Overview
A loop to Qinghai’s Golok prefecture to view sacred Mt. Amnye Machen along the Yellow River
Xining – Qinghai Lake - Mado – Amnye Machen – Machen – Guide – Kumbum - Xining
This gorgeous journey follows the upstreams of the grand Yellow River that straddles over some remote but intriguing corners of Qinghai province where encompasses the hinterland of Mt. Amnye Machen. The 6282m peak of Mt. Amnye Machen, is Amdo’s most scared mountain and a place of pilgrimage, equally as holy to the Tibetan people as the remarkable Mt. Kailash in west Tibet. The existence of the Amnye Machen ridge forms one of the large bends of the Yellow River. This China’s second longest river has its source at the majestic the Bayankala ranges south-western side of the Amnye Machen; shortly after several hundreds of kilometers it then makes an abrupt turn and flows the northeastern side of the mountain. In between, the scenes change dramatically from verdant grasslands to rugged gorges, and gradually open out into a wide cultivated valley which offers many breathtaking views and great sites for exploring. As the Yellow River meanders the entire way, you will witness the awe-some and different point of views of magnificent Mt. Amnye Machen, and experience authentic Tibetan nomadic cultures.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival Xining & City Sightseeing
Day 02 Xining – Qinghai Lake (B)
Day 03 Qinghai Lake - Mado (B)
Day 04 Ngoring & Kyaring Lakes (B)
Day 05 Mado - Xueshan (B)
Day 06 Xueshan - Machen (B)
Day 07 Machen - Guide (B)
Day 08 Guide – Kumbum - Xining (B)
Day 09 Xining Extension or Departure (B)
Get Inspired
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Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Xining & City Sightseeing
Upon arrival at Xining airport or train station, you will be met by our local guide and driver and then transfer to the hotel. In Xining, the capital of Qinghai province, visit the Grand Mosque, one of the four largest mosques in China, worshipped by local Muslim.
Day 02: Xining – Qinghai Lake (B)
Head out the road westward to Qinghai Lake (Kokonor Lake). En the route, stop to visit Qinghai’s symbolic site of Kumbum Monastery. It is the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelugpa sect, and is also famous for the artworks of Yak Butter sculptures, frescoes and embossed embroidery made by lhama artists. Climbing over the Sun & Moon Mountain and get close to the Kokonor area, wonder around the Qinghai Lake, the China’s largest salty lake, enjoy amaze beauty of it. Many birds will stop here when they migrate across Asia. Spend a serene night at the lake side.
Day 03: Qinghai Lake - Mado (B)
Wake up early morning to view the possibly sunset over the Qinghai Lake. Then drive through the rolling grasslands of Amdo and enter Golok nomadic areas, yellow poppies and nomad’s tents are commonplace along the way, also there are distance view of Mt. Amnye Machen. Mado, at 4300m is one of the highest and coldest regions of Amdo.
Day 04: Ngoring & Kyaring Lakes (B)
Off the main road and take the tough and dirt trail to visit two beautiful highland lakes. Ngoring Lake (4272m) and Kyaring Lake (4294m), two particularly large freshwater lakes, mosaic on the Mado marshy plain at the upstream of the Yelllow River. In the afternoon, drive back to Mado.
Day 05: Mado - Xueshan (B)
Take the spectacular drive to the closer of Mt. Amnye Machen through segment of the Yellow River. As the trail ascends and descends among the steep valleys and climbs several high passes most above 4000 meters, the snow-capped Mt. Amnye Machen ranges is from far to near. Spend a night in a tiny village of Xueshan, where is the starting point for Amnye Machen pilgrimage circuit and trek.
Day 06: Xueshan - Machen (B)
Get up morning to have great views of Mt. Amnye Machen. Later, drive to Machen through the winding trails across nomadic grasslands dotted with herds of yaks and black tents. Machen is an isolated town located in heart of Amnye Marchen, also the capital town of Golok prefecture.
Day 07: Machen - Guide (B)
Hits the road to the northeast and crosses series of the lightly-forested gorges to Rabgya Gonpa, an important branch of Sera monastery, funded in 1769. Then the road follows the upstreams of the Yellow River to Guide, through some beautiful pale yellow steep canyons and red rock mountains. Spend a night at Guide where has the most pleasant climate in Qinghai province, the Yellow River becomes the cleanest in this section.
Day 08: Guide – Kumbum - Xining (B)
Morning visit the landmark architecture at Guide, the Jade Emperor Pavilion. This immense ancient building complex was constructed during Ming and Qing dynasty, blending Confucian, Taoist and Buddhist features. Then head north to Xining across the craggy Lhamori Pass (3,750m). En-route, stop to visit Qinghai’s symbolic site of Kumbum Monastery. It is the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelugpa sect, and is also famous for the artworks of Yak Butter sculptures, frescoes and embossed embroidery made by lhama artists. Later we visit the Grand Mosque, one of the four largest mosques in China, worshipped by local Muslim.
Day 09: Xining Extension or Departure (B)
Extend the tour to Tibet or transfer to the airport/train station for other destinations.
Experiences & Activities
- Witness Amdo’s famous holy mountain of Mt. Amnye Machen
- Explore the source of the Yellow River and beautiful landscapes along upstreams
- Excurse the large deep blue alpine lakes including Kokonor, Ngoring and Kyaring
- Visit Amdo’s principal monastery of Kumbum, and other hidden religious sites
- Get insight into authentic Tibetan nomads and herds of yaks, sheep and horses
