Tibetan New Year Monlam Festival Tour
Overview
Southwest Gansu Province stands stategically along ancient Silk Road in northwestern China, and is an important part of Amdo Tibetan Region. See the amazing natural landscapes in this off-the beaten track areas, and experience the splendid Tibetan cultures and Buddhist traditions by watching and joining the Grand Buddhist Festival of Labrang Monastery and Ta'er Monastery between late Feb and early Mar during the Tibetan New Year Festival.
Feel free to contact us to inquire the exact schedule of tour dates this year.
Duration: 11 days & 10 nights
Destinations: Xining - Tongren - Xiahe - Lanzhou
Starting Point: Xining
Ending Point: Lanzhou
Customize Your Tour:
☑ Travel Dates ☑ Your Interests ☑ Your Travel Style
Itinerary Expand All
Upon arrival, our guide will meet you at the airport, and transfer to hotel for check in.
After breakfast，go and visit Kumbum Monastery (also called Ta'er Monastery), one of the greatest six lamaseries of Gelukpa sect (the Yellow Hat Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism. And then, transfer to Yagotsang Village in Rebkong. You will see the Mask Dance and Tibetan Fashion Show in the Upper Wutun Monastery. Overnight in Rebkong.
Transfer to Magotsang Village in the morning. At Lower Wutun Monatery, you will view the "Sunning of the Buddha" ceremony. Monks and pilgrims carry out a giant thangka from the monastery and walk across the village to the hill opposite, and then unravel it, revealing a great image of a buddha to the skies above and pilgrims below. This is one of the most important ceremonies of Tibetan Buddhism. Overnight in Rebkong.
Go to Wutun Lower Temple again to view a grand parade of Maitreya Buddha Statue around the Monastery. Overnight in Rebkong.
Watch Cham Dance (Vajira Dance) at Lower Wutun Monastery in the morning. Afternoon go to view another grand parade of Maitreya Buddha Statue around the Gomar Monastery (Gomar Gompa). This mysterious 400-year-old Monastery resembles a medieval walled village. Overnight in Rebkong.
After lunch, transfer to Xiahe by private car. The wild Xiahe is somewhere the Tibetan Buddhist traditions stand still and the local life is quite simple and humble.
Admire the beautiful architecture of Labrang Lamastery and pay homage to Tibetan Buddhism again. Another one of the greatest six lamaseries of Gelukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Labrang Monastery is more like an institute rather than a simple temple and offers a wonderful chance to delve into the Tibetan Buddhist classics and medicine. Meet and with the lamas dressed in dark red robes.
Tibetan New Year Monlam Festival continues in Xiahe and Labrang Lamastery. Mingle with the locals and pilgrims to be embraced by the lively yet mysterious atmosphere at the "Sunning of the Buddha" ceremony. The ceremony again evokes a an aura of holiness.
Enjoy another day participating in the Buddhist Festival of Labrang Lamastery, watching the unique Religious Dance – the performers in colorful traditional outfits dance beautifully (and weirdly) show their respect to bodhisattva and tradition.
Today you will witness an exotic treasure of Tibetan Buddhist art - butter sculptures, with a history of over 400 years. Butter is curdled in these chilly days and made by the skilled craftsmen into various styles of Buddhist sculptures and decorations fixed on the planks and wires. The beautiful butter sculptures are put together on the exhibition, praying for a peaceful and joyful coming year.
There’s another chance you see the parade of Maitreya Buddha Statue around the Labrang. And this time you should have known what to do and expect. Just immerse yourself in the serious, mystical and pleasant ambience and simply pray. Transfer from Xiahe to Lanzhou, and head for another destination by flight or train.
