Self-driving trip to Shangri-La to see the sun and moon in my heart

Number of days：6 days
Average cost: 4500 yuan
With whom：parents and children
Updated: 2024.01.03

I've wanted to visit Shangri-La for a long time, but I've been holding off because I was worried about altitude sickness. However, if I keep worrying, I might not be able to visit Shangri-La for another 10 years. So, I talked it over with my husband and decided to just go and have fun in Shangri-La.

Car Rental: This time, I booked a car through a certain platform. We transferred from Kunming to Shangri-La and picked up the car at the Shangri-La airport branch, which was super convenient.

Accommodation: In ancient cities like Dali, Shangri-La, and Lijiang, staying in a B&B is the best option. However, many B&Bs in Shangri-La are located in the mountains, requiring a long climb. So, when booking a B&B, be sure to check the location. Check with the host in advance.

Attractions: There are many places to visit in Shangri-La, such as Dukezong Ancient Town, Pudacuo National Park, Napa Lake, Songzanlin Temple, and more. We also participated in the Yubeng hike.

Impressions of Shangri-La

After landing in Shangri-La, we picked up our car and drove to the ancient city. The scenery from the high-speed rail station to the ancient city was also very beautiful. So, in Yunnan, if you have the chance, you should drive yourself.

Dukzong Ancient Dzong has always been the best-preserved site of ancient Tibetan architecture. However, a fire in 2014 destroyed three-quarters of it, and now most of it has been rebuilt. Despite this, the fusion of Han and Tibetan elements is still very strong.

The second stop was the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Museum, next to Moonlight Square. It's rarely visited, but I enjoyed it and highly recommend it; you can learn things you won't find in books.

The third stop was Turtle Mountain Park, next to Moonlight Square. The ancient city was originally built around Turtle Mountain. In the 7th century, the Tubo built a fortress on it, named "Dukzong." Today, this fortress has been replaced by the Turtle Mountain Great Buddha Temple. The Big Buddha Temple is also a prime example of cultural fusion. Climbing from the outside to the inside, there are three main halls. The first hall is dedicated to the Dragon King, with Confucius and Laozi nearby; the second hall is dedicated to Sakyamuni; and the third hall houses the three main deities of Tibetan Buddhism, Vajra. This is a fusion of Confucianism, Taoism, Han Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism. The Jinsha River's bend is well-equipped and free, making it a popular rest stop for passing vehicles. Buses also make a brief stop here, offering a close-up view of the Jinsha River's dramatic curve. The view is quite impressive and well worth a photo opportunity. However, if they charged 30 yuan for admission, people would quickly criticize it as worthless. Feilai Temple is located on the east side of Meili Snow Mountain, so you can only see the golden mountain at sunrise, so you have to get up early. The highest peak is Kawabog Peak. The long, bright, silky area below its golden summit is the Mingyong Glacier, also an open scenic spot.

Before hiking in Yubeng, consider one question: what exactly are you going there for? Yubeng is suitable for two types of people: those seeking retirement and those who enjoy hiking. The worst-suited type is those who want to go sightseeing!

Yubeng is an ideal place for beginner hikers, with a well-equipped departure base. You can leave in the morning and return in the afternoon.

Day1 Dukezong Ancient Town

Dukezong Ancient Town, known as the "Moonlight City" by Tibetans. With a history of over 1,300 years, it was once a window for cultural exchange between the Tibetan Plateau and Yunnan, a link for economic and trade between Sichuan, Tibet and Yunnan, and a hub on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. It is also the best-preserved and largest Tibetan settlement in China.

The first stop in Dukezong is the "Harmonious Pagoda within a Pagoda," located at the southernmost entrance to the city. The innermost pagoda is invisible to ordinary tourists, as the third floor houses relics. Free guided tours are available for visitors, allowing them to gain a firsthand understanding of Tibetan Buddhism.

I was in a daze for a long time inside, listening to the introductions of five or six different staff members. I felt that they were very pious to the relics and repeatedly emphasized that the claims on the Internet were not credible. The white pagoda is divided into four sides. In the niches on each side, a high Buddha is enshrined, including Manjushri Bodhisattva and Four-Armed Guanyin. In Tibetan Buddhism, the image of Guanyin is masculine.

This place has portraits and introductions of Tibetan living Buddhas. There is a video that plays on a loop and occupies half of the exhibition hall. It is about the Panchen Lama. It is very interesting. The specific content cannot be discussed. Just go and take a look with the mentality of "you know".

After a hard day's work in Tibet, treat yourself to yak hotpot!

Warm Tip: On your first day in the plateau, try not to shower. Simply wipe yourself with a towel to avoid altitude sickness.

Day 2 Songzanlin Monastery

Ganden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province. It holds a pivotal position throughout the Tibetan region and is known as the "Little Potala Palace." I've seen the Potala Palace before, and the two are indeed quite similar. It's easy to understand, considering they are both Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Songzanlin Monastery, nestled beneath a blanket of white clouds, appears even more sacred.

Napahai Nature Reserve is one of Zhongdian's most distinctive plateau scenic spots and the county's largest grassland. Snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and cattle and sheep create the scenery of the Southwest's northern frontier. Napahai means "lake beside the forest." This season, Napahai, still radiating its "yellow dress," is a vast expanse of flat ground. A single photo captures a masterpiece, reminiscent of a movie set. A winter sea, a summer plain: Napahai is filled with the free wind.

This is a scenic spot I have no regrets visiting. In the distance there are snow-capped mountains, white clouds, and blue sky. Yunnan is truly beautiful, with white clouds everywhere. It is so beautiful.

In the summer, the grass here is lush and full of birdsong. Now it's winter, but it's not particularly cold here. Although the grass has withered, for me, this is actually a good time to visit. Because we can see the outlines of the mountains, the galloping horses, the appearance of the lake, and so on more clearly. Therefore, I often like to visit the grasslands in autumn and winter.

Napahai actually exceeded my expectations for Yunnan's natural landscape. Look at the mountains in the distance, the snow-covered mountains, and when the sunlight shines down, you can see the beautiful Tyndall effect.

Because Shangri-La had a heavy snowfall a few days ago, there will be some snow on the road, so you should be careful when driving.

Because I went to Ganden Sumtseling Monastery and Napa Lake in the morning (which was not in the itinerary), I sacrificed my shower time when I went to Napa Lake, so I set off without showering.

It was snowing as we passed through the higher elevations, and we were worried it would make the hike more challenging. But after we passed through the tunnel, the sky cleared up. I felt this trip was incredibly friendly. After a four-hour drive, we arrived at Feilai Temple, but the sun had already set, so we had to eat first and then spend the night stargazing.