- A 10-Night 11-Day Amdo Tibetan & Hexi Corridor Humanities and Arts Journey
- Buddha’s Light & Sacred Cham — A 12-Day Losar Festival Journey Through Amdo Tibet
- The Silk Road Heart — 9-Day Hexi Corridor Humanities and Arts Journey
- Heart of the Silk Road — 21-Day Grand Journey Through Northern and Southern Xinjiang
- Buddhism Spreads East — 18-Night 19-Day Central Plains Buddhist Art and Eastern Silk Road Journey
- Camel Bells, Prayer Wheels and the Call to Prayer — 14-Day Alxa-Gannan-Rebgong Journey
- Rainforest Secrets & Dai Culture — 8-Day Xishuangbanna and Pu’er In-depth Vacation
- Echoes of the Tea Horse Road — 7-Day Dali, Shaxi and Weishan In-depth Cultural Journey
- The Tea Horse Road — 15-Day Cultural Journey from Amdo Pastures to Jiarong Tibetan Villages
- Song of the Snowy Pasture – 8-Day Tibetan Nomadic Journey
佛光法舞·正月祈願 — 安多藏區12天新春大法會之旅
Buddha's Light & Sacred Cham — A 12-Day Losar Festival Journey Through Amdo Tibet
Design Philosophy
How This Journey Was Crafted
The Tibetan New Year is the most important festival in Amdo. Every year in the first month, grand prayer gatherings are held in temples throughout the Amdo region, where monks perform the mysterious sacred cham dance, and devotees arrive from all directions to pay homage. This annual cultural feast is the best opportunity to understand Tibetan Buddhism, Rebgong art, and Amdo folk customs. We delve into the Wutun Lower Monastery and Guomar Monastery in Tongren (Rebgong), participating in the grand first-month prayer gathering, witnessing rituals such as the thangka unfurling, alms-giving, incense circumambulation, and sacred cham dance, feeling the power of faith and the splendor of art.
Your Journey
Journey Highlights
01
At the Wutun Lower Monastery in Tongren (Rebgong), participate in the Tibetan New Year thangka unfurling ceremony, witnessing the solemn moment as the giant thangka is slowly revealed
02
Watch the sacred cham dance at Guomar Monastery, experiencing the most mysterious and solemn religious ritual in the Amdo region
03
Participate in the incense circumambulation (Shamba) at Wutun Lower Monastery, following monks around the temple, experiencing the devout prayers of Tibetan Buddhist devotees
04
Visit a lama's home to learn about the daily monastic life and the connection between Tibetan Buddhism and Rebgong art
05
Tour a thangka painting workshop and observe how masters create sacred religious paintings using natural mineral pigments
06
At Labrang Monastery and Xicang Monastery, participate in the first-month prayer gatherings, feeling the religious atmosphere of two major temples in the Amdo region
Day by Day
Full Itinerary
Day 1
6th Day of Losar · Arrive Beijing/Shanghai 正月初六·抵达北京/上海
Arrive in Beijing or Shanghai, free time. Attend the pre-departure briefing in the evening, learning about the cultural background and important notes of the Tibetan Losar grand prayer gathering.
Chinese
抵达北京或上海，自由活动。晚上参加行程说明会，介绍藏历正月大法会文化背景及注意事项。
Day 2
7th Day of Losar · Beijing/Shanghai–Xining 正月初七·北京/上海–西宁
Fly from Beijing or Shanghai to Xining, the gateway to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Free time in the afternoon to acclimatize to the altitude.
Chinese
从北京或上海飞往西宁——青藏高原的门户，下午抵达后自由活动，适应海拔。
Day 3
8th Day of Losar · Xining–Tongren (Rebgong) 正月初八·西宁–同仁（热贡）
Travel to Tongren, the birthplace of Rebgong art. In the afternoon, attend the thangka unfurling ceremony at Wutun Lower Monastery, witnessing the solemn display of the giant thangka being slowly revealed.
Chinese
前往同仁——热贡艺术发源地，下午参加吾屯下寺的晒佛活动，近距离观赏巨型唐卡徐徐展开的庄严场面。
Day 4
9th Day of Losar · Tongren (Rebgong) 正月初九·同仁（热贡）
Full day at Guomar Monastery for the prayer gathering. Morning: distribute sweets, offer butter tea, and witness the thangka unfurling. Afternoon: participate in the incense circumambulation ceremony at Wutun Lower Monastery, following monks in circling the temple.
Chinese
全天在郭玛日寺参加法会活动。上午散糖果、施舍酥油茶、参加晒佛；下午参加吾屯下寺转香巴仪式，跟随僧侣绕行寺庙。
Day 5
10th Day of Losar · Tongren (Rebgong) 正月初十·同仁（热贡）
Morning: watch the sacred cham dance at Wutun Lower Monastery, experiencing the most mysterious and solemn religious ritual in Amdo. Afternoon: visit a lama's home to learn about monastic life, and tour a thangka workshop to observe masters painting with natural mineral pigments.
Chinese
上午在吾屯下寺观看金刚法舞，感受安多地区最神秘、最庄重的宗教仪式。安排喇嘛家访，了解僧人修行生活。参观唐卡制作工坊，观摩画师用天然矿物颜料绘制神圣画作。
Day 6
11th Day of Losar · Tongren (Rebgong) 正月十一·同仁（热贡）
Full day at Guomar Monastery watching the sacred cham dance, renowned for its solemnity and mystery, the highlight of the Amdo Tibetan first-month prayer gatherings.
Chinese
全天在郭玛日寺观看金刚法舞，此法舞以庄重神秘著称，是安多藏区正月法会的重头戏。
Day 7
12th Day of Losar · Tongren–Xiahe–Hezuo–Luqu 正月十二·同仁–夏河–合作–碌曲
Morning visit to Longwu Monastery, the largest Gelugpa monastery in the Rebgong area. Then proceed to Langmusi in Luqu, Gannan; today has the longest driving time.
Chinese
早上参观隆务寺——热贡地区最大的格鲁派寺院。随后前往甘南碌曲的郎木寺，今日车程最长。
Day 8
13th Day of Losar · Luqu–Langmusi–Luqu 正月十三·碌曲–郎木寺–碌曲
Morning: participate in the thangka unfurling ceremony at Langmusi. Then visit Kangsa Monastery. Return to Luqu in the afternoon.
Chinese
早上在郎木寺参加晒佛活动，随后参观康萨寺，下午返回碌曲。
Day 9
14th Day of Losar · Luqu–Xiahe 正月十四·碌曲–夏河
After breakfast, travel to Xicang Monastery for the "Treasure Exhibition". In the afternoon, watch the sacred cham dance at Xicang Monastery, then proceed to Xiahe.
Chinese
早餐后前往西仓寺参加"亮宝会"。下午西仓寺观看金刚法舞，随后前往夏河。
Day 10
15th Day of Losar · Xiahe 正月十五·夏河
Morning visit to Labrang Monastery. In the evening, watch the butter sculpture exhibition, experiencing the exquisite artistry of Tibetan Buddhism and the power of faith.
Chinese
早上参观拉卜楞寺，傍晚观看酥油花展，感受藏传佛教艺术的精湛与信仰的力量。
Day 11
16th Day of Losar · Xiahe–Linxia–Lanzhou 正月十六·夏河–临夏–兰州
Morning: participate in the incense circumambulation at Labrang Monastery. Then proceed to Linxia to visit the Gongbei. Enjoy a Hui Muslim banquet in Linxia, tasting hand-grabbed lamb and local specialties. Travel to Lanzhou.
Chinese
早上拉卜楞寺参加转香巴活动。随后前往临夏参观拱北。临夏享用穆斯林宴席，品尝手抓羊肉与当地特色。前往兰州。
Day 12
17th Day of Losar · Lanzhou–Beijing/Shanghai 正月十七·兰州–北京/上海
Airport transfer according to flight schedule, return to Beijing or Shanghai, concluding the 12-day Amdo Tibetan New Year grand prayer gathering journey.
Chinese
根据航班时间送机，返回北京或上海，结束12天的安多藏区新春大法会之旅。
Good to Know
What's Included
What's Included
- ✓ Round-trip flights (Beijing/Shanghai-Xining, Lanzhou-Beijing/Shanghai)
- ✓ Professional Chinese- and English-speaking guide throughout
- ✓ Two main meals daily at local specialty restaurants
- ✓ Hotel accommodation in all listed cities
- ✓ All transportation by chartered coach
- ✓ Admission to all listed sightseeing spots
- ✓ Daily bottled water and fruit on the coach
- ✓ Domestic travel insurance
Not Included
- ✕ Optional activities at your own expense
- ✕ Personal expenses during the trip