Breakfast at hotel.

In the morning, visit the Ganden Songzanglin Monastery.

Founded in the 17th century during the reign of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama and nicknamed as Lesser Potala Palace by the locals, Ganden Songzanglin Monastery is one of the thirteen Tibetan monasteries in the Kangba Region, where Tibet, Yunnan and Sichuan join. Holding about 700 monks and one living Buddha, the monastery is a must-go in the region.

In the afternoon, drive out to visit the black pottery workshop at Tibetan village Nixi. The handmade black earthenware is decorated with broken pieces of white china.

With a population of 112 thousand people, the Tibetan minority takes up one third of the total in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. They believe in Lamaism, a major branch of Buddhism. During the new year on Tibetan calendar and the horse racing festival on the fifth day of the fifth month on Chinese lunar calendar, there are big gatherings of Tibetans in Zhongdian, Deqin and Weixi celebrating the festivals.

Lunch en tour at local Chinese restaurant. Dinner at leisure – on your own account