Beijing Lhasa 6 Days Train Travel

Picked up at your hotel in Beijing and transferred to Beijing West Station. Board the overnight train from Beijing to Lhasa. Overnight on train.

Your train passes by Xian when the sky turns bright. So you are in the daytime during the journey of Xian - Lanzhou - Xining. But the Xining to Golmud part of the train journey is mostly in the dark, hence only worth if one wishes to experience sleeping in a train.

You are in the daytime during the journey from Golmud to Lhasa. Golmud-Lhasa section of the railway is above 4000m above sea level, reaching the highest point at 5,072m above sea level. Highlights of the trip includes snow-capped mountain peaks, the beautiful Conag (or Tsonag) Lake, and in the very high elevation sections of the railway, snow-covered landscapes.

There are long stretches of barren land. There are also rivers (the largest was Tuo Tuo River, which is the upper reaches of Yangtze River).

Arrival at Lhasa in the evening and transferred to your hotel in Lhasa. Free for rest of the day to acclimate to the climate and altitude.

Today's sightseeing: The Potala Palace, The Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

- The Potala Palace: Potala Palace is perched on the 130m-high Marpo Ri ( Red Hill ) with 13 storeys and more than 1000 rooms in the middle of Beijing Road, the heart of Lhasa City. It was once the winter residence of the Dalai Lama. The first recorded use of the site dates back to the 7th century AD when King Songtsen Gampo built a palace here. The present construction began during the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama 1645. It takes at least 2-hour to visit those rooms, halls and chapels.

- The Jokhang Temple: The 1300-year-old Jokhang Temple is now the spiritual center of Tibet. From earliest dawn to last light, daily worshippers and once-in-a-lifetime pilgrims make the inner circumambulation (kora) of the Jokhang to earn religious merit. Some of them prostrate outside circuiting the temple. The Jokhang Temple is best visited in the early morning. It now houses the life-sized statue of the twelve year-old Sakyamuni brought by Songtsan Gampo's Chinese wife - Princess Wencheng.

- Barkhor Street: The Barkhor is the oldest street in Lhasa as well as the center of old Lhasa and remains very traditional. It is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts are assembled. Walking around the Jokhang Temple is said that it can bring prosperity and peace to one's whole life. The street is lined with huge numbers of shops selling various kinds of tourist stuff with Tibetan style - skybeads and much more.

Today's Sightseeing: Norbulingka, Tibet Museum, The Carpet Factory, Sera Monastery

- Norbulingka: It is located in the western suburbs of Lhasa city. "Norbu" in Tibetan language means " treasure". "Lingka" means a park with beautiful trees and flowers. It once served as the summer palace for dalai lamas from 7th Dalai Lama who first built the palace. Then come out to visit the 14th Dalai Lama's palace through another gate. The 14th Dalai Lama went to India in 1959. People visit the rooms in the palace one by one. When he left Tibet in 1959, he was only 25 years old. From the picture hanging on the wall of the assembly room, he was once a handsome man.

- Tibet Museum: It is located to the south-east of Norbulingka. It is a Tibetan structure museum. It has three exhibition floors. It has abundant historical relics and treasures including prehistoric culture, united culture, culture and art, customs. They offer the audio guide service. You can use the audio to get a better understanding of the some important history and relics. It is a must for those who is interested in Tibetan history.

- Sera Monastery: Located 5km north of Lhasa, this monastery was the first Gelugpa monastery in Lhasa and has remained the main seat of this major Buddhist order ever since. About 600 monks are now in residence here. Debating takes place from 3:30pm to 5pm in a garden next to the assembly hall in the center of the monastery. There is a fine kora path around the monastery.

After breakfast, free till transferred to Lhasa Airport or Lhasa Train Station for your next destination.