Fly to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, bordering Tibet. Check-in to hotel, that is just a short walk from our afternoon visit to the famous Green Goat” Taoist Temple, It’s one of my favorite temples in China, with lovely feng shui on three hills and a powerful sequence of temples. It has a magnificent I Ching pavilion, and printing presses for ancient Taoist alchemy texts, which can also be purchased in their bookstore (in Chinese, but the vibe still transmits). We’ll feast on Taoist vegetarian food during our visit to Green Goat Temple. Chengdu.
Day 5
Today’s highlight is seeing cute pandas. You will visit Chengdu Research Base of Panda Breeding to enjoy a close-up encounter with pandas and know more about this lovable but endangered species. A panda-hug is available but requires an extra cost. Then, you will tour Chengdu’s oldest temple Wenshu Temple and sip Chinese tea in its special teahouse, followed by a trip to the stylish Jinli Old Street. The melodious Sichuan Opera provides you a nice option in the evening.
Day 6
BUS TRIP TO Mount Qingcheng 65km west of Chengdu, Qingchengshan Mountain (Qingchengshan) is one of the ancient cradles of Daoism. The mountain has numerous Daoist temples and sites along the paths to its peak. The area is green all year round and is known for its secluded tranquility. Jianfu Temple (Jianfu Gong) sits at the base of the mountain and is a large, well-preserved Daoist temple from the Tang Dynasty. About halfway up the mountain sits Tianshi Cave (Tianshi Dong) the temple and school of Zhang Daolin, a famous Daoist master who taught here and contributed greatly to spreading Daoism in China. The present Tianshi Cave buildings were built at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Lastly, near the peak sits Shangqing Temple, which was originally established in the Jin Dynasty, while the current temple buildings are Qing Dynasty constructions.
Mt. Qingcheng is located at the Dujiangyan scenery spot of Chengdu, Sichuan province. It is a famous mountain of Taoism. Surrounded by countless peaks and densely covered by ancient trees whose branches reaching the sky, the mountain was named "Mt. Qingcheng" (Green Town in Chinese). The mountain includes two parts-the anterior Mt. Qingcheng and the posterior Mt. Qingcheng. The anterior mountain is famous for its beautiful scenery and numerous cultural and historic sites; while the posterior mountain is noted for its paradisiacal scenery, primitive and brilliant, gorgeous and mysterious.
The famous scenic sites are: the Shangqing Palace, the Jianfu Palace, and the Tianshi Cave, ect. Among them, the Jianfu Palace, with extraordinary bearing, stands against the barranca under the Zhangren Peak. It was built in Tang dynasty, and repaired for several times in the successive dynasties, now only two halls and three compounds are preserved. In the left side of the Jianfu Palace is the princess of Mingqing mansion site. Going west for 1 kilometer, visitors can find the "the natural pictures". With the rocks uprightly standing, cloud and mist thickly wreathing, visitors often fancy that they are in pictures.
Two kilometers towards north comes the Tianshi Cave, the major temple of Mt. Qingcheng. According to legend, in the Eastern Han dynasty, Zhang Daolin had been here for preaching. In the Three Kings Palace, the main hall of the Tianshi Cave, the stone inscriptions of three kings of Tang dynasty were laid. The palace contains wood and stone tablets of past dynasties. The most famous include the Tang Xuanzong's imperial decree and Yuefei's handwriting of Zhu Geliang's Chushibiao, etc. Coming out from Tianshi Cave and passing the Fangning Bridge, visitors can reach the Zhushi Palace; unceasingly walk straight north is Chaoyang Cave; out of it, climbers could see the Shangqing Palace, which situates on a high platform. The Shangqing Palace was first built in the Jin dynasty and the extant temple was built during the reign of Tongzhi in Qing dynasty. There are stone inscriptions as "the fifth famous mountain under the sun", " the first peak in Mt. Qingcheng" and so on in it. With its annually average temperature of 15 centigrade, Mt. Qingcheng belongs to humid subtropical monsoon climate. It is reputed as "Dong Tian Fu Di" (means wonderful mountain and happy place), "the fairyland on earth".
Day 7
You will be free to explore CHENGDU on your own until being escorted to the airport for your flight to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
When your flight lands at Gonggar airport, China's highest airport, your local guide is ready to welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Lhasa city (2-hour drive). After check-in, you are advised to rest at your hotel to acclimatize to the high altitude.
Day 8
Your Tibet tour begins with the overwhelming Potala Palace. As an emblem of Tibet, it was the winter palace of Dalai Lama (Tibet’s commensurate pope) and the actual religious center of the region. Every day many pilgrims from all over Tibet trek months and miles to worship their gods and pray for their blessing here. Brilliant religious architectures, sculptures and paintings can be fully-admired here.
In the afternoon, you will visit the centuries-old Jokhang Temple, the holy spiritual center of Tibetans, and walk the circular pilgrim route with local followers at Barkhor Street.
Day 9
Today you’ll tour the enchanting Norbulingka Park, which is known as Tibet’s Summer Palace, see the training place of Dalai Lama at the historic Drepung Monastery, and then proceed to the Sera Monastery to appreciate the unique Buddhism scripture debating culture. You will see the daily life of the devoted monks and discover how they enjoy their simple life in these ancient monasteries.
Day 10
Fly to Xi'an, check in a 4 star hotel. Then go to sightseeing in the old city wall and the Big Goose Pagoda.
Day 11
Full day excursion to Terra Cotta Army. Enjoy the Dumpling Dinner and Tang Dynasty Dancing Show.
Day 12
Visit Yaowang (Mr. Sun Simiao, King of Medicine) Temple. Fly to Wuhan.
Day 13
Arrive Wuhan in the early morning, city tour to Yellow Crane Tower and East Lake, Overnight train to Wudang Mountain on soft-sleeper. Yellow Crane Tower is the best one among the 4 ancient towers for entire China.
Day 14
Arrive Wudang Mountain in the early morning, tour to Golden Top, Nanyan Palace, etc. Enjoy the vegetarian Dinner at Zixiao Palace. Stay in the simple guesthouse.
Day 15
Study Tai Chi on Wu Dang Mountain.
Day 16
Study Tai Chi in the morning,
After a relaxed breakfast in your hotel, transfer to airport for your departure.
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