Nature wonder trip
In the middle of nowhere of Amdo Qingahai, there lies untouched land of nature with local Tibetans with their herds; yaks, sheep, horses, and some other wild animals. There are also some stunning mountains, rivers, and vast, green; rolling grasslands.
Highlights: Kokonor or Qinghai lake is not just simply a lake for native Tibetans living around. The cultural and historic findings, such as petroglyphs, the ruins of the Asha (Tuyuhuang) Kingdom, monasteries, hermitage, the bird's island, duns on the north side of the lake, rare animals, legends, folk tells customs and the spirits around the lake make it more sacred and worth visiting. |
Overview: Regione: Amdo (Qinghai provience)
Trip Length: 3-4 days
Starts: from Xining
Ends: in Xining
Best season: June- July– Aug-early Sept.
Road trip:
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Lake Kokonor: (Mongolian: Хөх нуур)(Qinghai Lake) (Chinese: 青海湖), or Tsongon Po(Tibetan: མཚོ་སྔོན་པོ།) is the second largest lake in Asia. Located in Qinghai province on an endorheic basin, Kokonor Lake is classified as a saline andalkaline lake. It has a surface area of 4,317 square km; an average depth of 21m, and a maximum depth of 25.5m as measured in 2008.[2] The current Chinese name is "Qinghai," the older Mongolian name is Kokonor, and the Tibetan name is "Trishor Gyalmo" (meaning 10,000 people lost their lives as they submerged according to the local legend), respectively. The Lake is located about 160 kilometers west of the provincial capital of Xining (Tib:Ziling ཟི་ལིང་།) at 3,205 m (10,515 feet) above sea level in a depression of the Tibetan plateau.[3] Twenty-three rivers and streams empty into Qinghai Lake, most of them seasonal. Five permanent streams provide 80% of the total influx.[4] The lake has fluctuated in size, shrinking over much of the 20th century, but has increased since 2004. Despite its salinity, it has an abundance of fish, such as the edible naked carp (Gymnocypris przewalskii, huángyú .
Geography
Qinghai Lake is sandwiched between Hainan and Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures in northeastern Qinghai. The lake is located at the crossroads of several bird migration routes across Asia. Many species use Qinghai as an intermediate stop during migration. At the tip of the peninsula on the western side of the lake are the "Bird Islands" (Cormorant Island and Egg Island), which have been bird sanctuaries of the Qinghai Lake Natural Protection Zone since 1997. The lake often remains frozen for three months continuously in winter. There is an island in the western part of the lake with a temple and a few hermitages called "Mahādeva, the Heart of the Lake" (mTsho snying Ma hā de wa) which historically was home to a Buddhist monastery.No boat was used during summer, so monks and pilgrims traveled to and fro only when the lake froze over in winter. A nomad described the size of the island by saying that: "if in the morning a she-goat starts to browse the grass around it clockwise and its kid anti-clockwise, they will meet only in the night, which shows how big the island is. It is also known as the place where Gushri Khan and other Khoshut Mongols migrated during the 1620s. The lake is circumambulated by pilgrims, mainly Tibetan Buddhists, especially every Horse Year of the 12-year cycle. Przhevalsky estimated it would take about 8 days by horse or 15 walking to circumambulate the lake, but pilgrims report it takes about 18 days on horseback, and one took 23 days walking to complete the circuit
Przewalski's gazelle is perhaps one of the most endangered species of large mammals on Earth. There are many threats against the species, including competition with domestic livestock, and fencing of the natural habitat. These problems have become exacerbated as the area is increasingly developed as agricultural land.
While now protected by Chinese law, and illegal hunting no longer is considered an important factor, a large percentage of the habitat of this species has already been lost due to human activities. Consequently, it is considered to be an endangered species by the IUCN. Formerly, it was believed that as few as 250 remained, and it was considered critically endangered. However, this is now known to be an underestimate, with new sub-populations having been discovered in 2003 and 2006, and there are now believed to be 350-400 (and possibly even more) mature individuals left.
The ruins of the Asha/Tuyuhun kingdom and its History
After the disintegration of the Xianbei state, nomadic groups were led by their khagan, Tuyuhun, to the rich pasture lands around Kokonor Lake (Qinghai Lake) in the middle of the 3rd century.
Itinerary
Day01. arrival in Xining and transfer to Hotel.
Day02. Drive to Koknor lake and visit the Gonpa and the ruins of the Asha kingdom.
Day03. Visit the Przewalski's gazelle and return to Xining.
Day04. Departure
- Private professional English-speaking tour guide.
- Private vehicle and Luggage Transfers.
- Admission fees.
- Service Charge (the planning, handling, operational, and communication charges) & government taxes
- China visa, all air tickets.train tickets.
- Sightseeing is not listed in the itinerary..
- Gratuities, tips to guides, drivers, bellboys, etc {/xtypo_list}
Kokonor, Asha kingdoms, petroglyphs, and wild animals
EXPLORE AMDO> Itinerary
Trip A | Length: 10 days | Gateway: Xining | Exit: Xining | Best season: July –August-early September|
Highlights:Tibetan painting arts and history, Rebgong; cultural and arts center of Amdo, Shakhyung; the birth palace of Gelugpa schools and one of the four principles monasteries Amdo. Mountains, Labrang; biggest monastery in Amdo and its wood block printing house Sogdzong; one of the best known and Mongolian inhabitants with their tepees. Mt.Amyemchen: most sacred and holly mountain, Kokonor lake; one of the biggest salty lake in Asia.
Itinerary
Day01.arrival in Xining airport transfer to hotel and visit the 500m long Thanka museum(traditional Tibet medicine museum)Hotel***
Day02. Drive to Rebgong. On route visit Shachung Gonpa; one of the 4 principle monasteries in Amdo.Hotel**
Day03.Visit Rongwo Gonchen,both Segeshong Yagotsang and matsang, some Tibetan Art villages.Hotel**
Day04.Drive to Labrang through Ganja grasslands. Visit Tashi Kyil monastery.Hotel**
Day05.Drive to Sokpo through rolling grassland of Sangkog and visit some Tibetan nomad families and Mongolian tribes. Hotel*
Day06. Drive to Golog,on route visit Hor Gonpa(Dzochen tradtion)and visit Raja monastery. hotel**
Day07.Driver to Mt.Amyemachen, visit Guru Gonpa, passing through Drogdinyag ka(pass-4000m), (camping overnight at Hualong chu River)or Hotel*
Day08.Drive to Tsekorthang and see some wild animals on the sides. Hotel**
Day09.Drive to Drakar Tralzong. Visit the monastery and make the Khora Hotel**
Day10.Drive to Kokonor lake; the largest lake in Tibt. In the afternoon drive to Xining.Hotel****
Day11.drive to the airport and exit.