14 Days China Orient Express Silk Road Adventure
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
14 Days China Orient Express Silk Road Adventure 2019 Early Bird Offer TOUR HIGHLIGHTS $7715.00 China Orient Express Watrwheel Garden Per Person— TWIN SHARE Qinghai-Tibet Train Jiayuguan Greatwall Lhasa DunHuang *$285.00 Air Taxes & Govt Fees Tashi Lhunpo Monastery Mogao Grottoes *Subject to Alteration Potala Palace Flaming Mountain Ta’er Monastery Jiaohe Ancient City *$3850.00 Barhor Street Heavenly Lake Single Supplement Yamzo Lake Tianshan Zhongshan Bridge Film Presentation 7th NOVEMBER 2018 10.00AM until 11.30AM 14 DAY CHINA Orient Express Silk Road Adventure DEPARTING 25 May 2019 Day 1 Adelaide/ Guangzhou Today you will be picked up from your home by your courtesy limousine transfer (within zoned area) and transferred to Adelaide International Airport, for your 10.30 am flight with China Southern Airlines to Lhasa via Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou. Accommodation: Guangzhou Airport (1 night stay) (in-flight meals) Day 2 Guangzhou / Lhasa Today you will catch a morning flight from Guangzhou to Lhasa via Chongqing airport. Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and presented with a HADA, a white scarf which is the Tibetan traditional way to wish you good luck. Then transferred to your hotel to take a rest to acclimatize of the higher altitude. Lhasa is the capital city of the Tiber Autonomous Region, in the Tibetan language it means “Land of gods”. In the eastern part of the city, near the Jokhang Temple and Barkhor neighborhood, Tibetan influence is still strong and evident and it is common to see traditionally dressed Tibetans engaged on a kora (a clockwise circumambulation or walk around the Jokhang Temple), open spinning prayer wheels. The western part of Lhasa is more ethnically Han Chinese in Character. It is busy and modern and looks similar to many other Chinese cities. Accommodation: Brahmaputra Grand Hotel Lhasa or similar (2 night stay) (in-flight meals, D) Day 3 Explore the holy city of Lhasa Following breakfast, you will begin your exploration of the famous Potala Palace, perched on the northern side of the Mountain. Throughout the ages, it had been the winter palace of Dalai Lamas. Its name means 'sacred Buddhist site' in the Tibetan language. This palace-like complex of buildings was first built in the 7th century AD by King Songtsen Gampo to mark his marriage with the Tang princess Wencheng as well as to house the Buddha images brought by Wencheng and the Nepalese princess Bhrikuti Devi. The palace also houses priceless artifacts and artworks. Continue to Jokhang Monastery, situated in the center of Lhasa. It was first built in 674A'D to celebrate the marriage of King Songtsen Gampo with Princess Wencheng and Bhrikuti Devi, both devout Buddhists. This monastery underwent expansion over the years and today, its four-level main hall sports a gilded roof and a blend of Han Chinese, Tibetan, Nepalese and Indian architectural styles. Proceed to Barkhor Street in the old city, which offers glimpses of traditional Tibetan life. The faithful chant and circumambulate around Jokhang Monastery. In this circular street there are also shops selling a wide variety of crafts such as Tibetan knives, bangles, shoes and more. Accommodation: Brahmaputra Grand Hotel Lhasa or similar (B, L, D) Day 4 Lhasa / Shigatse / Yamzho Yumco Lake Following breakfast, depart for Shigatse, officially known as Xigaze, is a prefecture-level city of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Along the way, we pass Yamzho Yumco (Sacred Swan) Lake, also known as Baidi Lake, it is wedged between two mountains, hence like a swan spanning its wings. The crystal-clear lake, located over 4,000m above sea level, has an area of 638m2. It is the largest freshwater lake in Tibet, with a depth of up to 59m. Thereafter, continue to Xigaze. Xigaze is the second biggest city in Tibet, located in the alluvial plain at the confluence of Brahmaputra and Nianchuhe rivers, 273 km west to Lhasa. With its ancient history and unique culture, Xigaze has became an important tourist attraction located on the Tibetan Golden Route which attracts many visitors wishing to explore its mysterious Tibtan Buddhism culture and challenge the limits of human endurance at nearby Mt. Everest, the pride of Shigatse. Accommodation: Shigatse Hotel or similar (1 night stay) (B, L, D) Day 5 Shigatse / Lhasa / Gelug Sects in Rear Tibet In the morning, visit the famous Tashi Lhunpo monastery, where you can see the well preserved largest statue of Jampa (future Buddha) in the world. This monastery, whose beauty is on par with that of Potala Palace, is located 2km west of Shigatse. It was founded by the first Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Gendun Drup in 1447AD. Its name means 'all fortune and happiness gather here. The Main Chanting Hall houses the Panchen Lama's throne and several chapels, including a Sakyamuni chapel, Bodhisattva chapel and Tara chapel. Don't miss the Tenth Panchen Lama's Stupa. The Tenth Panchen Lama was a highly respected Tibetan Buddhist leader. We proceed back to Lhasa. On the way, enjoy scenic views of the Yarlung Zangbo Gorge/ Bhamaputra River (the Longest and largest river in Tibet). Stay Overnight in Lhasa. Accommodation: Brahmaputra Grand Hotel Lhasa or similar (1 night stay) (B, L, D) Day 6 Lhasa / Tibet Plateau / Qingzang railway (world’s highest railway) After breakfast, you are free to explore at own your leisure till time to board the train on the world's highest railway. Thereafter, begin the scenic train journey through the highest Point in the world. Along the way, pass magnificent sights: snow-capped mountains such as Yuzhu Peak and Mt Kunlunshan; Kekexili reserve; Tuotuo River, the source of Yangtze River; Fenghuo Mountain Tunnel, the world's highest mountain tunnel; Tanggula Station, the world's highest railway station located at 5,072m above sea level; Qiangtang Grassland and more. Accommodation: Over Night Train on Qingzang (soft sleeper for 4 guests*) (1 night stay) (B, L, D) * For the Over Night Train of Qingzang Railway, QingZang Railway soft sleeper is the highest demanding ticket to get in the world. There are 64 soft sleepers and 20 of them have been reserved for government officials. Visitors from all around the world are here to witness the large migrating season of Tibetan antelope in June. QingZang Railway tickets are like gold dust, especially from April to October are the best time to visit Tibet, as in these months, they have warm and beautiful sceneries. King William Travel cooperates China Ministry of Railways, we provide warm services to bring you the enjoyment of travelling and resting. Day 7 Tibet Plateau / Xining / Ta’er Monastery You could enjoy the fabulous scenery along your train trip. Today you will arrive Xining station and visit the Ta'er Monastery, whose name means '10,000 Buddhas'. Its construction began in the Ming Dynasty during the Jiaqing period. In 1560AD it was one of the six principal temples of the Tibetan Buddhist Yellow Sect. Don't miss its three treasures, which are of high artistic value. Buttered figurines, sculpted from colored butter, are lively and realistic depictions of stories, nature and humans, while colorful murals adorn the monastery's walls. The third treasure is satin appliqués in the shapes of Buddha and nature subjects, which are filled with cotton or wool and sewn on large fabrics. Embark on your night train to Lhasa where you will be escorted to the hotel for check in. Accommodation: Sanwant Hotel Xining or Similar (1 night stay) (B, L, D) Day 8 Xining / Lanzhou / Yellow River / China Orient Express After breakfast, you will visit Zhongshan Bridge, also called the first bridge over the Yellow River. In the year 1907, under the proposal of local officers in Lanzhou and Gansu and the help of a German businessman, the Qing Government began to build this first iron bridge over the upper reaches of the Yellow River. All materials, even the rivets, were transported from Germany to China using ships, trains, carts and any other means possible. The bridge was completed in two years, and named 'Lanzhou Iron Bridge over the Yellow River'. Continue on with a drive to Lanzhou after a visit to the Waterwheel Garden. Originated from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the waterwheel is the oldest irrigation tool in Yellow River area of Lanzhou. The Waterwheel Garden is a theme garden exhibiting the waterwheel culture. Here, you could appreciate the waterwheel driven by the flowing water all year round to collect water from the river or cofferdam. It’s all aboard the ‘China Orient Express’ train to Jiayuguan at 16:30pm. Have a nice night on the train with wonderful evening and morning views of the local countryside. Accommodation: China Orient Express (1 night stay) (B, L, D) Day 9 Jiayu Pass Great Wall (the western end of the Great Wall) After breakfast, have a visit to the Jiayuguan (Jiayu Pass), the western end of the Great Wall built in Ming Dynasty. It is known as 'the First and Greatest Pass under Heaven', and best preserved and most magnificent military fort in China. Then journey 11 kilometers to the Overhanging Great Wall. It got the named for riding on a mountain ridge that is 45 degrees from vertical and resembling a huge dragon. Accommodation: Holiday Plaza Hotel Jiayuguan or Similar (1 night stay) (B, L, D) Day 10 Desert Oasis / Crescent Lake / Singing Sand Mountain / Night Market After a pleasant breakfast, take the deluxe train to Dunhuang at 10:00am. Specially arranged Dunhuang experts and professors will introduce this exotic city in detail to you. After arriving in Dunhuang, visit beautiful Crescent Lake & Singing Sand Mountains. The Crescent Lake is an oasis in the Gobi Desert, surrounded by numerous sand dunes, reaching a relative height of 250 meters.