Tibetan Medicine ranks among one of the oldest, continuously used medical systems in the world. It has been successfully practiced for centuries in Tibet, China, Mongolia and Buddhist regions of Russia, Central Asia and the Himalayas. The Tibetan medical system can contribute substantially to maintaining a healthy mind and healthy body. Like the traditional Indian and Chinese systems, Tibetan medicine views health as a question of balance. A variety of circumstances such as diet, lifestyles, seasonal and mental conditions can disturb this natural balance, which gives rise to different kinds of disorders. Treatment involves dietary and behavioral advice, medication and accessory therapies. Medicines are obtained from natural sources such as herbs, minerals and organic products and prepared under controlled conditions. These ingredients are inexpensive and easily available. The medicines themselves have few side-effects, are not symptomatic and have a preventive as well as a curative effect. Tibetan medicine is deeply integrated with Buddhist practice and theory which stresses the indivisible interdependence of mind, body and vitality. The ideal doctor is one who combines sound medical understanding with strong realization of wisdom and compassion. Tibetan medicine is characterized by a special proficiency in treating diseases of the spleen and stomach, warm-natured and hot-natured diseases, edema and high blood pressure. It also has special therapies for rheumatic diseases caused by high-altitude. Tibetan medicine was closely connected with Buddhism. The monks mainly carried out pharmacy and medical treatment in the monasteries. With the recent explosion of fascination with Tibet and Tibetan culture, Tibetan medicine is receiving greater attention from the public, scholars and the media in the West. As Tibetan medicine becomes more accessible in the West, it is important to realize that there is a significant difference between Tibetan medicine and the other rich information and knowledge, which the Tibetan people have already communicated to the West. The conditions under which Tibetan medicine can be practiced in the West are limited by our culture, science, economics and law. This tour of Tibetan Medicine will take us to meet Tibetan doctors both in cities and countryside, to visit Tibetan medical colleges attached to monasteries as well as colleges run by the government to know the past and future of Tibetan medicine. Of course visits to Tibetan hospitals and pharmacies won't be missed as this is the best way to know the current situation of Tibetan medicine. This program is available for a minimum of 2 people travelling together, and can be customized for groups of 10 or more medical professionals.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing
Welcome to Beijing, capital of China. One of the biggest cities in the world, Beijing had just celebrated its 850th anniversary as the Chinese capital. From the imperial Forbidden City to the Great Wall of China, from the Hutong alleys to the wide and straight Changan Avenue, and from the courtyard houses to modern skyscrapers, Beijing has a great deal to offer in its dynamic culture, tradition and heritage. You will be met at the airport by a professional English speaking guide and transfered to your hotel for check-in. D.

Day 2 Beijing
Today is one of the highlights of our China tour, the climbing of the Great Wall of China, which was first built in the Warring States period (475-221BC) as a series of earthworks erected by individual kingdoms as a defense against each other as well as against invasions from the north. Stretching almost 4500 miles from the Baohai Sea to the sands of Central Asia, the Great Wall of China is considered one of the wonders of the world. The present day wall was left from the Ming dynasty. Back to the city in the afternoon, we will visit the Summer Palace, the largest imperial garden in China. The Summer Palace was first built in the Qing emperor Qianlong's time in 1751 and was burned down in1860 by the French and British army and restored by the Dowager empress Cixi for her own enjoyment. It became a favorite haunt of Cixi, who preferred it to the Forbidden City, and named it Yihe Yuan, meaning the garden of health and harmony. Acrobatic Show at night. BLD.

Day 3 Beijing
Morning visit to the largest square in the world, the Tian'anmen Square, where you can feel the heartbeat of China. Bordered by the Great Hall of the People, Mao's Mausoleum and the National Museum of China, Tian'anmen Square has witnessed many of the historical events happened in China since 1911. We then walk to the Forbidden City, the complex of imperial palace, which were home to the Emperors for over 500 years. Grand halls and courts gradually give way to more intimate domestic quarters, giving an insight into the pampered isolation of the emperors. After lunch we will visit the Beijing Hospital of Tibetan Medicine (Beijing Zangyiyuan) which was established in 1992. This hospital uses complementary methods, offering Tibetan medicine as the primary method of treatment and backing it up with tests and examinations based in biomedicine. Specialist departments at this hospital include a department of blood vessels of the heart and brain, a department of atrophic gastritis and a department of diseases of the liver and gallbladder. There is also a treatment center of Tibetan hydrotherapy. BLD.

Day 4 Beijing/Lanzhou
Morning visit to the only Tibetan monastery in the Chinese capital, the Lama Temple which was originally the residence of Prince Yongzheng, who later became Emperor. His mansion was converted into a temple in 1744 after he ascended the throne. One of the most prominent features of the temple is a huge, 23-meter-tall Maitreya Buddha, which was carved from the trunk of a white sandalwood tree from Tibet and it took over a decade to transport the trunk to Beijing. The temple basically consists of five halls which are connected by five courtyards and three beautiful archways. Fly to Lanzhou in the afternoon. BLD.

Day 5: Lanzhou/Labrang Monastery.
Drive to Labrang Monastery via the Muslim center of China, Linxia which is called Mecca of China by Chinese Muslims. The Labrang Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelukpa (Yellow Hat) Sect. The monastery was founded in 1709 by the monk E'Ang Zonghe, the first generation living Buddha. It is Tibetan Buddhism's most important monastery town outside Tibet. The white walls and golden roofs feature a blend of Tibetan and Han architectural styles. There are more than 500 monks in residence at present. The well-known medical college of Tibetan medicine at Labrang Monastery has been the center of Tibetan medicine learning and a Traditional hospital of Tibetan medicine as well. A lot of medical xylographs were also stored in this Monastery. Historically, the Labrang region has produced large numbers of famous doctors and scholars of Tibetan medicine. For example, the 13th century doctor Jige (C.p. transliteration of Tibetan), from the Jicang of Klu chu (Luqu), is known to have discussed the religious doctrines of Buddhism and the wisdom of medicine from the Amdo region of Tibet with 'Phags pa. The latter went on to become the Yuan Dynasty Emperor's adviser. When famous doctor Nianchang Kalongmanjia (C.p.transliteration of Tibetan), an assistant to the Vth Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobsang Gyamtso (Ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho), had an audience with Emperor Shunzhi, he cured the Emperor's disease with Tibetan medicine and was rewarded generously. BLD.

Day 6: Labrang Monastery
Visit the Labrang Monastery in the morning. After lunch we will have lectures on Tibetan medicine given by the monk doctors at the Menpa Dratsang (Tibetan Medicine College) of the monastery. The Menpa Dratsang (sMan-pa Grva-tshang) or Medical College was established in 1784 by the Second Jamyang-zhaypa. Traditionally, all Tibetan medicines were handmade from their various components of herbal, mineral and animal origin. After the medicines were finished, all monks in the monastery read Buddhist sutras aloud for seven days to bless the medicines and to "potentialize their efficacy". BLD.

Day 7: Labrang Monastery/Tongren
Drive to Tongren which is named Regong in Tibetan. On the way our specially invited doctor from the Labrang Monastery will show some herbs and introduce their functions to us. Discussion with monk doctor on Tibetan herbs will be the main topic when we drive from Labrang to Tongren. In the 15-16 century, the Tibetan Buddhism of Gelukpa Sect (Yellow Sect) came into Tongren area. Painting, sculptures and stone inscription for Buddhism are sprang up by Tibetan and near the Longwu River at Regong along with the rise of Lamaism and the construction of lamaseries. It is called Regong Buddhist Art. In the middle of the 17th century, it has already become the village where everyone could paint, and every family was engaged in art. The art mainly includes colored paintings, colored sculptures, designs, yak butter sculptures, embossed embroideries, wood inscription and decorations in architecture. Among these, paintings, sculptures and designs are most famous. Regong Art is one of the most important sects in the fields of Tibetan Buddhist arts. Upon arrival we will visit Longwu Monastery of Gelukpa sect which was initially constructed in Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) as a monastery of Sakya-sect, and Wutun village the center of Regong Buddhist Art which is a successful mixture of religious art and local folk art. BLD.

Day 8: Tongren (visit local Tibetan doctors).
Morning visit to a local Tibetan Medicine Clinic which is well known in the Amdo area. The local Tibetan doctor in the clinic Long Gya Manpa (Manpa means doctor in Tibetan) is extremely famous for his unique treatment of hepatitis disease. His patients not only come from Amdo and Khan Areas, but also Chinese from all over. After lunch we will visit another local Tibetan Medicine Clinic where we will meet Togya Manpa who is well-known for diagnosing all kinds of disease by touching the pulse of the patients. Discussions on the medical care of nomad people will be part of our program as well. BLD.

Day 9: Tongren/Xining
Drive to Xining in the morning. Xining is the capital of Amdo area of Tibet and is literally translated Western Peace, a projection of wish fulfillment by imperial order. It has long been on the fringes of the western Chinese empire, probably established around the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), and it remained an important trading post in the area, mainly for goods to and from Tibet and China. It was not until 1928 that the city, with the formal establishment of Qinghai as a province, was to become the official capital. BLD.

Day 10: Xining.
Visit the Kumbum Monastery in the morning. The Kumbum Monastery built in1560 AD is a famous Tibetan Buddhist Monastery with a celebrated medical college (sman pa grva tshang). Kumbum in Tibetan means a grand place housing 100,000 Buddha. The sight is most sacred due to the personages who have graced it with their presence. It was originally built upon the birth place of the founder of the Gelukpa Sect (Yellow Hat) of Tibetan Buddhism, Tsong Khapa. Two of his disciples from this region also went on to become famous in the Buddhist world, one becoming Dalai Lama, the other the Panchen Lama, both great living Buddha. The monastery was one of the key developmental centers of medical knowledge for Tibetan medicine. The medical college of Kumbum Monastery has long played an important role in the training of Tibetan doctors and in providing medical treatment. It also collected, preserved and arranged classical medical literature and printed medical books. In the past, the training of doctors of Tibetan medicine was largely carried out in the medical colleges of monasteries. Besides Kumbum Monastery, medical colleges were attached to Guanghui Monastery, Xiaqiong Monastery, Lajia Monastery and others. After lunch Tibetan Medicine Lecture will be given by doctors of the Kumbum Monastery. Optional Tibetan Medicine Bathing at night. BLD.

Day 11: Xining.
Visit JiuMei Tibetan Medicine Pharmaceutical Company in the morning. This modern pharmaceutical company was established in April of 1999. It integrates scientific research with pharmaceutical industry. The founder of this company is the world famous Tibetan doctor Giumei who will give us a welcome speech. After lunch we will visit the Qinghai Tibetan Medical hospital and its Tibetan Medicine Healthcare Center. Optional Tibetan Medicine Bathing at night. BLD.

Day 12: Xining/Lhasa
Fly to Lhasa in the morning. Lhasa is famous for being one of the highest cities in the world, what really knocks us out here is the full scale impact of the breathtaking beauty, unique landscape and the holy atmosphere of this religious center. In Tibetan, Lhasa means "The land of the Gods", or "Holy Place". It was founded in 633 A.D. under the leadership of King Songtsan Gampo. Lhasa is to the Tibetans what Rome is to the Catholics, or Mecca to the Muslims-the holy of holies. BLD.

Day 13:Lhasa
Visit Potala Palace in the morning. Situated on the top of Red Mountain, the Potala Palace is dazzling both inside and out. As we gaze at the glittering collection of jewels and gold, and wander from chapel to chapel, excited pilgrims making offerings at the altars will join us. It's the headquarters of the Dalai Lamas, and is treasure house of traditional Tibetan culture. After lunch we will visit the Jokhang Monastery. This Monastery is in the Tang style, with Nepalese and Indian features. Its golden canopy glows in the sun, and 20 pillars, the capitals of which are decorated with intricate carvings of animals, birds, and human figures, support its main hall. Shopping in the Barkhor Market, its maze of streets lined with stalls selling all manner of goods - saddles and stirrups, jewelry, blankets, cassette tapes, carpets, tin trunks, and pictures of llamas, to mention just a few. BLD.

Day 14: Lhasa
Visit the Lhasa Hospital of Tibetan Medicine in the morning. This hospital is the center for all treatment and scientific research ---- it routinely treats over 800 outpatients a day. It is also the city's major Tibetan pharmacy, turning all sorts of plants, herbs, root vegetables and other minerals into 100000 kilograms of medical products, annually. After lunch we will visit the Tibetan Medicine College which was established in 1993. Its former name was the Tibetan Medicine College of Tibet University, which was a combination of the Tibetan Medicine School (established in 1983) and the Tibetan Medicine Department of Tibet University (established in 1985). In 1998, after approval from the Academic Degree Office of the State Council, the college began conferring the Master's degree of Tibetan Medicine. Traditional Tibetan medical education was then in line with the national higher education of medicine, and the college became the first base for training of high-level specialists. Tibetan Medicine Museum will also be included in today's tour. BLD.

Day 15: Lhasa/Beijing
Fly to Beijing. The rest of day will be free at your leisure. BL.

Day 16: departure.
Board your flight leaving China for home. B.

Level: easy to moderate

Prices & Departures for 2004

Available	16D/15N On Request
Per Person in Double
2-5 participants	$3870
Single Room Supplement	$580
6-9 participants	$3620
Single Room Supplement	$520
10 or more participants	$3380
Single Room Supplement	$450

We reserve the right to substitute any of the mentioned hotels in the itinerary with properties of the same or similar class should the circumstances require us to do so.

(Subject to change)