings by the Organization of Education, Science and Culture of United Nations (UNESCO). The virgin forest, second bush forest and bamboo groves are very lush. There are over 4,000 kinds of high-level plants, 24 kinds of them are valuable plants, such as Gongtong (Chinese dove tree), red China fir, Lianxiang and so on. There are more than 450 kinds of vertebras, 45 kinds of them are rated national focal preserved animals, such as giant panda, golden monkeys, antelopes, white-mouth deer etc. The natural beautiful scene is quiet and secluded. Visit the Shenshuping Panda Base in Wolong, about 50 pandas live here, it is the largest breeding center for giant pandas, integrating scientific research, feeding, breeding, reproduction, wildness training, etc. Late in the afternoon arrive in Chengdu.

222 km
3 hours 58 minutes
Overnight at 4*Xinliang Hotel

Breakfast

Sunset of Mt. Siguniangshan

DAY
13

Leave Chengdu

Travel to next destination

Today transfer to airport, leave Chengdu.

Breakfast

Pandas in Wolong

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This trip can also be tailor-made, please let us know your travel idea: travel date, duration, number of travelers, child (2 - 12 years old), baby (0 - 2 years old), other travel destinations, meals, accommodation category, boutique hotel, special interest ...

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With individual China Tibet travel, you can decide when, where and how you go on tour by yourself. What's more, you can choose the length of travel and whom you go with.

Information

Hotel, program and itinerary are subjected to change with prior notice.
We must point out that you counter a basic tourism infrastructure in this region. You stay overnight mostly at simple hotel/guesthouse. Long journeys on bad roads and on high altitude and delays require good physical fitness, resilience and flexibility of the participants. Program and route changes due to unforeseen events are expressly reserved. If you desire the unknown and have an understanding of contingency, this is the right trip for you.
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