Great Wall Hiking Tour -- Operated by China Hiking Adventures Inc. -- Overview

"This trip may only last for 15 days, but the experience of Tibetan culture and memories of beautiful mountain scenery will last for a lifetime."

"You will hike the ancient pilgrimage footpath from GanDan Monastery to SamYe Monastery (the oldest Buddhism temple in Tibet) like a nomad with yaks (carrying your tents, food supplies and luggage) and with Tibetan herdsmen along your side. By experiencing the wonders and part of the spiritual challenges experienced by Tibet's pilgrims, we may gain an understanding of why Tibetans draw an equal sign between religion and life.".

"China opens the world's most elevated railroad, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, on July 1, 2006. We will take the train to gradually climb up to Tibet Plateau so that your body will get use to the 4000 meters above sea level(Acclimatization). "

Please click here for Itinerary page for a more detail of daily tour activities.

"Roof of the World" Tibet, located on the "Qinghai - Tibet Plateau" 4000 m above sea level. This plateau is the source for all the major rivers in South and East Asia : the Indus, Sutlej and Brahmaputra from the far western highlands; the Mekong, Salween, Yangzi, Yalong, Gyrong, Yellow, Minjiang and Jialing from the eastern regions. The special geographic conditions and environment cultivated its unique culture, history and the people, creating a splendid chapter in the history of human civilization.

This trip will start in Lhasa, the holy capital of Tibet, where we will explore its monasteries and temples under the guidance of our experts. We will then continue our journey to a sacred mountain for a four-days hike. We will take part in prayer ceremonies, visit the homes of local Tibetans and discuss religious customs throughout the trip. By experiencing the wonders and part of the spiritual challenges experienced by Tibet's pilgrims, we may gain an understanding of why Tibetans draw an equal sign between religion and life.

This trip will show you the history and culture of Tibet. We will spend three days in Lhasa to show you the monasteries, Potala Palace and the way of life of Tibetans. It will also for Acclimatization.

This trip will let you experience camping like a Tibetan nomad (the majority of Tibetans are nomads). The yaks will carry your tents, food supplies and luggage. Tibetan herdsmen will be hiking along side with you and you will enter the camps of the Tibetan nomads to find out their way of life.

China opens the world's most elevated railroad, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, on July 1, 2006. We will take the train to gradually climb up to Tibet Plateau so that your body will get use to the 4000 meters above sea level. Below are some facts about the Qinghai-Tibet Railway:

This trip in Tibet will start in Lhasa, the holy capital of Tibet, where we will explore its monasteries and temples under the guidance of our experts. We will then continue our journey to a sacred mountain for a six-days hike. We will stay in Tibetan provided tents for four nights in the mountains while hiking with the Tibetan yaks and their herdsmen. The yaks will carry your luggages and all the logistics. While hiking we will meet the Tibetan nomads in the hills and study their way of life. We will take part in prayer ceremonies of Tibetan temples, visit the homes of local Tibetans and discuss religious customs throughout the trip. By experiencing the wonders and part of the spiritual challenges experienced by Tibet's pilgrims, we may gain an understanding of why Tibetans draw an equal sign between religion and life.

*Months*	*Centigrade*		*Fahrenheit*		*Rainfall*
*Months*	Max	Min	Max	Min	Inch
January	6	10	42.8	14	***
February	8	-8	46.4	18	***
March	12	-3	54	26	***
April	15	0	59	32	0.4
May	18	5	64	41	1.4
June	23	9	73	48	2.8
July	22	9	71	48	6.7
August	22	8	71	47	4.7
September	21	7	70	44	4.7
October	17	2	62	35	0.4
November	12	-4	53	25	***
December	8	-10	46.4	14	***

The majority of tibet's population of 1,890,000 are Tibetans. Tibet is so thinly populated thaat it averages out 1.6 8 persons per square kilometers. About 90% of the people live on farming and husbandry. Farmers live in the valleys of Tsangpo River (Brahmapotra) and its major tributaries Kyichu and Nuuang-chu. this area produces barely, wheat, peas and rape-seed, the great northern grassland which occupies a good half of tibet is the home of nomads, yaks and sheep. Nomads have no fixed abodes, and keep roaming along fine pasture together with all their belongings-tents and Livestock. The remaining population, approximately 10%, live in towns earning their living mainly On business and handicraft, and many are factory workers and government officials.

Ideology of people in this land differs greatly from any other nationality both at home in china and in the world. Religion seems almost everthing. Many live for the next life, rather than for the present. They accumulate deeds of virtue and pray for the final liberation-enlightenment. Lips and hands of the elders are never at still, either busied in murmuring of the sixsyllable mantric prayer OM Ma Ni Pad Me Hum (Hail the Jewel in the Lotus) or in rotation of hand prayer wheels, or counting of the prayer beads. Pious pilgrims from every corner of Tibet day to day gather at jokhang Temple and bharkor Street offering donations and praying heart and soul for their own Selves, for their friends, and for their friends' friends.

Frequent visitors to Tibet can make out folks from different regions judging by costumes and dalects. Folks from agricultural regions dress in woolen home-woven gowns, and those from the grassland clad in sheepskin. men folk from chamdo wear huge tassels of black or red silk which were used in old days for protection in fight, while the Lhasa residents are more stylish and modern. Dialects in tibetan are in variety, but mainly can be categorized into four::Lhasa., Tsang (Shigatse and Gyantse), Chamdo and Amdo.

Present hada is a common practice among the Tibetan people to express their best wishes on many occasions, such as wedding ceremonies, festivals, visiting the elders and the betters, and entertaining guests. The white hada, made of grege silk, embodies purity and good fortune.

Proposing a Toast and Tea When you come to a Tibetan family, the host will propose a toast, usually barley wine. You should sip three times and then drink up. To entertain guests with tea is a daily etiquette. The guest has not to drink until the host presents the tea to you.

Greetings Don't forget to add "la"after saying hello to the Tibetan people to show respect . Make Way to others. Try not to make any sounds while eating and drinking.

Sky burial is a common form in Tibet. There are many prohibitions. Strangers are not allowed to attend the ceremony. Visitors should respect this custom and keep away from such occasions.

The Potala Palace, a pearl on the plateau The construction of the world famous Potala Palace was started in the 7th century during the time of the Tubo King srontsan gampo. on the top of Mt. Putup, it is looming over the whold Lhasa city. As high as 110m, the Potala Palace consists of two palaces-the Red Palace and the White Place.. With over 1000 rooms, the 1 storeyed palae covers an area of 10,000 square metres. it witnessed the life of the Dalai Lamas and the important political and religious activites in the past centuries. There are grand palaces within palaces. the Palace stands up so high that it resembles a magnificent castle in the heaven. It makes itself a good example of the ancient tibetan culture and architecture. The statues of the Tubo King Srongtsan gamoi and his wife Princess Wen Cheng are being worshipped in the Palace. Among the 8 tomb pagodas of the Dalai Lamas, the 5th tomb is the mst extravagant. It stands as high as 14m and used 11,000 ounces of gold in its gold plating. the designs and decorations on them all are inlaid with diamonds, peals, turquoises, agates, corals etc. There also stored the world treasre-the gold hand-written Buddhist scriptures, valuable gifts from the Chinese emperors and a lot of pricless antiques. You will be amazed by the colorful sculptures and paintings. The Potala Palace deserves the title of art gallery and museum. It is a symbol of the wisdom and power of the Tibetan people.

The Tashilhunpo Monastery sprawls on the slope of Mt.Niser,southwest of Shigatse .It covers an area of about 300,000 square meters with a floor space of about 30,000 sqiare ,eters.Painted in red and white, the buildings in the monastery stand closely together in terraced rows,offering a grand and majestic view. The monastery was founded in 1447 by Gendun Zhuba, one of the principal disciples of the Founder of the Yellow Sect Zongkaba, and was then enlarged consistently by different generations of panchen Lama until it acquired its present dimensions.Gendun Zhuba was first abbot of the monastery,and in 1600 at the invitation of the monastery,the 4th Panchen lama became the 16th abbot of it,thus made the monastery abode of the succeeding Panchen lamas ever since. There are many valuable and rare historical articles in the monastery,among them a re found a lot of gold and jade signets, and imperial certificates bestowed by Emoerors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties as well as a seal of "Daitu" of the Yuan Dynasty scribed in the new Mongolian language reformed by Basba.They are of great value for the study of history.

It is the greatest festival in Tibet. In ancient times when the peach tree was in blossom, it was considered as the starting of a new year. Since the systematization of the Tibetan calendar in 1027 A.D., the first day of the first month became fixed as the new year . On the New Year's day, families unite " auspicious dipper" is offered and the auspicious words " tashi delek" are greeted.

It is the holiest in Tibet, there memorable occasions coincide on this day, Buddha's birth and Buddha's enlightenment. Almost every person within Lhasa join in circumambulations round the city and spend their late afternoon on picnic at " Dzongyab Lukhang" park at the foot of Potala.

Horse race and archert are generally popular in Tibet, and Gyantse enjoys prestige of being the earliest in history by starting in 1408. Contests in early times included horse race, archery, and shooting on gallop followed by a few days' entertainment or picnicing. Presently,ball games, track and field events, folk songs and dances, barter trade are in addition to the above.

As the most important festival in North Tibet during the golden season on the grassland,thousand of herdsmen throng to Nakchu riding fine horses,and carry in the local products.They form as city

Of tens south of Nakchu town. There will be thrilling horse race, archery and demonstrations of horsemanship. Songs and dance troupes from all part of Tibet will add to the fun.

Foods in Tibet differ in pastoral areas and agricultural areas. The staple food include roasted highland barley flour, wheat flour, meat, or red food, and milk, or white food. The principle in summer is the white food, while that in winter is the red food. Local flavors in the pastoral areas are mutton sausage, and dried beef.

The flavor of the Tibetan food is fresh, light ,andtender. Salt, onion, and garlic are the main ingredients.

There are many restaurants in Lhasa, Shigatse, and Zetang, All restaurants of various classes are decorated and furnished in the traditional Tibetan style. Diners can enjoy delicious Tibetan Tibetan dishes while admiring paintings and murals symbolizing happiness and good luck in the restaurants.High on the menu are such flavors as sausages, barley wine, butter oil tea, beef and mutton eaten with the hands, yak tongue, steamed buns, zanba made from highland barley, pastries, sweet tea, butter tea, dried beef, and xiapuqing, or minced mutton and beef.

No other religion apart from Buddhism has been able to take root in Tibet. Only a small population of about 2,000 throughout Tibet have faith in Islam, while there is no trace of Christianality at all. The Bon, the aborigine religion of Tibet, a sect of Shamanism which chiefly worshipped idols and the Nature and practiced driving off of evil spirits, had at one time prevailed in Tibet but disappeared with the penetration of Buddhism.

Thus, Buddhism can as well be said to be the sole religion of Tibet, and the faith has taken so deep in root that it means almost everything to the Tibetans. Well-to-do families even built in their compound their private chapels of prayer-rooms. To begin with, the first Buddhist scripture printed in Sanskrit was said to have een descended from Heaven in the 5th century during the reign of 28th Tsanpo Tho-Tho-Ri Nyantsan. It was translated into Tibetan, and later in the 8th century after the visit the Indian Master Padmasambhava, the spread of Buddhism got acelerated and religious sect started taking shape. In the 11th century the visit of the Bengali Master, Atisha, to Tibet greatly encouraged the study of Buddhism and sowed the seed for Gelugpa, the greatest sect that was to come. Finally, in the 15th century, Tsongkapa, the great reformer of Tibetan Buddhism, came to Lhasa from Qinghai and founded the Gelugopa sect, the Order of Exvellence. Hereafter Buddhism went all-out spreading like a wild fire into Tibet and became the absolute ruler both of the church and the state. Since then it broungt in another decisive victory for Buddhism to rise to its paramountcy as the religion of the entire Tibetan nationality.

Also known as the Lamaism. The Tibetan Buddhism consists of four major sects, the Ge-lug-pa(Yellow) Sect, the Nying-ma-pa(Red)Sec, the Saturday-kya-pa(Variegated) Sect, and the Ka-gyu-pa(White) Sect.

On Wednesday, October 29, 1999 our hiking began in the morning at a section of the Great Wall in Jiumenkou near the city of Qin Huang Dao and in Shuizhong County. It was a bright sunny morning and after an hour or so of hiking the Great Wall I wandered off with our guide Li to investigate a small and what appeared to be interesting Buddhist temple.

After walking through the main entrance we realized we had come during their prayer hour. It was a special holiday, which is celebrated to mark the time when their Buddha, the Goddess of Great Mercy, became a follower of Buddhism. I became very taken with their repetitive chanting that sounded something like: "O Mi Tuo Fo."

We attempted to fade into the background of this impressive temple while totally taken by a tremendous Buddhist figure in the center of the room. However within minutes of our arrival, we were approached by one of the Nuns, the Mistress of the Temple. Shi Rong Ci spoke in Chinese to Li asking us to partake in their special ceremony. She felt it was a very lucky occasion for me to appear that day and that the Goddess would bless me.

I lit some incense, representing fortune and happiness. Shi Rong Ci suggested I bow down to pray to the Buddha while she stroked a large gong placed in her lap. Taking heed to her rhythm, I soon found myself rising and falling to her 'up' and 'down' commands. At the worship close I was asked if I would sign their signature book and in return felt it appropriate to offer them a small donation. They all thanked me profusely and it was not until we were leaving that I realized my 10 yuan donation amounted to a little more than $1.00.

I suggested through Li's good guidance and interpreting that we ask to take a group picture! Shi Rong Ci was most receptive and excited at our suggestion and excused herself to change into her special Buddhist robe. As you can see we not only took group pictures but at Shi Rong Ci's suggestion Li took separate poses of Shi Rong Ci and me together!

We all hugged and kissed and with mixed smiles and tears bid each other goodbye.

As we were walking out of the gate the nuns asked me for my business card. In return, they handed me praying beads telling me they would bring me on-going good luck!

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