Driving in Shangri-La, Yunnan: This Stunning City on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road, the Dreamlike Shambhala

Number of days: 4 days
Time: June
Average cost: 4,000 yuan
With whom: and friends
Tour types: Food, Photography, Self-driving, Humanities, Independent Travel, Semi-independent Travel, Small Business, Weekend Tour
Updated: 2023.06.07

I've come from afar, just to meet you.

Shangri-La, the sun and moon in my heart. This stunning city on the ancient Tea-Horse Road was once isolated from the world. Mysterious and harmonious, it's both a paradise on earth and an ideal utopia.

This place is filled with secrets of nature and culture, and it's also a place where you can get up close and personal with Tibetan Buddhism. Although only 170 kilometers from Lijiang, the distance isn't far, but the scenery is vastly different. Many years ago, I read British author James Hilton's novel, Lost Horizon, and have long been fascinated by Shangri-La. Shangri-La boasts a rich history and stunning natural scenery, including famous attractions like Pudacuo National Park, Dukezong Ancient Town, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, and Tiger Leaping Gorge.

The unique plateau scenery is breathtakingly beautiful in every snap. No matter the season, this magical land always offers surprises.

"What I seek in life are love and freedom, you and tenderness." And during those few days, love and freedom were always by my side.

Some say Shangri-La is the closest place to heaven, and you must visit it once in your lifetime to experience its mystery and appreciate its beauty without any need for color adjustment.

Many people choose to come to Shangri-La in the summer to escape the heat, but I came here when the late cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

Two people, a Land Rover Discovery Sport, a unique road trip to Shangri-La, a journey of discovery.

Pilgrimage to the magnificent Songzanlin Temple, drive into the tranquil and beautiful Napa Lake, towering snow-capped mountains outside the car window, birds singing among the distant mountains – is this the Shambhala of your dreams?

1. Discover the power of faith

Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, a must-visit place when visiting Shangri-La.

This is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan, known as the "Little Potala Palace" and the "Tibetan Art Museum."

Driving from Xiaojiezi to Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, passing through fields and small Tibetan villages, I turned around and saw your gentle, smiling face as you held the steering wheel.

In the Land Rover Discovery Sport's streaming rearview mirror, a roadside scene of pink flowers and a lama walking slowly was a painting in my eyes.

The entire Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, built into the mountainside, resembles an ancient castle. From a distance, it bears a resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa.

This is a great place to experience Tibetan Buddhist culture. Ascending the stairs step by step, the warm sunshine of the plateau bathes me in the tranquility of the place, the locals' devout faith and the tranquility of the place.

Climb the stairs, listen to the ringing of bells and the fluttering of prayer flags, and quietly feel the power of faith.

2. Discover picturesque scenery

Snow-capped mountains, grasslands, yaks...like a postcard, this is the Napa Sea scenic area in Shangri-La.

The 40-kilometer loop around Napahai Lake allows for self-driving, allowing for a great degree of freedom and freedom to stop whenever you please.

The scattered sight of cattle and horses resembles black pearls, and the gentle tinkling of their neck bells drifts in the wind from time to time. The herds of cattle, horses, and wildflowers create a tranquil and harmonious scene.

The Land Rover Discovery Sport features Terrain Response (ATRS) and All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC), delivering superior performance.

Even on unfamiliar terrain, with its bumpy roads and gurgling streams, you'll have enough confidence to handle it.

With a 12.3-inch full LCD digital instrument panel and ultra-clear reversing camera, you won't be afraid even if a yak sneaks up on you. This afternoon, I headed to the Napahai tent campground, where I sipped tea and watched the clouds roll by. The Land Rover Discovery Sport's electric trunk makes accessing the trunk easy. The trunk is also spacious, perfect for campers with tons of gear.

The clouds on the plateau seemed within reach. I said to him, "I could spend the whole afternoon looking at these clouds." He smiled.

Staying in the tent at the campsite, eating some fruit and drinking some drinks, time slowly passed. Traveling without rushing allows you to relax and unwind.

Third, discover simple happiness

A different kind of trip to Shangri-La: driving to visit the homes of local Tibetan compatriots. The journey was long, with mountains and rivers to climb, but I didn't feel tired. The Land Rover Discovery Sport's luxurious Windsor leather seats offered excellent support and comfort, and I loved the color scheme—a simple and elegant look. Upon arriving at the Tibetan home, the second-floor living room was truly luxurious, adorned with intricate wood carvings. This room was used for hosting important guests or family gatherings. The hostess was busy making pancakes for us in the kitchen, the stove burning with wood and emitting steam. We chatted with her about various homely topics, and the air was filled with the aroma of milk tea. Drinking a bowl of fragrant butter tea and learning how to make tsampa. Home visits like these allow me to further understand the details of my Tibetan compatriots and deeply experience their simple lives.

Leaving my fellow Tibetan’s home, I sighed that happiness is actually very simple: working from sunrise to sunset, year after year.

As I left my fellow Tibetan’s home, a ray of sunset gently shone on the car and on that smiling face.

4. Discover the Story of the Ancient City

Dukzong Ancient City in Shangri-La means "castle built on stone" in Tibetan.

With its traditional square streets and ancient bluestone pavements, this is the closest thing to heaven, a city of eternal moonlight.

The ancient city's architectural layout resembles an eight-petal lotus flower, with Moonlight Square at its center. Surrounding it are quaint Tibetan wooden houses, where locals live a peaceful life.

I prefer Dukezong Ancient Town at night, just before dusk, to the daytime.

In the square, both tourists and locals are enthusiastically participating in Tibetan square dancing to the music.

The best viewing spot is Guishan Park in the ancient town. Climb the steps to enjoy a 360-degree view of Dukezong Ancient Town. Guishan Park boasts the world's largest prayer wheel, visible from far below the mountain. Walk around it three times clockwise, silently reciting a small wish. "Perhaps Shangri-La isn't a city, but a dream. It's the ideal home we pursue our entire lives, a burning dream amidst our weary lives." This pure land beneath the snow-capped mountains, this ideal holy land, is called Shangri-La. Piety and holiness are the hallmarks of paradise on earth.