TTC-K-02: The Secret sites of Kham

Highlights:

• --The traditional Chinese teahouse
• --Luding Iron Bridge
• --Anjue monastery,
• --Ming yak Chorten
• --Litang monastery
• --Yixi monastery
• --Kanze monastery
• --Lhagang monastery
• --Mani pile.
• --Gatar Shangbalin
• --Ancient Blockhouses
• --Wolong National giant Panda Reserve

Chengdu: 500m
Mt. Erlang tunnel: 3400m
Kangding 2650m,
Mt. Kazi La pass: 4360m;
Litang: 4100m;
Nyarong: 3100m;
Mt. GAO Shi La pass: 4200m
Kanze: 3750m
Luoguo Pass: 4100m
Bamei: 3100m
Danba: 1900m
Mt. Balang pass: 4550m
Wolong: 1700m

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Detail program:

Day1: Arrive in Chengdu
After arrives in Chengdu airport, pickup and transfer to your hotel, assist to check in. Relax in the rest hours of this day by having one visit to the traditional Chinese teahouse at People's park.

Altitude: Chengdu: 500m

Day2: Chengdu to Kangding
Drive 360km on paved road, into hill country and crossing through the Mt. Erlang tunnel, En-route we will stop by to visit Luding Iron Bridge. Then arrive at the gateway town of the Eastern Tibet of Kham - Kangding, which is cradled in a narrow gorge along the raging Dzetuo River. The river's continual rumble can be heard in its alleyways where nomads from the west come to sell Tibetan herbal medicine, Khampa knives, traditional Tibetan garments, and the ever-popular yak butter tea. For centuries the town has held the status of "Gateway to Tibet", after arrive in Kangding take an easy walk in order to acclimatizing to the altitude, visit to Anjue monastery.

Driving hours & distance: 360km on paved road, about 6 - 7 hours
Altitude: Kangding 2650m, Mt. Erlang tunnel: 3400m

Day3: Kangding to Litang
Drive 285km on paved road; enjoy the beautiful nature view and touring the white Ming yak Chorten, and when drive onto Mt. Gaoershi, if weather permits, the stunning view of the peak of Mt. Minyar Gangkar will be visible. After we arrive in Litang, we are going to visit the Litang monastery, which is just on the northern edge of town and belongs to the Gelukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhists. The monastery was founded on the site in 1580 by the third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso. There are three main temples in the compound, of which the oldest seems to be the one on top of the hill, still featuring the wooden construction of the upper rim of the buildings. Inside, you can view several chambers and a bedroom in which the 7th Dalai Lama is said to have resided. Many more famous and influential personal figures were born here, including the 7th Dalai Lama, 10th Dalai Lama.

Driving hours & distance: 285km on paved road, about 7 - 8 hours
Altitude: Litang: 4100m; Mt. Kazi La pass: 4360m.

Day4: Litang to Nyarong
In the morning, we will start early from Litang, heading Northeast into Nyarong valley, along the Yarlung River up stream to Nyarong County, which is about 3100m, about 1000meters lower than Litang. Nyarong County located in the isolated Nyarong valley, which has always been a stronghold of the Nyingmapa School and the pre-Buddhist Bon tradition. we are going to visit to Yixi monastery that is one of monasteries with Bon tradition in Kham.

Driving hours & distance: 190km on paved & dirt road, about 4 - 5 hours
Altitude: Nyarong: 3100m; Mt. GAO Shi La pass: 4200m

Day5: Nyarong to Kanze
The road continually follows the east bank of Yarlung River upstream through a deep gorge to a valley junction, which the land suddenly becomes wide, Kanze county extends from the lower Yi-chu valley and Rongpatsa towsnship, the county capital of Kanze is about 10km away from the valley junction. In Kanze, we are going to visit to Kanze monastery, which was originally constructed by the Qosot Monglos Cira 1642 on a hilltop. It once had a population of 1500monks; currently it has an estimated population of 700 monks and 3 tulkus. And Den Gonpa -- since the 17th century it has been 8maintained by the Gelukpa, an important protector temple which survived the events of 1960s and containing a revered image of Mahakala in the form Panjaranatha. At about 2pm, we may have chance to witness the debating of monks at Kanze monastery.

Driving hours & distance: 110km on paved road, about 3 - 4 hours
Altitude: Kanze: 3580m

Day6: Kanze to Bamei
We continue eastward driving over the Luoguo Pass with altitude of 4100m to Luhuo county, then after reaching at antoher town of Tawu, where we are going to visit Nyingtso monastery that used to housed 400 monks. After arrive in Bamei, we will drive over the pass of Rubber mountain with altitude of 4000m to Tagong, taking a sightseeing tour of Lhagang monastery -- According to the legend, when Princess Wengcheng traveled to Tibet, she stayed overnight here, and the Jowo Sakyamuni image which she brought as her dowry to Lhasa was said to have spoken out aloud, requesting to be left in that idyllic setting! Subsequently King Songtsen Gampo constructed 108 temples in the direction of China mainland, after visit to Lhagang monastery heading to the holy mountain of Yarla Jartso, visit to the great Mani pile.

Driving hours & distance: 250km on paved road & dirt road, about 7 - 8 hours
Altitude: Bamei: 3100m

Day7: Bamei to Danba
From Bamei, we turn to east, and stop by to visit a monastery of Gatar Shangbalin, which the 7th Dalai Lama used to reside himself according to a religious doctrine. Then after drive to visit to the birth place of 11th Dalai Lama; in the afternoon drive onto the range of Yarla yartso mountain, for about 30 minutes drive to arrive at the valley, where we can enjoy the stunning view of Mt. Yarla Yartso, then continuing to follow the Donggu River crossing through the narrow and deeply Donggu valley to Danba, which is Kingdom of Ancient Blockhouses. A group of ancient stone-made blockhouses that were originally built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589) are located in the county's Suopo Township. Because of its superb architecture, the blockhouses have survived wars, the weathering of wind and rain, and even earthquakes throughout the area's more than 1,000 years; and so, they are called the Pyramids of the Orient. The ancient blockhouses vary in height and shape. The tallest is more than 60 meters high. They are built in the shape of either a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon, or a dodecagon. With its solid angles as sharp as blades, the blockhouse stands upright and resembles swords pointing up towards the sky. These ancient houses are divided, according to their functions, into four categories: fort blockhouses, beacon blockhouses, village blockhouses, and dwelling blockhouses. The dwelling blockhouse is usually about 10 meters high. Its structure is a combination of blockhouse and residential house. When entering the dwelling blockhouse, a several meter high ladder is needed. After entering, the ladder is taken away, so that no enemy, not even a martial arts master, can enter the house.

Driving hours & distance: 100km on paved road, about 2 - 3 hours
Altitude: Danba: 1900m

Day8: Danba to Wolong
In the morning we will drive up to Dzonglu village to witness the traditional building of Tibetan of "Pill box"; which is hidden deep in the high mountains and dense forests, thousands of blockhouses are endowed with a sense of mystery. The Dadu River takes shape here and flows south through Danba. Dzonglu village is one of those villages, where visitors can find themselves immersed in various blockhouses. There are 113 ancient blockhouses in Dzonglu village with a history of more than 1,000 years. In Danba, most blockhouses are built together with resident houses. They are made of clay and stones, with an elegant and strong appearance. In the past, blockhouses were used as defense forts and beacon towers. Residents would even pray to some of the edifices to exorcise evil spirits and bring good weather for crops. Inside each blockhouse, a delicate and intricate emblem such as ox horns or a fire wheel hangs on the wall. Some people say these are clan marks. Some argue that it is a secret signal. But the real meaning is still a mystery. After visit to this such beautiful village, we will drive to Wolong in the afternoon, enroute passing through the pass of Mt. Balang (4550m), then descending to Wolong valley.

Driving hours & distance: 220km on paved road, about 4 - 5hours
Altitude: Mt. Balang pass: 4550m; Wolong: 1700m

Day9: Wolong - Chengdu
Wolong, a National Reserve located in a wonderful setting of forest surrounded by rugged Snowcapped Mountains, live Giant Pandas, Red Pandas, Golden Pheasants, White-Eared-Pheasants and Chinese Monals as well as the stunning Firethroats. Black Dears, Golden monkeys and Musk Deers, and rhododendrons and azaleas can also be found here. After visit to Wolong National giant Panda Reserve, we will drive back to Chengdu.

Driving hours & distance: 155km on paved road, about 4 - 5 hours
Altitude: Chengdu: 500m

Day10: Chengdu to the airport for departure
After having breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to airport for your departure (transfer timings will depend on the flight schedule).