6 Days Tour from Qinghai to Sichuan via Gannan

Trip Length

6 Days

Route

Xining-Xiahe-Ruo'ergai-Hongyuan-Chengdu

Attractions

This tour covers the famous spot scenes of Qinghai, highlights of Gannan, and the marsh prairie scenery of Sichuan. It’s the choicest tour combined with Tibetan Buddism out of Tibet and the summer beauty of lakes and prairies in west China.

Itinerary Day by Day

Day 1: Arrive in Xining

Today's highlights:

Airport/train station transfer to hotel

Details:

Arrive in Xining Caojiabao Airport by air or Xining Railway Station by train. Our guide in Xining will meet you, and you will be transferred to your hotel to check in.

Day 2: Xining-Qinghai Lake-Xining

Today's highlights:

Jinyintan Prairie, Qinghai Lake, Birds Island

Details:

Drive to Jinyintan Prairie to appreciate the beauty of highland grassland. Jinyintan Prairie comprised of 2 prairies, Jin Tan and Yin Tan. These two prairies cover nearly 1,100 square kilometers. Head to Qinghai Lake, also called Koko Nor in Mongolian through Riyue mountain pass (The Sun and the Moon mountain). It is the biggest inland salt lake in China . The most charming and attractive places in Qinghai Lake are the Birds Island and Sea of Rape Flowers.

Day 3: Xining-Ta'er Monastery-Xiahe Labrang Monastery

Today's highlights:

Ta'er Monastery, Labrang Monastery

Details:

Vsit Ta'er Monastery in the morning. It's the birth place of the founder of the Yellow Sect (also called Gelu Sect) Tsong Khapa. In the Tibetan language, Ta'er Monastery is called "gongben" which means 100, 000 figures of Buddha. Ta'er monastery is famous for its butter sculptures, the barbolas, and the murals.

Drive directly to Xiahe. 1km west away from Xiahe county is Labrang Monastery, together with Tibet's Drepung, Sera, Ganden, Tashilumpo monastery and Qinghai Ta'er monastery, they are the six grand monasteries belonging to Gulug (Yellow Hat). Labrang Monastery has a large scale second only to the Potala Palace.

Day 4: Xiahe-Sangke Prairie-Flower Lake (Hua Hu)-Ruo'ergai

Today's highlights:

Sangke Prairie, Langmu Monastery, Gerdi Monastery, Flower Lake (Hua Hu)

Details:

Get up early to go through Sangke Prairie to arrive at Langmu Monastery and Gerdi Monastery via Luqu. Langmu is on the border of Gansu and Sichuan Province. There, you can find the sky burial ground, the only place we can visit the special ceremony of the Tibetans and Mortal Body Bodhisattva which has been existing for 300 years, but still lifelike.

Drive to Flower Lake (Huahu Marsh) famed for its flowers growing under water. It's a nature reserve for protection of black-necked cranes. This is the largest and flattest marsh prairie in China. The way from Huahu to Ruo'ergai is a gravel road.

Day 5: Ruo'ergai-First Bend of Yellow River-Hongyuan

Today's highlights:

Ruo'ergai, First Bend of Yellow River

Details:

The way from Ruo'ergai to Tangke is very beautiful. Vast and fantastic prairies. The First Bend of Yellow River is in the Tangke town of Ruo'ergai, hometown of the Hequ Horse, one of the three most famous horses. It's on the border of Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai. Here, Yellow River and White River merge to the First Bend of Yellow River in S-Shape.

Day 6: Hongyuan-Chengdu

Today's highlights:

Taoping Villages of the Qiang Ethnic Group, Ganbao Village of the Tibetan Ethnic Group

Details:

Today, our final destination is the hometown of Giant Panda, Chengdu. En route drop a visit to Taoping Villages of the Qiang ethnic group (Self-paid) and Ganbao Village of the Tibetan ethnic group.

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