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Arrive in Kunming. Pick up and transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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After breakfast, we will start out to visit the famous Bamboo Temple which dates back to the Tang dynasty with 500 colorful clay Buddhas. Next comes the Stone Forest, a typical karst formation, the Stone Forest covers an area of more than three hundred square kilometers. Scientific research has shown that what is now the Stone Forest was 270 million years ago an immense expanse of water with a vast stretch of limestone sediment formed over the years on the seafloor. As a result of the crustal movement, the seabed rose gradually and a large piece of land thus came into being. Exposed to rains and winds, eroded by the elements, the strange-looking limestone ranges were shaped by time. About 200 million years ago numerous stone peaks, pillars, and stalagmites rose abruptly from the ground and towered into the sky, extending now as far as the eye can see, looking like a vast forest of stone, hence the name "the Stone Forest". The Heisongyan Scenic Spot (also named as the Naigu Stone Forest) is 8 kilometers from the Scenic Spot of Stone Forest. This area is the major sightseeing area of dark stones which mainly composes of stone pillars, stone pagodas and stone castles. All of these towering stones are displaying a grand view over magical sceneries. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Drive to Dali, visit Dali Old Town. The history of Dali Old Town can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty when Dali was the capital of Nanzhao Kingdom which is the home to Bai minority. The town, whose format is like a chess board with four gates guarding in the directions of east , south, west and north standing between Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake, a natural configuration that seems specially designed for a good bountiful life. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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In the morning visit Xizhou (the largest Bai village) Morning Market. Also visit Zhoucheng Village, well-known for tie-dye craftsmanship, where you can observe how Bai people make tie-dye products at home. Then drive to Lijiang. Stroll in Lijiang Old Town, a lovely traditional town with beautiful wooden houses and crisscrossed with streams of mountain water. Lijiang is one of the best preserved ancient towns in China and is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Pick up and visit Dongba Culture Museum. The Dongba are the shaman of the Naxi people and are referred to for all aspects of Naxi life whether marriage, the site of a new house, opening a business, or health matters. The Dongba priests are the only people able to use the unique pictoglyph language which is the only pictoglyph language still in use today. Then Black Dragon Pool, whose name from the waters which sparkle like jade and are as clear as spring water. The entire park is green with grass and shaded by swaying willow trees. Under the Suocui Bridge, a waterfall creates a constant roar as it cascades downstream. In the afternoon take a visit to Baisha Naxi Village. Baisha (White Sand) is located in the north of Lijiang. It is named this because of the large amount of white sand on the earths surface there. According to history Baisha is the earliest place for the settlement of Naxi nationality after they entered Lijiang basin. Last visit Shuhe Old Town. Shuhe, also "Shaowu" in Naxi language, means "the village at the foot of the high hill". In the past, there behind the village was a high hill named Jubao Hill, so people named the village after the hill. Generation after generation, the village gets its present name. The Ancient Town of Shuhe is located 4 kilometers to the northwest of the Ancient City of Lijiang. Its central part covers an area of about 5 square kilometers. In 1997, the Ancient Town of Shuhe was ranked as an important part of the Ancient City of Lijiang. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Drive to Shangri-la, on the way visit the visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge en route, which is believed to be the deepest gorge in the world. From the top of the gorge you look down the steeply angled (70-90 degrees) mountain sides to the rushing Golden Sands (Jingsha) River with its 18 frothing rapids more than 200 meters (about 700 feet) below. Walk in ancient Shigu Town and see the First Bend of Yangtze. After arrival, check in the hotel. In the evening visit Zhongdian Old Town with Tibetan old streets and houses and enjoy the local Tibetan people dancing in the middle square of old town. Then have a far-view of Giant Prayer Wheel, made of copper, weighs 60 tons with a height of 21 meters. At night the Giant Prayer Wheel glittering by itself because of lamplight. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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Visit Songzanlin Tibetan Buddhism Monastery, which is 5 km from the seat of Shangri-la County. Construction began in 1679 and was completed in 1681. It is said that the Fifth Dalai Lama chose the site of the monastery through divination and named it "Gedan Songzanlin Monastery". In 1724, during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty, the monastery was renamed the "Guihua Monastery". During its time of greatest prosperity, there were more than 3,000 monks in the temple, now there are still 700 monks inside. Later, we go to the local market before we make a family visit and have lunch at the family. In the afternoon, you will visit Giant Prayer Wheel. Climb a small hill to take a closer look at the giant prayer wheel which reputed to be the largest in the world. You can turn the wheel and you also can get blessings from the monk in the temple next to it. Admiring the view of the town from the top of the hill is quite good experience. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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Fly to Lhasa, pick up and check in hotel. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Today you will see some of the wonderful sights of Lhasa, commencing with the magnificent Potala Palace, Tibet’s best-known landmark. Your second stop will be the Jokhang Temple, home of the most precious of the Buddha images in the region. Brought from Chang’an (what is now Xi’an ) by the Tang Princess Wen Cheng when she married Tibetan King Songsten Gampo, the Sakyamuni Buddha is truly magnificent. After lunch at local restaurant, we will have a walk through the colorful bazaar on Barkhor Street, known as the Pilgrims’ay prior to visiting a carpet factory where you can marvel at the skill of the carpet weavers and admire the Buddhist designs. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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Today is leaving for Shigatse. Pass by the Yamdrok-Tso Lake. It is over 72 km (45 miles) long. The lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and is fed by numerous small streams. The lake does have an outlet stream at its far western end. Around 90 km to the west of the lake lies the Tibetan town of Gyantse and Lhasa is a hundred km to the northeast. According to local mythology, Yamdok Yumtso lake is the transformation of a goddess. Keeping drive to Gyantse, visit Karuola Glacier which is about 71 kilometers (about 44 miles) from Gyangtse County. You can even see this amazing glacier from the road beside it. Karuola Glacier is about 5,600 meters north of the main peak of Karuola Mountain. Due to smoke pollution from motor vehicles, the entire glacier is now divided into black and white layers, which gives a distinctive beauty to this masterpiece of nature. When arrive in Gyantse, visit Kumbum Pagoda also called 100-thousand-Bouddha's-pagoda as well as Pelkor Monastery famed with its splendid Buddhist Tibetan art, both of them were built in the 15th century. In the late afternoon arrive in Shigatse and check in the hotel. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
In the morning drive to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the main attraction in Shigatse is the seat of the Panchen Lama—Tashilhunpo Monastery. Built in 1447 by a nephew of Tsong Khapa, the monastery once housed over 4000 monks, but now there are only 600. Apart from a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha ( nearly 27 meters high ) in the Temple of the Maitreya, the monastery is also famed for its Grand Hall with its opulent tomb ( containing 85kg of gold and masses of jewels ) of the fourth Panchen Lama. Then drive back to Lhasa. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Drive to Nyingchi. En route, visit Bangsongcuo Lake (or Basumtso Lake), another named Cuogao Lake (green water) in Tibetan, is the most attractive site in Nyingchi. Besides offering marvelous scenery spots, many glaciers on the upper reaches of the lake provide it with a constant supply of fresh water. With 26 square kilometers covering, the clear waters of the green lake mirror the picture snow-capped peaks around the lake. The entire area is so fantastic that thoughts of the inspiring Swiss Alps come to mind as one stands on the shoreline. Fish are shoaling in the lake, birds are circling in the air, and beasts are roaming in the nearby forest. It’s a natural paradise for animals here. You will be impressed with the peaceful and comfortable life here. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
Today we’ll visit Lulang Forest which is one of the most attractive natural scenic spots in Nyingchi. Lulang means “dragon king valley” in Tibet. It is a typical long and narrow plateau meadow area. Lulang Forest is mainly composed of bosk, spruces and pines. The neat and tidy meadow in the middle of Lulang Forest Sea looked like be carefully gardened by the horticulture workers. There are also winding streams flowing through the meadow. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com
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Fly to Chengdu. End of service. HHHwww.Chinakindnesstour.com