Experience Three Mask Dance Festivals in Kham of West Sichuan 2021

Home > Tibet Festival Tour • Festival Tour in Tibetan Areas Kham and Amdo

14 Days Private Tour Chengdu – Wolong - Siguniangshan Town - Danba - Bamei - Daofu - Luhuo - Garze - Dege - Pelyul – Yarchen Gar - Garze – Luhuo - Tagong - Xinduqiao - Kangding - Ya’an - Chengdu

This is a special festival tour, we will experience the mask dance (Cham) festival of three monasteries in Tibetan area Kham (Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture) of western Sichuan: Huiyuan Monastery, Katok Monastery and Tagong Monastery.

The most natural sceneries and cultural elements of Tibetan area Kham are planned in program.

In the summer, with green grasslands, forests, flower seas, alpine lakes, snow-capped mountains, and an average temperature of 15°C it could be the most beautiful Western Sichuan.

Highlights

Experience Three Mask Dance Festivals in Kham of West Sichuan 2021

Itinerary

Itinerary
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DAY
1

11.07.2021 Arrive in Chengdu

Welcome to home town of panda

Arrive in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, the home town of Panda. Pick up and transfer to hotel.

Overnight at 4*Xinliang Hotel

Tea House in Renmin Park

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
2

12.07.2021 Chengdu - Wolong - Siguniangshan Town

Kuanzhai Xiangzi, drink tea in People’s Park. Wolong National Nature Reserve, Shenshuping Panda Base, panorama view of Mt. Siguniang at Maobiliang at sunset

In the morning stroll in the beautiful old block of Chengdu - Wide Alley and Narrow Alley (Kuan Xiangzi and Zhai Xiangzi), the relics of the Manchurian garrison since 1718 and consist of 3 parallel lanes with the old classical houses, which are unique in southern China just like the northern Chinese architectural style presented by Hutong. After a careful renovation in June 2008, the pubs, teahouses, restaurants and guesthouses are concentrated here, and in no time at all, it becomes the "lobby of leisure capital Chengdu". A walk here gives you a first impression of the "city of loafers". Then visit the People’s Park in the city center, have a seat in an old teahouse, enjoy your covered-bowl tea in a comfortable environment with bamboo chair and bamboo table. The tea culture of Chengdu is well known throughout China.
In the afternoon drive to Wolong, visit the Wolong National Nature Reserve. 52 km long from east to west and 62 km wide from south to north, the whole area is 200,000 hm². It is one of the China earliest natural reverses, which is rated the preservation zones network of “mankind and living beings” by the Organization of Education, Science and Culture of United Nations (UNESCO). The virgin forest, second bush forest and bamboo groves are very green. There are over 4,000 kinds of high-level plants, 24 kinds of them are valuable plants, such as Gongtong (Chinese dove tree), red China fir, Lianxiang and so on. There are more than 450 kinds of vertebras, 45 kinds of them are rated national focal preserved animals, such as giant panda, golden monkeys, antelopes, white-mouth deer etc. The natural beautiful scene is quiet and secluded. Visit Shenshuping Panda Base in Wolong, about 50 pandas live here, it is the largest breeding center for giant pandas, integrating scientific research, feeding, breeding, reproduction, wildness training, etc. Then drive through the Balang Shan tunnel. If the weather is good, we can enjoy the great panoramic view of Mt. Siguniang at Maobiliang at sunset.

206 km
4 hours
Overnight at Yunshang Hotel

Breakfast

Sunset of Siguniang Shan

Photo by Min Zhao

DAY
3

13.07.2021 Siguniangshan Town - Danba - Bamei (3500 m)

Panorama view of Mt. Siguniang at Maobiliang at sunrise, Tibetan village Jiaju

If the weather is good, you’ll get early to enjoy the great panoramic view of Mt. Siguniang (Four Sisters Mountain) at Maobiliang at sunrise. Driving to Bamei via Danba, on the way visit Tibetan village Jiaju, the most beautiful village of China. In Danba, the local people are called Jiarong (Gyarong) Tibetans. Walking and visit in the Jiaju village. More than one hundred buildings keep the same architectural style with a complete and unique character of Jiarong Tibetan residences. Under the blue sky, the Tibetan residences decorated in red, white and black are strewed at random but also in school from the bottom to the middle slope of the valley.

194 km
4 hours 36 minutes
Overnight at Huiyuan Si Hotel

Breakfast

Jiaju Village in Danba

Photo by Min Ke

DAY
4

14.07.2021 Bamei

Mask dance (Cham) festival in Huiyuan Temple, Bamei Stone Forests

The whole day watch the mask dance in Huiyuan Temple (Gatar Qiangbaling in Tibetan) during Prayer Ceremony in Summer. The Huiyuan Temple was built in 1729, the 7th Year of Yong Zheng Emprior of Qing Dynasty. After the temple was completely built, Emperor Yongzheng named this temple “Huiyuan Si”. And he sent officers to invite the 7th Dalai Lama Kalzang Gyatso who spent 7 years here from 1728 to 1735 to live in this monastery. Later, the 11th Dalai Lama mkhas-grub-rgya-mtsho was born here, which contributed profound influence to Huiyuan Temple in Tibetan area. Then visit Bamei Stone Forest.

Overnight at Huiyuan Si Hotel

Breakfast

Mask Dance at Huiyuan Temple

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
5

15.07.2021 Bamei - Daofu - Luhuo (3250 m) - Garze (3390 m)

Luhuo National Museum and Langkajie Thangka Art, Kasa Lake, Han-Chinese Monastery

Drive to Luhuo, visit the Luhuo National Museum and enjoy the Langkajie Thangka Art. Afterwards drive to Garze (Ganzi), the real cultural and religious center for the Tibetans living in Sichuan. In Tibetan "Garze" means "white and beauty", named after the famous in 1552 built temple of yellow sect (Gelukpa) in the county. In Garze visit the Han-Chinese Monastery. It is the oldest architecture in Garze built by Han-Chinese in 1274, the Han-Chinese and Tibetan buildings symbolize cultural integration and solidarity of Han-Chinese and Tibetan people.

245 km
4 hours 40 minutes
Overnight at Highland Barley Hotel

Breakfast

Ganzi Monastery

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
6

16.07.2021 Garze – Manigango - Dege

Debate in Garze Monastery, Dargye Monastery, Yilhun Lhatso, rock sculpture frescoes

In the morning visit the Garze Monastery of Gelukpa school, it was originally constructed by the Qosot Mongols in 1662 on a hilltop overlooking their castles of Mazur and Khangsar. The monks will usually debate at around 9 am, it lasts about 40 minutes. Then drive via Manigango to Dege. On the way visit Dargye Monastery. The Dargye represents the Gelukpa school and was founded in 1642. Pass by Manigango to visit Xinlu Hai Lake (Yilhun Lhatso, 4017 m), located at the foot of Chola Mountain (Que’er Shan). It is 4040 meters above the sea level, with an average depth of 10 meters and a maximum depth of 15 meters. There are plateau spruces, firs, Chinese weeping cypresses, azalea trees and meadows around the lake. It is also a preserve for wild animals like white-lipped deer. Short walking by the lake Yilhun Lhatso. Keep driving through the Chola (Que’er Shan) Tunnel, visit the rock sculpture frescoes in Keluodong village.

187 km
3 hours 36 minutes
Overnight at Ling Gesar Hotel

Breakfast

Dargye Monastery

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
7

17.07.2021 Dege

Dege Gonchen, Dege Printing House

In the morning visit Dege Gonchen, meaning “temple”, a monastery of Sakya sect. It was built in 1448, today about 300 monks live here. Another program is visit the Dege Printing House which has always been well reputed as the cultural treasury at the foot of the snow mountain. It is the biggest printing house in Tibetan area.

Overnight at Ling Gesar Hotel

Breakfast

Dege Printing House

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
8

18.07.2021 Dege - Pelyul (3006 m)

Pelyul Monastery

In the morning drive to Pelyul and visit Pelyul Monastery (Baiyu Si) nearby the county seat. This famous Nyingma Sect monastery had played a great role in history and held many subsidiary temples. Then enjoy the grandiose panoramic view of Pelyul Monastery from a hillside when the weather is good.

100 km
2 hours 13 minutes
Overnight at Dongcha Hotel

Breakfast

Baiyu Si

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
9

19.07.2021 Pelyul - Katok - Pelyul

Mask dance (Cham) festival in Katok Monastery

Take the local vehicle to watch the mask dance in Katok Monastery. Katok Festival is in memory of Padmasambhava. The monks dance with Buddhist mask for expelling the evil, and chant, and unfold the Thangka at noon when the sunlight is the strongest time of a day.

Overnight at Dongcha Hotel

Breakfast

Katok Mask Dance

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
10

20.07.2021 Pelyul - Garze (3390 m) – Luhuo (3860 m)

Visit Yarchen Gar (Yaqing Si), a big nuns’ world

Today drive via Garze to Luhuo. On the way visit the Yarchen Gar (Yaqing Si) of Nyingma sect, a big nuns’ world! About 20000 nuns live, learn and meditate here. With 4000 meters above sea level, Yarchen Gar is the largest meditation place for women in the world. After reaching parking lot at Yarchen Gar, walk about 10 minutes to the hillside at the north of Juemu (a title for nun in Tibetan) Island. There is a vast Padmasambhava statue, and in the southwest orientation, you can overlook the grand panorama of whole Yarchen Gar and even Juemu Island. Then go downhill to riverside along small wooden houses where nuns practice meditation. One the way, everywhere you can see that these nuns are sitting in meditation, or scripture debating, or reading quiet, or chatting and relaxing. Yarchen Gar is divided by river into areas for Zhaba (monk) and Juemu (nun). River bank area is for Zhaba, island for Juemu. Cross the bridge on the river and get into Juemu Island, the core zone of Yarchen Gar. Here, the nun’s low and small meditation houses are very intensive and covered the whole peninsula. You can have a walk here and immerse yourself in the pure religious atmosphere of nuns' meditation place.

332 km
7 hours
Overnight at 3*Langkajie Art Hotel

Breakfast

Yarchan Gar

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
11

21.07.2021 Luhuo – Tagong (3729 m)

Mask dance (Cham) festival in Lhagang Monastery, Muya Golden Pagoda, panoramic view of the Zhara Lhatse at sunset

Early in the morning drive via Daofu and Bamei to Tagong, watch the mask dance in Lhagang Monastery (Tagong Si) of Sayka Sect, which is surrounded by three hills symbolizing three Budhisattvas. It is said that the blessing of a reserved Jowo Shakyamuni image left by Wencheng Princess in this monastery to the pilgrims resembles the Lhasa Jowo Shakyamuni image in Lhasa. From the hillside next to the Muya Golden Pagoda, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the Zhara Lhatse (5.820 m, also Jara or Yala), when the weather is good, the scenery at sunset is especially spectacular.

176 km
3 hours
Overnight at Duwang Hotel

Breakfast

Tagong Mask Dance

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
12

22.07.2021 Tagong

Sunrise of Yala Mountain. Mask dance (Cham) festival in Lhagang Monastery. Gyergo Nunnery of Hepingfahui

If the weather is good, enjoy the beautiful landscape of sunrise of Yala Mountain. Today enjoy various religious praying activities and mask dances at festival. In the afternoon visit the impressive Gyergo Nunnery and the grand mani wall of Hepingfahui.

Overnight at Duwang Hotel

Breakfast

Tagong Mask Dance

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
13

23.07.2021 Tagong – Xinduqiao (3460 m) - Kangding - Ya’an

Horse racing in Tagong. Panoramic view of Gongga Mountain (Minya Konka)

Take part in the horse racing in the morning. The monks in Tagong Monastery chant scriptures and pray for the horse team, and then the horse riders gallop away from the Muya Golden Pagoda toward the holy mountain Yala. Afterwards drive to Xinduqiao, known as the photographer's paradise, a small town on the road juncture where the northern route of Sichuan-Tibet Highway (Chengdu - Lhasa) and the southern route of Sichuan-Tibet Highway (Chengdu - Lhasa) meet. When the weather is fine, take a panoramic view of Gongga Mountain (7556 m, Minya Konka, “The King of Mountains in Sichuan”) from a viewing platform in Xinduqiao. Cross over Zheduo Shan Pass (4298 m) to Kangding, the capital of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and the important juncture of Tibetan and Han People in history. Keep driving across the 4.1 km long tunnel of Mt. Erlang Shan to Ya’an, the famous rainy city.

293 km
6 hours 3 minutes
Overnight at 4*Holiday Inn Express Ya'an City Center

Breakfast

Before Horse Racing in Tagong

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
14

24.07.2021 Yaan – Dayi - Chengdu

Shangli Ancient Town. Travel to next destination

In the morning visit the Shangli Ancient Town. Old Town Shangli is called an “Ink and Wash Landscape” painting. Situated in the Western Sichuan Basin, the town was once the important post on the Silk Road of the South and the Ancient Tea-Horse Trail in history. In the afternoon drive via Dayi back to Chengdu, transfer to airport or railway station, leave Chengdu.

178 km
2 hours 59 minutes

Breakfast

Shangli Old Town

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Private travel, great experiences! Please contact us for your tailor-made travel offer.

With individual China Tibet travel, you can decide when, where and how you go on tour by yourself. What's more, you can choose the length of travel and whom you go with.

Information

Hotel, program and itinerary are subjected to change with prior notice.
We must point out that you counter a basic tourism infrastructure in this region. You stay overnight mostly at simple hotel/guesthouse. Long journeys on bad roads and on high altitude and delays require good physical fitness, resilience and flexibility of the participants. Program and route changes due to unforeseen events are expressly reserved. If you desire the unknown and have an understanding of contingency, this is the right trip for you.

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