Dreamlike Shangri-La

Number of days：6 days
Time: July
Average cost: 7,000 yuan
With whom：parents and children
Tour kinds：Free travel, hiking
Updated: 2022.07.20

Ever since I first visited Shangri-La in 2019, I've been captivated! I secretly decided to go back the next year, but the pandemic put it on hold. It wasn't until 2022 that I finally made the trip!

Three years ago, I visited Lijiang, Shuhe, Dali, and Shangri-La on my Yunnan trip. This trip was all about Shangri-La, the city of my dreams. After two connecting flights, I arrived at Diqing Airport and was greeted by a refreshing breeze as I stepped out. The 19-degree temperature, fresh from 36 degrees, felt incredibly refreshing, pure, and comfortable! The sky was a washed-out blue, and white clouds were easily visible. White pagodas, grasslands, prayer flags, yaks, and rapeseed flowers were everywhere—a picturesque scene before my eyes!

- Entering Songzanlin Temple

It was dusk when we arrived at the Songzanlin Hotel. Across from it, the Songzanlin Temple – the legendary Little Potala Palace – shimmered in the setting sun. Ganden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. Completed in 1681, it is the center of the Yellow Sect in the Sichuan-Yunnan region. Looking at Songzanlin Temple from a distance, the red and white tiles and color scheme look beautiful no matter how you shoot it.

After entering the temple, there's a massive staircase that'll leave you breathless, especially on the plateau. But sincerity always comes with hard work! Grit your teeth, stomp your feet, and the sense of accomplishment you'll experience from ascending to the summit belongs to those who persevere!

- Entering Shambhala - Bala Gezong

Balagezong, a mortal paradise, a place where immortals reside. Once untraceable on maps, with no electricity, no roads, and no communications, poverty and backwardness became synonymous with Bala Village. Through a reader, he met Sina Dingzhu, a man who changed the fate of Bala Village and connected Bala Gezong to the outside world. A childhood accident forced him to leave Bala Village for medical treatment in Zhongdian County (now Shangri-La City). Although he had missed the optimal time for treatment (due to poor transportation, he had to walk for five days before leaving the mountains), the outside world stirred a profound emotion in his heart, and changing the face of poverty in his hometown became his goal. As an adult, he used the tens of millions of dollars he had accumulated through business to build a road connecting Bala Village to the outside world. The winding mountain road connecting Bala Village from National Highway 214 has 43 sharp turns, winding through the ravines halfway up the mountain, like a white "hada" in the mountains.

Entering Balagezong, the first thing that catches your eye is the White Pagoda, which exudes a strong Tibetan style and religious overtones. The scenic area is primarily divided into two parts: the canyon area and the ancient village of Bala, both connected by sightseeing buses. Upon arrival that afternoon, we visited the Echo Wall and Bala Village. The small village of Bala, nestled at the foot of the sacred mountain, is the sacred home of the Balagezong. The steep mountains and gorges here create a secluded haven. Three Mani piles stand at the entrance of the village, retaining their vibrant colors despite millennia of vicissitudes. The white pagoda atop the mountain is where the Bala people perform firewood burning and pray for blessings. Every household in Bala Village also boasts a firewood burning stove, demonstrating that in a place once short of supplies, faith is never lacking.

The next morning, we headed to the Shambhala Natural Stupa. Following the winding road, we ascended, the scenery starkly different from that below Bala Village. It was spring and summer down below, early winter up there. Reaching the pass, we looked up to see the Shambhala Stupa towering proudly, its summit shrouded in mist, adding to its mystique. I'm at a loss for words. The stupa evokes a sense of awe, a sense of detachment, a sense of devotion, a sense of worship. Beneath the mountain lies a pasture, and in summer, it's lush green, filled with grazing horses, small cabins, and wildflowers, a vibrant scene.

Building Mani piles is my child’s favorite thing to do. He is concentrating and doing something very meaningful.

Shambhala Grand Canyon, A 2.4-kilometer cliff path winds through the sheer cliffs of this "roadless" canyon. Walking along the level path, looking up, you'll see peaks reaching the sky on either side, and sheer cliffs plunging into the river. The lush green vegetation creates a picture of spring and summer. Another highlight of the canyon is the Gangqu River (Bala Village's main river). Its steady flow ensures a gentle rafting experience, allowing you to leisurely admire the grand canyon and experience the harmony of nature. At this point, the journey to Balagzon ends. Walking along the Sky Road, I felt the spirit of Yugong moving mountains and realized how one person's ideas and actions can change the fate of generations!

- Entering the Meili Snow Mountain

On the way to Meili, we passed the viewing platform of the Jinsha River's Great Bend. Looking down from the top of the mountain, we can see the U-shape of the Jinsha River's Great Bend and the magnificent scenery of the Yangtze River, Lancang River, and Nu River, the three parallel rivers.

Entering the Meili Scenic Area, the devout worship of pilgrims and the records of mountain disasters give this snow-capped mountain forest an untouchable magic. Meili Snow Mountain is a series of peaks, commonly known as the "Thirteen Peaks of the Prince." Its main peak is Kawagebo, known as the "Goddess of Snow Mountains." Kawagebo is often shrouded in mist, making it difficult to see its true form. Fortunately, we were able to see Kawagebo in its entirety on the day we arrived, with the graceful Goddess Peak also clearly visible. The next morning, we were unable to catch a glimpse of the much-anticipated Sunlight Shining on the Golden Mountain due to thick cloud cover. No matter, life always leaves room for improvement. We're sure to see the Sunlight Shining on the Golden Mountain again someday!

- Entering Yubeng

Departing Yubeng, we transferred to a village jeep in Xidang Village, navigated dozens of turns and twists, and through the dusty winds, arrived at Lower Yubeng. A pickup truck from the guesthouse then took us to our accommodation. From the jeep, it was hard to imagine the heavenly Yubeng. But as more and more prayer flags signaled our approach, our vision suddenly lit up: a village at the foot of a U-shaped mountain. Wasn't that paradise? At that moment, all words and phrases were superfluous; all we could do was capture it with our eyes and camera!

- Visit Dukezong Ancient Town

Built by the Tubo Dynasty during the Tang Dynasty, Dukezong Ancient Town is nestled against a mountainside, its pavement paved with stone slabs that follow the terrain's natural undulations. The town's architectural layout resembles an eight-petal lotus, with Moonlight Square at its center and quaint Tibetan wooden houses clustered around it. Atop Turtle Mountain stands the world's largest prayer wheel, a Guinness World Record-winning achievement. The devastating fire that broke out in Dukezong on January 11, 2014, reduced large areas of Tibetan homes to ruins—a truly unfortunate event! After a few years, Tibetan photography in the ancient city has quietly become popular again, with Tashi and Dolma everywhere. However, many B&Bs and restaurants have closed down.

The journey is drawing to a close. On the way back, I reminisced over and over again, trying to imprint every corner of this place deeply in my mind, making this journey a perfect ending. But I think our story with Shangri-La is not over yet. I will definitely go back again if I have the chance.