Day 1: Wed, Jul 21 Arrive at Xining
 We fly into Xining, the capital city of Qinghai. Our local guide and driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Time permitting, we drive to the Grand Mosque in Xining, The Great Mosque of Xining is one the four largest mosques in northwest China and is the largest and most important mosque in the Qinghai Province. According to an inscription added to the mosque during a major reconstruction in 1914, the mosque was first built during the Ming Dynasty under Emperor Hongwu (1368-1398). Enjoy authentic local food for dinner.
Overnight Xining Hotel (4 star) or similar
Day 2: Thu, Jul 22 Qinghai Lake
We set out for Qinghai Lake today. Qinghai Lake is 3,200 m/10,496ft above sea level and is also the biggest lake in the country, covering over 4000 square kms. This place is the subject of a beautiful legend about a Tang princess on her way to be married in Tibet. This is a place with natural grassland where horses are bred. En route, we will cross Riyueshan (Sun & Moon Mounain) where Princess Wencheng took a stop on her way to Tibet to marry Songtsan Gampo over 1000 years ago.
Toady, we will take a easy hike around the lake, and have our picnic lunch just beside the beautiful lake. Afterwards, we drive to Chabcha and check into our hotel for the evening.
Overnight Hai Nan Hotel in Chacha (2-star)
Day 3: Fri, Jul 23 Xining to Madoi
We will drive two days over 860kms/534miles to Yushu with an overnight stay in Madoi. We will drive 484kms/300miles today, partially retracing the route that we took yesterday to Qinghai Lake. Over Riyue Mountain, we start heading south west till we get to Madoi, which holds the distinction of being the highest town on the planet, sitting at an altitude of over 4,300m/14,104ft. Madoi is also well known for the uncountable lakes within its border. Madoi is also within the original location of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.
Overnight Madoi Hostel
Day 4: Sat, Jul 24 Madoi to Yushu
Today we continue our drive to Yushu, traveling around 376kms233miles.
We will conquer Bayanhar Mountain Pass at an altitude of 5,080m/16,662ft and pass by Tongtianhe, the upper stream of Yangtze River. Yushu town, or Jiegu, is actually the capital of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southwest Qinghai Province, bordering western Sichuan and southeastern Tibet. Yushu is a part of ancient Kham, serving as a trade hub with Sichuan, Qinghai and Tibet for many many years. Besides the beautiful landscape of plateaus, the Tibetan culture & festivals are sparkling in this area.
Overnight Tibetan Tent or Hotel in Yushu
Day 5: Sun, Jul 25 Yushu-Horse Racing Festival
Today, it is the opening ceremony of the Horse Racing Festival. We will join the local Tibetans to the racing spot. The Tibetan nomads from hundreds of miles away will get together, setting up their tents nearby, drinking butter team and start a trade market as well. The girls will dress up with their traditional costumes and wearing the shining jewelries. The horse racing men have taken their horses and start warm up in advance. Horse Racing Festival is a great festival for the Tibetans.We will enjoy traditional dancing, singing and some activities today. However, the highlight is meeting locals today.
Overnight Tibetan Tent or Hotel in Yushu
Day 6: Mon, Jul 26 Yushu-Horse Racing Festival
This is the highlight of our trip; the horse racing festival.
The exciting horse racing will start today. Dozens of horses start the racing. and it is time for the riders to show off. Wearing traditional Tibetan costumes, they will participate in short-distance racing, long-distance racing and acrobatic racing. The audience is tangled around the racing field. When the horses come, they will skilful dodge away, once the horses go by, they will huddle again. The cheering and shouting never stops. This is an authentic festival, totally different from mainstream horse racing.
Overnight Tibetan Tent or Hotel in Yushu
Day 7: Tue, Jul 27 Yushu- Damkar monastery & Jyekundo Monastery
This morning, we will attend lama dances and special prayers at Damkar monastery, in which we have the opportunity to attend lama dances and special prayers. The pictures imagined thousand of time in your mind will come true today.
After our picnic lunch at the bank of Zaqu River, we drive to visit the Jyekundo Dondrubling hill-top monastery.
Overnight Tibetan Tent or Hotel in Yushu
Day 8: Wed, Jul 28 Gyanak Mani, Lekpa valley
hiking, Bida Nampar Nagdze Lhakang
Built in XIII century, Gyanak Mani is the largest fields of mani stones in the whole
Tibet. We will visit this famous site and afterwards drive to a peaceful valley which is called Lekpa Valley by local Tibetans. We will have our picnic lunch in the valley and enjoy cliff paintings and wild animals during a 3 hours hiking in the valley.
Afterwards we drive to the Bida gorge where is erected the Bida Nampar Nangdze Lhakang linked with Tang Princess Wengcheng.
Overnight Tibetan Tent or Hotel in Yushu
Day 9: Thu, Jul 29 Yushu-Xining
Fly out of Yushu to Xining after free time to explore around Yushu.
Airport pick up at Xining airport
Overnight Xining Hotel (4*)
Day 10: Fri, Jul 30 Depart Xining
In the morning, we drive to visit Kumbum Monastery, one of the six most important monasteries of the Gelukpa (Yellow Hat) school of Tibetan Buddhism.
After exploring some of the temples in the monastery complex. We drive back to Xining city for lunch then head to the airport for our flight back.
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