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ITINERARY 
Volunteer Trip to Conserve Tibetan Buddhist Art

See also: maps and references on the region.

Day

 

Activity

 Lodging

1

　

Arrive Chengdu. If time allows, visit Wen Shu Yuan Buddhist temple. Change money and make any needed last-minute purchases.

Jinli Hotel, Chengdu

2

　

Drive 7 hours to Kangding, passing thru a 4km-tunnel to reach the spectacular valley of the Dadu River. En route visit the shrine at Luding Bridge, monument to the heroism of Long Marchers during China's civil war in the 1930s.

Kalakar Hotel, Kangding

3

　

Kangding (Tib: Dartsendo) is the gateway to the Tibetan plateau, a trading center and a place of lively cultural mix.  Ride the cable car to the top of Racehorse Mountain, and pay a visit to Dorje Drak Monastery.

Kalakar Hotel, Kangding

4

　

Continuing west, we drive over the 4217 meter high Tsedo Pass. This marks the beginning of ethnographic Tibet and you will be aware of the change immediately as you spot yaks grazing by the road and traditional Tibetan stone houses. At the bustling crossroads town of Xinduqiao, we'll turn south. We’ll pass by several extraordinary ancient towers as we go deeper into Kham.  At the end of our journey we reach Sha-de, the heart of Minyak and our base of operations for the next week. Total drive time: about five hours.

Shade guest house

5

　

We will take a minivan up a dirt road 5 km to reach Wayao, the village where the project is taking place. There we will be given a tour of the four ancient houses in the village, and little Kyilhakhang Monastery.  We will see Nepali and Tibetan conservators working on the wall paintings and be given a basic introduction to the work going on by head conservator Tsang Jhimii.  By the day's end we will have received our work assignments and begun learning the necessary skills

Shade guest house

6

　

Work moves into full swing at the village. 

Shade guest house

7

　

Work continues at Wayao Village        .

Shade guest house

8

　

Optional: work, rest, or take hiking trip to Pusarong Temple.

Shade guest house

9

　

Work continues at Wayao Village    

Shade guest house

10

　

Work continues at Wayao Village. Those who want to can stay overnight in the village.

Shade guest house

or (optionally)

a village home

11

　

Our last full day at Wayao Village, culminating in a farewell party with our village hosts and other members of the conservation team.  

Shade guest house

12

　

Drive north, retracing our steps to Xinduqiao, then continuing to the Tagong grasslands.  At Tagong we’ll visit the town’s enormous monastery, circumambulate its 108 stupas, and gaze at the magnificent sacred Yala Mountain.  Tagong has a lively street life and is a great place to see and meet Tibetan nomads.  Those who are interested can stay overnight in a herdsman’s tent.

Family-owned Tibetan-style guesthouse or

(optionally) a herds-

man’s tent.

13

　

We’ll drive on the Sichan-Tibet highway a bit farther to the town of Bamei, then we’ll turn east back toward Chengdu.   On the way back we’ll pass through the town of Danba., then over a high pass. On the way down we’ll see the spectacular Four Sisters Mountain, and we’ll stop at the Wolong Panda Breeding Center to see the Center’s collection of charming pandas. Then we’ll return to Chengdu.  Estimated drive time: 12 hours.

Jinli Hotel

14

　

After breakfast, we’ll all make our way in our separate directions homeward.

Dege hotel

See also: maps and references on the region.

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