5-Day Xining Qinghai Lake and Tongren Monasteries Tour

Wutun Monastery in Tongren County
The Yacht on the Qinghai Lake
Sun and Moon Mountains
White Pagoda of Taer Monastery

Tour Outline: 5 Days & 4 Nights
Xining (2 N) - Tongren (1N) - Xining (1N)

Overview
Itinerary
Service Inclusion
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Trip Overview

This tour is specially designed for the foreign travelers who want to see or buy the famous Thangkas and learn how the beautiful Thangkas are painted by hand, in the areas outside of Tibet. As everyone knows, foreign travelers must apply for Tibet Travel Permit and then travel to Tibet. If it is hard to you, this tour is a good choice for because it is possible to travel in the Tibetan areas of Qinghai without any permits, but you can learn the Tibetan Buddhism in the famous temples: Taer Monastery, Rongwu Monastery and Wutun Monastery.

The must-go destination of Qinghai - Qinghai Lake is included in the tour. The Lake is the biggest inland lake in China, and it is a good place to watch the birds or enjoy the great views by walking, riding or biking.

[Taer Monastery] It is the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhism master - Tsongkhapa; an important institute to learn Buddhism, Astronomy and Medicine;
[Qinghai Lake] See the biggest inland lake and biggest salt-water lake in China. It is also a good place for viewing by walking, riding and biking;
[Wutun Monastery] See the Tibetan art works: Thangkas, barbolas and sculptures and experience how the beautiful Qinghai Thangkas are painted;
[Rongwu Monastery] It is the third largest Tibetan monastery in Amdo Tibetan areas, where many famous Buddhist masters and scholars ever lived and studied Buddhism;
[Dongguan Great Mosque] Visit the mosque which is one of the "four great mosques in China".

Best Time to Visit

all year round
Physical Demands

Very leisure tour; zero physical demand

Day by Day Itinerary

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Day 1: Xining Arrival

Upon your arrival at the Xining Caojiabao Airport/ Train Station, our tour guide will meet and escort you to your hotel in Xining downtown. If time allows, we will go to visit the famous Taer Monastery, the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhism master - Tsongkhapa who was the founder of Gelug sect. The monastery is also famous as one of "six monasteries of Gelug", and a very important institute to learn Buddhism, Astronomy and Medicine. You must not miss the "three treasures of the monastery": mural, barbola and butter sculptures. Every year, there are many Buddhist ceremonies organized here.

Drive 38km from airport to downtown
Altitude: Xining (2295m)
Xining business hotel
Meal: NO

Day 2: Xining - Qinghai Lake - Xining (356km)

Qinghai Lake in Rape Flower Season

The Yacht on the Qinghai Lake

Today after breakfast, we will drive about 2.5 hours to the Qinghai Lake, the biggest inland lake and biggest salt-water lake in China. The lake is the paradise for birds, where you can see more than ten thousand in the summer. It is surrounded by high mountains. At the foot of mountains are the endless beautiful grasslands. So you can enjoy the great views by walking, riding or biking.

Then cruise on the lake and visit the Bird Island in the lake. After that, drive back to Xining. On the way, you will visit the Riyue Mountains (Sun and Moon Mountains), and the Ri Pagoda and Yue Pagoda. Both pagodas were built in Tang Dynasty to commemorate the intermarriage of marrying Princess Wencheng of Tang to Tubo. At the foot of Riyue Mountains, you will be amazed by the unique Daotang River which flows from east to west.

Drive 35km from Xining to Qinghai Lake and back
Altitude: Qinghai Lake (3260m), Riyue Mountains (3520-4877m)
Internet & Wifi
Xining business hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Xining - Tongren county (173km)

Regong Art of Tibetan Buddhism

Barbolas of Wutun Monastery

Today we will drive about 3.5 hours to Tongren county, Qinghai Province, where is the originated place of the famous "Regong Art" of Tibetan Buddhism. You will visit the Wutun Monastery which is a small but fully visited monastery. The Monastery has a history of more than 600 years, fully decorated by the beautiful works of Tibetan art.The most outstanding ones are Thangkas, barbolas and sculptures. Then you will have a visit to a local family to experience the authentic living and observe how the beautiful Qinghai Thangkas are painted.

Drive 173km from Xining to Tongren county
Altitude: Xining (2295m), Tongren (3460m)
Internet & Wifi
Tongren local hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Tongren county - Xining (173km)

Rongwu Monastery

Dongguang Grand Mosque

After breakfast, we will visit the holy Rongwu Monastery, the third largest Tibetan monastery in Amdo Tibetan areas, and right after Labrang Monastery and Taer Monastery. Rongwu Monastery has played a very important role during the history of Tibetan Buddhism in Amdo Tibetan areas. Many famous Buddhist masters and scholars ever lived and studied Buddhism here.

Then drive back to Xining and go to visit the Dongguan Great Mosque, one of the "four great mosques in China" (others: Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar, Nanguan Great Mosque in Yinchuan and Huajuexiang Mosque in Xian).

Drive 173km from Tongren back to Xining
Altitude: Tongren (3460m), Xining (2295m)
Internet & Wifi
Xining business hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Xining Departure

Today is free for you to have fun in Xining, until our tour guide escort you to airport/ train station for your next destination.

Drive 38km from downtown to airport
Altitude: Xining (2295m)
Hotel: NO
Breakfast

Price Destals & Guide

Price Inclusions

Private transportation to the destinations and sites listed in the itinerary; ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route; car gasoline, road toll and in-transport refreshments (free bottles of water, air pillow and headscarf) are included;
Lodging: three nights in Xining business hotel, one night Tongren local hotel;
Private experienced English-speaking trip leader;
Airport/railway station pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals listed in the itinerary (4 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches);
First aid kit;
A coverage of 300,000RMB Chartis travel insurance;

Price Exclusions

International and domestic flight/train to Xining (Note: we accept the domestic flight/train tickets booking to Xining from other cities in advance, check the updated ticket availability and cost with your travel consultant);
Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in the 3rdpole region cost 3~10USD per person);
Tips and gratuities for the trip leader and driver;
The expense of a personal nature like alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc;
Optional activities and excursions not specified in the itinerary;
China Entry visa fees;

Itinerary Alteration

Once we receive your tour deposit, which is followed by signing the contract, your reservation is secured with legitimacy. Our staff will reserve the accommodation, vehicle, site tickets, meals and more, and pay the deposit for our suppliers. So if you want to alter to another itinerary, you need to cover the deposit we've paid, while no service charge is needed if you make some changes on the itinerary you booked.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you cancel the tour beacuse of your personal issues, you will be liable to pay cancellation charges that are bounded by 3rdpoletour.com cancellation policy as follows:

1.) If you cancel the tour more than 30 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 10% of the total land cost per person;
2.) If you cancel the tour 15-30 days prior to your trip start date, 20% of your total land tour cost will be forfeited as a cancellation fee.
3.) If you cancel the tour 7-15 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 30% of land cost.
4.) If you cancel the tour 7 days prior to your tour start date, you will forfeit 50% of land cost.
5.) If you fail to show up or cancel at your scheduled arrival time without prior notice or later than that, you will forfeit 100% of the land cost.

If the tour has to be cancelled because of the natural disaster or the government restrictions that is beyond both parties control, we will charge only USD50 per person, this is just the service fee and larbor fee during the preparation. This is a rare occurrence!