5-Day Shigatse – Shannan Tour
Tibet Local Time：13:24:39 GMT+8
Lhasa Weather
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Call our professional Tibet tour advisors
+86-23-86915020
(70 kilometers away from the airport and 30 kilometers away from the railway station)
You will be warmly greeted when you arrive at the airport or the railway station. Our local guide will present you a Hada which would bring you good luck. Then we will set out for the Holy City – Lhasa which is 3658 meters above the sea level. You can take a break for acclimatization in the rest of the day.
We will make a visit to the highest ancient castle style architectural complex above the sea level – Potala Palace (1hour). It was the residence of the Tibetan Dalai Lamas, as well as the political, educational and religious center of Tibet. It was built in the 7th century during the regime of Songtsan Gampo. Potala Palace is composed of the White Palace and the Red Palace. The main constructions of the Red Palace are the Buddhism stupas and chapels while the White Palace acted as the residence of Daila Lamas.
In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to the Jokhang Temple (1 hour) which was widely accepted as the spiritual center of Tibet. The precious Statue of 12-year-old Sakyamuni (the founder of Buddhism) brought to Tibet by Princess of Chinese Tang Dynasty and the statues of some eminent Buddhists are enshrined in the monastery. There are also exquisite murals which present the history and culture of Tibet collected in the monastery. Then we will take a ramble at Barkhor Street (half an hour) which around the Jokhang Temple. There we could experience the traditional culture and daily life of Tibetan.
We will leave Lhasa for Yamdrok Lake through Gambarak Mountain Pass (4780 meters above the sea level) after breakfast. Yamdrok Lake is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. It covers an area of 638 square kilometers with an altitude of 4441 meters. The landscapes of mountains and lakes here tops in southern Tibet. Then we will set out for Shigatse, via Karo-la Glacier and Manla Reservoir. We can also take an overlook of the Zongshan Castles in Gyantse on the way to Shigatse, which is the biggest city in Tsang.
Then we will visit the residence of Panchen Lamas - Tashilhunpo Monastery (1.5 hours). It is the largest monastery in Shigatse Prefecture and one of the six great monasteries of Gelug Sect.
We will set out for Tsedang via Qushui County along Yarlung Zangbo River Valley. Tsedang is the cradle of Tibetan with a long history. We will look around Yungbulakang – the first palace of Tibet which could be dated back to 2100 years ago after we arrived in Tsedang. It is said that Yungbulakang was constructed for the first Tibetan king – Nyatri Tsenpo by the followers of Bon in second century B.C. Yungbulakang acted as the palaces of the Tibetan kings till 7th century. The 33rd Tibetan king – Songtsen Gampo united Tibet and moved his capital to Lhasa. Yungbulakang became the summer palace of Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng of Chinese Tang Dynasty.
We will transfer you to the airport after breakfast.
