7 Days Shoton Festival Tour in Tibet
SHOTON FESTIVAL, also known as 鈥淭ibetan Opera Festival鈥 and 鈥淏uddhist Portrait Unfolding Festival鈥, is one of the major traditional festivals in Tibet. In Tibetan, 'Sho' means Yoghurt and 'Ton' means Eat. The founder of the Gelugpa (Yellow Sect of Buddhism), Tsongkhapa set the rule that Buddhists can cultivate themselves only indoor in summer, to avoid killing other creatures carelessly. Because creatures are most active in summer.This rule must be carried out till the seventh lunar month (the August in the Solar Calendar ). Then Buddhists go outdoors, accept yoghurt served by local people, and have fun. Since the middle of 17th century, the Fifth Dalai Lama added opera performance to this festival. Famous Tibetan opera troupes perform in Norbulingka (Dalai Lama鈥檚 summer palace).
The festival traditionally kicks off with a Buddhist Portrait Unfolding Ritual, then features a series of performances like yak racing and tests of horsemanship, opera performance and various materials fairs.
Early in the morning of the first day of the Shoton Festival, amongst the sound of horns and the curling smoke, lamas from Drepung Monastery unfold a huge Buddhist Portrait. Numerous followers and visitors cross their hands and lay prostrate in worship. No matter how cloudy this day is, when the Buddhist Portrait is unfolding, the sun will appear in the sky. The sunlight shines on the Buddhist Portrait, holy and bright. We call it 鈥淪ky and God Have Gotten Syncretic.鈥 Then in the afternoon, shift to Norbulinka or the Park of the Dragon King opposite of the Potala Palace for Tibetan opera. People sit around, watching the opera and chanting the name of Buddha.
Brief Description:
Destinations: Shanghai-Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse-Lhasa-Shanghai
Tour Price: from RMB7580/P
Departure Dates: 5Aug
Trip Length: 7 Days/6 Nights
Detail Itinerary:
5Aug Leave Shanghai
Leave Shanghai at 19:52 by Train. (It will run around 49hours until arrive at Lhasa)
6Aug In the train
On Train. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery across China from east to west.
7Aug Arrive at Lhasa at night
 The train stops over in Golmud in the early morning (stay around 15 minutes) and then your real Tibetan train travel starts. You will arrive at Lhasa at 21:00. (No Meal Included)
Our guide will meet you at the Lhasa Train Station and transfer you to the hotel. Overnight in Lhasa.
Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the world's highest railway. Some 960 kilometers of its tracks are located 4,000 meters above sea level and the highest point is 5,072 meters, at least 200 meters higher than the Peruvian railway in the Andes, which was formerly the world's most elevated track.
* The railway is the world's longest plateau railroad, extending 1,956 kilometers from Qinghai's provincial capital Xining to Lhasa in Tibet. The newly completed Golmud-Lhasa section zigzags 1,142 kilometers across the Kunlun and Tanggula mountain ranges.
* About 550 kilometers of the tracks run on frozen earth, the longest in any of the world's plateau railways.
* Tanggula Railway Station, 5,068 meters above sea level, is the highest railway station in the world.
* Fenghuoshan Tunnel, 4,905 meters above sea level, is the world's most elevated tunnel on frozen earth.
* Kunlun Mountain Tunnel, running 1,686 meters, is the world's longest plateau tunnel built on frozen earth.
* Upon its completion, the maximum train speed is designed to reach 100 kilometers per hour in the frozen earth areas and 120 kilometers per hour on non-frozen earth.
8Aug In Lhasa. 
You'll have a whole day sightseeing in the holy city: in the morning, visit Lhasa's cardinal landmark - Potala Palace, a structure that deserves a place as one of the wonders of eastern architecture. It is also listed in the UN World Heritage List. In the afternoon. Visit Jokhang Monastery - the most revered religious structure in Tibet, and the surrounding area - Barkhor, Lhasa's pilgrimage circuit. This area is both the spiritual heart of Lhasa and the main commercial district for Tibetans. Overnight in Lhasa
9Aug One day tour to Namtso Lake. 500km / 7hrs
Namtso Lake is the bigest lake in Tibet. Located around 250 km to the northwest of Lhasa downtown, it covers an area of over 1,900 square km at over 4,700 meters above sea level. Namtso, in Tibetan, means "Heavenly Lake." It is not only the largest lake, but also the most important holy lake in Tibet. Thousands upon thousands of Tibetan Buddhist believers go on pilgrimages to Namtso Lake each year. The pilgrims turn prayer wheels, chant sutras and walk clockwise round the lake. To complete one circle around the lake, it takes 10-plus days for those walking on foot, one month for those traveling with yaks packed with baggage, and three months for those prostrating themselves. On the way to Namtso Lake, you will pass the 5000m high snow mountain. But the road condition is very good.
Over night in Lhasa
10Aug In Lhasa, Enjoy the Shoton Festival
 Early in the morning of the first day of the Shoton Festival, amongst the sound of horns and the curling smoke, lamas from Drepung Monastery unfold a huge Buddhist Portrait. Numerous followers and visitors cross their hands and lay prostrate in worship. No matter how cloudy this day is, when the Buddhist Portrait is unfolding, the sun will appear in the sky. The sunlight shines on the Buddhist Portrait, holy and bright. We call it 鈥淪ky and God Become Syncretic.鈥 Then in the afternoon, shift to Norbulinka Garden (former Dalai Lama's Summer Palace) or the Park of the Dragon King opposite of the Potala Palace for Tibetan opera. To celebrate this festival with local Tibetan.
Overnight in Lhasa
11Aug Take flight from Lhasa to Shanghai
Transfer to the Airport in Lhasa. Take flight from Lhasa to Shanghai (via Chengdu or Chongqing or Xi鈥檃n)
Featured Hotel:
One of the best 3-star and centrally localte hotel in Lhasa: Shangbala Hotel or Yak Hotel (very very near to the Jokhang Monastery Plaza)
Price of the Tour:
|
|
2 persons |
4 persons |
6 persons |
8 persons |
|
Tourist Class |
9480 |
7990 |
7480 |
7180 | * Price are in Chinese CNY, for one person.
Price Include:
1. The Tibet Tour Permit,
2. Land transportation by non-AC jeep/van,
3. Accommodations based on twin-bed room in 3-star hotels with breakfasts,
4. English-speaking guide,
5. Mentioned sightseeing entrance fees,
6. We will arrange you to enjoy an typical Tibetan Dinner in Lhasa with Tibetan dance and song performance. It is free of charge for you.
7. Train from Shanghai to Lhasa, Hard Sleeper
8. Airfare from Lhasa to Shanghai via Chengdu or Chongqing or Xi鈥檃n
9. Tour Insurance: We have bought tour insurance for you. It is free of charge for you. But the Maximum Insurance indemnity (for death) is only RMB300,000. So I strongly suggest you to buy more tour insurance by yourself.
Price not include:
tips, not mentioned meals, expenses of personal nature.
Please Note:
1. If because of force majeure or because of Airlines or/and train鈥檚 problem, this tour can not be accomplished as scheduled, our side does not honor the liability. Any expenses caused by force majeure will be paid by customers. But our side will do our best to help our customers to solve the problem.
2. The sequence of the activities in the itinerary maybe will be changed according to the situation, but all of the above listed attractions will be visited. If it is because of force majeure some attractions can not be visited, we will only refund the entrance fee to the customers.
3. Payment:
Before apply for the Tibet Tour Permit, please pay RMB300 for the Tibet Tour Permit (It could not be refunded.). 15Days before departure, the total payment should be paid to us.
4. Refund policy:
If refund 15 days before departure(traffic tickets being not issued ), no cancellation fee needed (But Tour Permit Fee can not be refunded.).
If refund 10-14 day before departure(traffice tickets being not issued), the cancellation fee is 10% of the total payment.
If refund 4-9 day before departure(traffice tickets being not issued), the cancellation fee is 20% of the total payment.
If refund within 3 day before departure, the cancellation fee is 50% of the total payment.
The tour can not be refunded on or after departure date.
5. By the way, I do not suggest my customer to get to Tibet if she/he with the following diseases:
1)Organic heart disease, Remarkable arrhythmia, Hypertension(above 2 phases), Various hematonosis and Cranial vascular disease,
2)Chronic respiratory system disease, Block the nature lung disease(above middle degree), such as Bronchial asthma, Bronchiectasia, Emphysema, Active pulmonary tuberculosis, Dust pulmonary tuberculosis,
3)Glycuresis(hasn't been controlled), Hysteria, Falling sickness, Schizophrenia.
4)Severe high fever, Severe infection of the upper respiratory tract.
5)Once had been made a definite diagnosis of Plateau pneumochysis, Highland hydrocephalus, Highland hypertension, Highland heart disease, The highland erythrocyte increases by disease
5)Pregnant woman
For more Notice & Tips, please please clide here.
Enquires and Reservation:
Tel: (0086-21) 53062060, 53069239, 63587910, 63586997
Fax: (0086-21) 63722508
E-Mail: elitetor@hotmail.com |
