TTC-K-11: The Festival of Langmu Si

Monlam festival of Langmu Si is one of the greatest religious festivals in Tibet. Instituted by Tsongkpa in 1409, the founder of the Gelukpa sect. Monks from the Three Great Monastery of Tibet assemble in Jokhang for prayer to ShakyamunĄ¯s image as if it were the living Buddha. Pilgrims come from every corner of Tibet and donations are offered to the monks.

'Monlam' means 'Prayer' and at monasteries a great Buddhist service is held and 'Cham' (Buddhist dances) are performed. According to the legend, in the first month of the year, Buddha conquered or converted six holy men of false religions. From New Year's Day until the end of 'Monlam', people continue to eat, drink and make merry.

Festival Date:

Jan 1st-15th in Chinese Lunar Calendar. Thangkar unfolding day: January 15th in Lunar Calendar.

Please contact us for the exact dates on Gregorian calendar.

• The traditional Chinese teahouse at People's park.
• Choktse Tibetan official village
• Langmu Si
• The first bend of Yellow river

Please contact us for pricing information.

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 Barkham
The road is curve along the Ming river, slowly going up to reach Barkham, the Capital of Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. Barkham is an area rich in pasture land, forest and arable alpine valleys, with a cool temperate climate, it is situated at an elevation of 2,670 meters and running in a long stretch along the Suomo Rive, has been well planned. Before we arrive at Barkham, we will visit to Choktse village, which is composed by a fieldstone 5F Tibetan house and a stone fortification built almost one hundred years ago. It's thought to be one of he oriental architecture wonders, a witness of the traditional Tibetan Official System.

Driving hours & distance: 350km on paved road, about 6 - 7 hours
Altitude: Barkham 2750m

Day3: Barkham to Langmu Si via Hongyuan
Departure from Barkham, following the curved road along Suomo River upstream to the turn off, where to take north onto Tibetan plateau, the road is getting more straight, and the view is becoming widely, the paved road crossing through the grassland, which dotted by hundreds of thousands of yaks, sheep, leads up to one unnamed mountain head north to Aba.

Driving hours & distance: 240km on paved road, about 5 - 6 hours
Altitude: Aba: 3300m

Day4&Day5: Langmu Si
Continuing northerward into Amdo, for about 70km drive, a turn off will be reached, from here, we turn to northeast into the area where just being visited by herds in summer time, the road turns from well paved to dirt road, and it begins bumpy, we slow down our speed to enjoy the landscape, about 3 hours drive we will reach the town of Maqu that in Tibetan means the Yellow River. The Yellow River turns abruptly, forming the first of its "eighteen bends" on its course. The Tibetan here still retain to some extent the mode of production, lifestyle, and customs prevalent among the nomadic tribes in ancient times in the area. From this town we We keep driving for Langmu si by following the dirt road along the small mountain on the edge of grassland, when sun falls on the top of the mountains in the far west, we are approaching the mountain that Langmu Si is located in the valley surrounded by those mountains.

Driving hours & distance: 280km on paved & dirt road, about 7 - 8 hours
Altitude: Langmu Si: 3300m

Day6: Langmu Si to Li-xian
Return to Li-xian by following the road we came through, enjoy the landscape of the vast grassland of Hong-yuan, overnight at Li-xian county.

Driving hours & distance: 330km on paved & dirt road, about 7 - 8 hours
Altitude: Lixian: 1700m

Day7: Lixian to Chengdu
En route enjoy the landscape of the Tibetan plateau, along Ming River to Chengdu via Li-xian. After arriving in Chengdu, we will visit to Wenshu Temple, which lays in the northern part of the center of this town. This Buddhist temple '' the Temple of the Buddha of Wisdom'' is built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), destroyed during the Ming dynasty and rebuilt in 1691. Nowadays Wenshu Temple is one of the most active Buddhist centers in Sichuan as well as in China.

Driving distance & hours: 270km on paved & dirt road; roughly 6 - 7 hours
Altitude: Chengdu: 500m

Day8: 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).