The highways in Qinghai extend in all directions linking it to those of the neighboring provinces. The well-known Qinghai-Tibet Highway, going over the Roof of the World has a reputation of being the highest road in the world. It starts from Xining and ends at Lhasa. Parts of the Ancient Tangbo Road, South Silk Road and Marco Polo Adventure Road are in Qinghai. Driving along the roads, many historical sites and marvellous landscapes can be seen. So don't hesitate to come to Qinghai to experience highway tour.

Route:Peking-Xining-Wenquan-Jyekundo-Namchen-Chamdo-Nakchu-Lhasa-Chengdu-Beijing

-All transfer with private vehicle
-Full board during the tour

-Mineral Water or other drinks in the vehicle

-All hotel/guesthouse accommodation

-All necessary equipment

-All entrance fees

-English-speaking Guides

-Visa and permits support

-Other acceptable requests

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 01 Flight to Peking

Day 02 Peking - Xining  flight CA1207 0740/0955  1N Qinghai Hotel★★★★

Day 03 Drive 180 km to Kokonor Lake via Kumbum Monastery, acc. in Tent Hotel

While traveling, visit Kumbum monastery (Ta'er Si) of Gelukpa-sect which was built in 1560 in Huangzhong county and also one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. Both Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Lamaistic "yellow hat sect" and the 14th Dalai lama were born here. As Kumbum-monastery has always been playing an important role to connect the Mongolian with the Lamaism, today many Mongolian come to this place for worship.Then cross over Sun-Moon-Mountain (Ri Yue Shan). In 641 Wencheng princess of Tang Dynasty passed by this mountain where today a sun-pavilion and a moon-pavilion are built on the summit for people to have a break. The Sun-Moon mountain has always been a distinguish line between meadow and agriculture area. Arrive at Koko Nor Lake in the late afternoon and accommodate by the lake.

Day 04 Drive 300 km to Wenquan, acc. in hostel

Wenquan means hot spring.That's how it got its name.There are more than 20 restaurants in this town.Most of them are Hui Muslims,they provide various foods for the travellers.Because the altitude is 3,900m,so maybe some travellers feel uncomfortable when they arrive Wenquan.

Day 05 Drive 500 km to Jyekundo (Yushu), acc. in Yushu Hotel

Leave for Yushu, accompanied by beautiful landscape. On the way, see the most enormous Mani-stone in the earth - Jiana Mani-stones. In Xinzhai village the last lama named WenBaoJianGong of the Jiegu monastery had led his old life there and he promised to try his best to build as more Mani-stones as possible. Till 1955, 250 million Mani-stones had already been piled up on top of each other. In 1958 the lama came into Nirvana. Then arrive at Yushu, a small Tibetan county with a population of 55700 and an area of 13547 square kilometers.

Day 06/07 Stay in Jyekundo, visit Jyekundo Monastery etc, acc. in Yushu Hotel

There are totally 43 monasteries in Yushu region, of which 12 belong to Sakya-sect, 8 to Gelukpa-sect, 2 to Nyingmapa-sect, 21 to Gagyuepa-sect. visit three monasteries in a whole day: Jiegu monastery of Sakya-sect,. Dongkar monastery of Gagyuepa-sect. Besides, it is worthwhile to visit monastery of Wencheng princess. In the legend the princess of Tang Dynasty once stayed in this monastery for a month.

Day 08 Drive 220 km to Nangchen, visit Rabshi Gonpa, acc. in hostel

Nangchen is a typical Tibetan area, where mountainside is covered with primitive forest which is remained intact. The local customs remain a simple and primative way.

Day 09 Drive 320 km to Chamdo, acc. in Chamdo Hotel

After breakfast,we drive southeastwards to the border between Qinghai and Tibet.The scenery along the road from Nangchen to Chamdo is fantastic. Chamdo,3,910m above sea level,is located at the confluence of Ngom-chu and Dza-chu.Kalden Jampaling Monastery and Guro excavations are the most famous attractions there.Kalden Jampaling was founded by Tsongkhapa's student Jangsem Sherab Zangpo between 1436-1444.We could see that the Chamdo area was one of the earliest centres of population on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from the neolithic excavations at Guro.

Day 10/11 Drive 750 km to Nakchu, acc. in Nakchu Hotel

After breakfast we drive to Riwoche,105km west of Chamdo.Ratsaka (altitide:3,690m) is the capital of Riwoche.Then drive to Tengchen,a small town 143km northwest of Riwoche,there we visit Tengchen Monastery and Ritro Lhakhang. We continue westwards for 310km Sokshan is in our sight,Sok means Mongol in Mongolian,and where there are two monasteries,one is Sok Tsanden Gonpa,a Gelukpa monastery and Kabgye Lhakhang,a Nyingmapa temple.After two-day driving finally we arrive Nakchu,a very important town in Northern Tibet.The yearly Horse-racing Festival is held there.

Day 12 Drive 350 km to Lhasa, acc. in Lhasa Hotel

Lhasa,the capital of Tibet,is called Sunshine City because the yearly total sunshine time could amount to 3,000 hours.Lha means holy,sa is land,so Lhasa means a Holy Land.The city is about 3,658m above sea level,one of the highest cities in the world.

Day 13 Stay in Lhasa sightseeing, acc. in Lhasa Hotel

Visit Potala Palace,Jolkhang Temple and Barkhor Streets.Potala Palace was first built in the 7th century by Songtsen Gampo-the famous Tibetan King.The present one was built by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century.It is known as the Winter Palace by the by 1750s,when the 7th Kalai Lama built the Norbukingka Park as his summer residence.The Potala Palace is devided into Red Palace and White Palace.The former one is for religious use and the latter for political.Jokhang Temple,situated in the old section of Lhasa,was built in the mid 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo.It is the most sacred place in Tibet.Thousands of thousands of pilgrims from all over Tibet come here to pay homage.Barkor Streets was formed when Jokhang had been built,and is called the Window of Tibet.Now it is a big free market and a have-to-visit attraction for tourists,where you can buy typical Tibetan souvenir there at a decent price.

Day 14 Stay in Lhasa sightseeing, acc. in Lhasa Hotel

Full day sightseeing of Drepung Monastery,Sera Monastery and the Norbulingka Park.Drepung means the hill of rice in Tibetan,because the white Monastery looks like a big hill of rice.It is located on the slope of Mt.Ganpoi Uze in the western surburbs of Lhasa.It was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje, a disciple of Trongkhaba,founder of the Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buhhdism.The monastery occupies an area of 250,000 square meters and has 7,700 lamas before,and it is one of the largest monasteries in Asia.It was served as the seat of the 2nd,3rd and 4th Dalai Lamas before the Potala was built.Sera monastery means Hailstone in Tibetan,which is situated at the foot of Mt.Peibuqie in the northern suburb of Lhasa.It was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Choje,another disciple of Tsongkhaba.It housed 5,500 monks in the period of its top prosperity.Norbukingkha Park,known as the Jewel Park,was served as Dalai Lamas' summer palace before,which is about 1 kilo west of the Potala Palace and covers an area of 360,000 sq.m.In 1752,the 7th Dalai Lama buit the first palace in this park,since then,Norbukingkha has become the summer palace for successive Dalai Lamas to executed the political and religious activities during summer time.In 1954,the 14th Dalai Lama,Tenzin Gatso,built the last palace in Norbulingkha-the New Palace.

Day 15 Fly to Chengdu, acc. in Chengdu Hotel

After breakfast,we drive 100km to Gongga Airport to fly to Chengdu,the capital of Sichuan Province.

Day 16 Fly to Beijing and then home

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