2019 Monlam Festival in Amdo

Destinations: Xining, Kumbum, Repkong (Tongren), Langmusi, Xiahe

Time of Traveling: Feb 11 to Feb 20, 2019

 

Tour Introduction

Monlam Festival, also called the Great Prayer Festival is the grandest religious festival in Tibet. It has its origin in a prayer meeting organized at JokhangTemple by Tsong Khapa, founder of the Gelukpa Sect, in 1409. Thousands of monks from far and near will gather for prayers, theological debates and examination for Geshe, a doctoral degree in Buddhist theology at monasteries and pilgrims will come to listen to sermons. This tour of Monlam Festival will provide us a chance to join colorfully dressed pilgrims and monks in a variety of religious ceremonies at Tibetan monasteries in Amdo. The highlight of the Festival will be the 'sunning of the Buddha' ceremony, during which a thangka of Buddha measuring 90 ft by 60 ft will be unfurled on a hillside. The Festival will be accompanied by lively Cham dances and prayer assemblies throughout the entire period of two weeks. 

 

Day 1, Feb 11, 2019: Arrival in Beijing

Meals Included: No meals
Accommodation: City Inn Happy Valley Beijing or similar

 

Our GCT representative will meet you at the airport and assists you to your hotel. Relax during the remainder of the afternoon and evening to recover from the jet lag.

Day 2, Feb 12: Fly to Xining, Kumbum Monastery 

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant
Accommodation: Xining Hotel or similar

Fly to Xining in the morning. Xining is the capital city of Northwest China's Qinghai province as well as the capital of Amdo area of Tibet and is literally translated Western Peace. It has long been on the fringes of the western Chinese empire, probably established around the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), and it remained an important trading post in the area, mainly for goods to and from Tibet and China. Visit the Kumbum Monastery upon arrival. The Kumbum Monastery which was built in1560 AD is one of the six most famous Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. Kumbum in Tibetan means a grand place housing 100,000 Buddha. It was originally built upon the birth place of the founder of the Gelukpa Sect (Yellow Hat) of Tibetan Buddhism, Tsong Khapa. Two of his disciples from this region also went on to become famous in the Buddhist world, one becoming Dalai Lama, the other the Panchen Lama, both great living Buddha.

 

Day 3, Feb 13: Drive to Tongren (Repkong), Longwu Monastery

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant
Accommodation: Repkong Hotel or similar
 

Drive for 125 miles to Repkong in the morning. In the 15-16 century, the Tibetan Buddhism of Gelukpa Sect (Yellow Sect) came into Repkong. Painting, sculptures and stone inscription for Buddhism are sprang up by Tibetan and near the Guchu River at Repkong along with the rise of Buddhism and the construction of monasteries. Repkong is famous for the Tibetan Buddhist arts. The Repkong art mainly includes colored paintings, colored sculptures, designs, yak butter sculptures, embossed embroideries, wood inscription and decorations in architecture. Among these, paintings, sculptures and designs are most famous. Upon arrival we will visit Longwu Monastery of Gelukpa sect which was initially constructed in Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) as a monastery of Sakya-sect, and Wutun village the center of Repkong Buddhist Art which is a successful mixture of religious art and local folk art. 

 

Day 4, Feb 14: Tongren, Sunning the Buddha at Guomary Monastery

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant
Accommodaiton: Repkong Hotel or similar

We are going to experience a fantastic view of perhaps the biggest breakfast in the world this morning. Local Tibetans bring their milk tea and breakfast in the monastery and talk about their stories happened last year and exchange their ambition for the coming year. Today's highlight is the grand ceremony of Sunning the Buddha at the Goumary Gonpa Monastery in the afternoon. Tibetans traditionally place a huge painting or embroidery of the Buddha Tangka on the slope of a hill to give blessings to all people participating. 

 

Day 5, Feb 15: Tongren, Cham Dance at Wutun Monasteries

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant
Accommodation: Repkong Hotel or similar

 

We will enjoy Cham dancing at Wutun Monasteries in the morning. The Cham dance calls on traditions that date back more than 500 years. The fourth Panchen Lama went to Shambala through meditation and created the Cham Dance according to the cham danc in Shambala and the fifth Dalai Lama formalized the dances in the Cham Yig book, and each monastery has created its own unique interpretations over the centuries. Cham performances and ceremonies feature sacred masked dances, sacred music, healing chants and spectacular richly ornamented multi-colored costumes. The dancers use symbolic hand gestures known as mudras to transmit healing powers from the deities. With accompanying narration and a monastic debate demonstration, the program provides a fascinating and warm glimpse into ancient and current Tibetan culture.

 

Day 6, Feb 16: Drive to Langmusi 

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant
Accommodation: Langmusi Hotel or similar

 

In the morning we will drive to Lanmusi (Tibetan: Taktsang Lhamo). The town of Langmusi is situated partly in Gansu province, and partly in Sichuan province, divided only by a small river. Therefore this small town has two monasteries, one in each province with Sertri Gompa in Gansu and Kirti Gompa located in Sichuan. 

 

Day 7, Feb 17: Langmusi, Monlam Celebration, Deceng Lhamo Monastery, Kirti Gompa

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant
Accommodation: Mangmusi Hotel or similar

 

We will enjoy the Sunning of Buddha at Langmusi in the morning. All participants as pilgrims, farmers, nomads and tourists at the ceremony will be blessed by Buddha. Later we will visit the sky burial site and from there go to the Daceng Lhamo monastery on the Gansu side of town and then visit Kirti Gompa in Sichuan part.

 

Day 8, Feb 18: Langmusi, Mask Dance, Drive to Xiahe 

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant
Accommodation: Xiahe Labrang Wangfu Hotel or similar

 

We will enjoy the mask dance in Langmusi Monastery in the morning. We will drive to Xiahe in the afternoon. Xiahe exists due to the Labrang Monastery which is one of the six main Tibetan monasteries of the Gelupka sect. Xiahe is the largest Tibetan monastery town outside Lhasa. We will be enchanted by the atmosphere of this town which is a mixture of Tibetan, Muslim Hui and Han Chinese, particularly during the festive season when the usually silent streets are crowded with pilgrims and Tibetan monks in their saffron robes. 

 

Day 9, Feb 19: Xiahe, Labrang Monastery

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant
Accommodation: Xiahe Labrang Wangfu Hotel or similar

 

Visit the Labrang Monastery in the morning and free at leisure in the afternoon. After dinner we will visit an exhibition of yak butter sculptures, which have an almost surreal beauty when lit under the lamps. Visitors invariably touch the flower shelf with their foreheads to show their respect toward the Buddha. 

Day 10, Feb 20: Drive to Lanzhou Airport, Tour Ends at Lanzhou Airport

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch at local restaurant

 

We will join the local Tibetans in the morning for their ritual ceremony of Turning the Buddha. A Buddha of 9-15 feet high will be carried by a group of monks to Kora the Labrang Monastery; of course large crowds will follow this ceremony again in order to get blessings. After lunch we will drive to Lanzhou airport for your flight to Beijing via the Muslim town of Linxia which is considered by Chinese Muslims as the Mecca of China.  Tour ends at Lanzhou airport.

 

2019 Monlam Festival in Amdo 10 DaysTour Prices

2 pax: double occupancy, USD1468pp, single occupancy, USD1688pp

3-5pax: double occupancy, USD1408pp, single occupancy, USD1628pp

6-9pax: double occupancy, USD1308pp, single occupancy, USD1528pp

Over 10pax: double occupancy, USD1158pp, single occupancy, USD1358pp 

 

 

Pricing Policy

The prices are based on per person, twin sharing basis

Infants (under 2 years of age) traveling with parents: free of charge

Child (2 -12 years of age) sharing a bed: 80% of the adult price

Child (2 -12 years of age) sharing no bed: 60% of the adult price

Tour Price Inclusions

Hotel accommodations with daily Buffet Breakfast at hotel

Domestic flight with tax included: Beijing/Xining

Meals as specified (B for breakfast, L for lunch and D for dinner at local restaurants)

Private air-conditioned car/van/coach for land transportation

Experienced English language speaking tour guide

All admission tickets to sightseeing places

All government taxes

Tour Price Exclusions

Optional tour & Insurance

International airfare to Beijing and departing from Lanzhou

Chinese Tourist Visa

Excursions and activities not included in itinerary

Gratuities to GCT service staffs (please refer to Travel Information)

Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, etc

Reservation

For reservation, please send an email to info@GrandChinaTravel.com. Please inform us: the tour code; the number of travelers; your name as appeared in passport; your passport number; the date of arrival in China and your international flight number. For details of payment, please read our Terms & Conditions.

City Inn Happy Valley Beijing

Add: North Xiaowuji Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Tel: +86-10-67376688

 

City Inn Happy Valley Beijing is a chain of fine business hotel brand developed by the OCT IHMC, located in the center of Beijing City that gives traveler the great location for business and financial purposes. The hotel is also easily reachable the city’s major shopping area and famous attractions. The hotel has an excellent location which is 18km to Beijing Railway Station, and 30km to Beijing Capital Airport. The hotel offers 224 rooms that have contemporary interiors and diverse room types. It offers the ideal setting for conferences, meetings, special events, business trips, and the Internet access helps guests keeping in touch with their friends and family when traveling in Beijing. Free broad video and self-help laundry house are available for guests. Restaurants, Bars, Sauna, Foot Massage, Beauty Salon, Supermarket, Banks, and Hospital are all around the hotel. An attentive and professional staff is always pleased to provide you all the necessary information for your successful Beijing travel.

 

  

Xining Hotel

Add: No.348 Qiyi Road, Xining

Tel: +86-971-8461000

 

Qinghai Xining Hotel is located in the city center. Established more than 50 years ago, the hotel has won great reputations for its good services and facilities. It offers 320 rooms and suites in the main buildings. All rooms have free Internet. The meeting rooms can hold up to 1,000 persons for various-sized conferences. The hotel restaurant serves Chinese, western and Islamic cuisines.

 

Repkong Hotel 

Add: No. 1 Dongge’er Road, Tongren, Qinghai

Phone: +86-970-8722684

Langmusi Hotel

Add: On the left of Langmusi Gate, Luqu, Gansu

Tel: +86-941-6671086

 

Langmusi Hotel is located in the central part of the town, closed to the two monasteries of Sertri Gompa and Kirti Gompa. It is the best available hotel in Langmusi area. The well decorated rooms are clean and have attached bathrooms with hot and cold water. Hotel restaurant serves nice Chinese cuisine.

 

 

Xiahe Labrang Wangfu Hotel

Add: No. 9 Renmin East Road, Xiahe

Tel: +86-941-7121186

 

Xiahe Labrang Wangfu hotel is a 3-star hotel situated in the center of Xiahe county. It is within proximity to the local bus station and the famous Labrang Monastery is only 1 km away. Decorated with a rich Tibetan ethnic minority style, Xiahe Wangfu Hotel houses various rooms equipped with all standard facilities. Other facilities include a Chinese restaurant, a tea house and two multimedia meeting rooms. Basic rooms offer all necessary comforts and make your stay a pleasant one. On demand wake-up calls are available. Free Wi-Fi access is provided in the public areas.

 

 

 

Note: GCT is using above mentioned hotels for our regular tour packages. Shall you have special request for staying at hotels of your choice or hotels located at a specific area, please feel free to contact our professional tour consultant at info@GrandChinaTravel.com.