Live Your Best Lives
Shangri-La, a place that will never be forgotten.
It is the legendary paradise on earth, the utopia depicted in "Lost Horizon," a place free of conflict, where residents live forever and in harmony.
Historically, Shangri-La was a significant town in Southwest China and a crucial post station along the Yunnan-Tibet section of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road.
In Shangri-La, natural scenery and cultural charm intertwine, and every footprint carries the confession of nature and the echo of history.
Revisiting Shangri-La again, walking paths I've never traveled before, everything feels so beautiful and dreamy.
Day 1: Arrive in Shangri-La in the afternoon, enjoy Tibetan cuisine in the evening, and visit Dukezong Ancient Town at night
Day 2: Visit the Shambhala Kalachakra Mandala Cultural Expo Center in the morning, visit Shika Snow Mountain in the afternoon, and visit Dukezong Ancient Town at night
Day 3: Visit Pudacuo National Park, Baishuitai, and Shanghutiao, and return home via Lijiang
Accommodation: Elong Hotel (Shangri-La Dukezong Ancient Town High-speed Railway Station Branch)
Dukezong means "Moonlight City."
With over 1,300 years of history, every corner is imbued with cultural charm.
The ancient city is divided into four areas, east, south, west and north, with Sifang Street as its main axis. Like a blooming lotus, its terrain is crisscrossed by three streets and 33 alleys, dotted with various shops, creating a commercial atmosphere that has existed since ancient times.
Turtle Mountain Park is located in the heart of the ancient city, offering panoramic views of the ancient city.
The Auspicious Ruyi Tower, located on the north side of Big Turtle Mountain, is one of Shangri-La's iconic attractions. With a base 10 meters in diameter and 21 meters high, it weighs 60 tons and is copper-plated with exquisite relief carvings.
Dukezong Ancient Town is even more lively at night than during the day. Visitors can always find their favorite way of traveling, whether it is window shopping, mountain hiking, shopping, or dancing in the square to enjoy the carnival atmosphere.
During the Qing Dynasty, Zhongdian was placed under the administration of Yunnan Province, and various ethnic groups continued to migrate there, bringing with them architectural styles from the Han and Bai ethnic groups. This gave Dukezong Ancient Town its unique artistic characteristics.
Walking through the streets and alleys of Dukezong Ancient Town, admiring the quaint buildings, it feels like entering a conversation with history. That perfect brilliance has become an unforgettable memory in my mind, and the melodious singing coming from the small shop seems to make the entire space and time move in rhythm.
Major check-in points: Sifang Street, Dukuzong Flower Lane, Guishan Park, Diqing Museum (open during the day), etc. Shangri-La is a mysterious and beautiful place, with its urban area situated at an altitude of approximately 3,300 meters. The ancient city of Dukezong is known as the Moonlight City, while the area surrounding Ganden Sumtseling Monastery to the north is known as the Sunlight City, forming the "sun and moon in people's hearts."
On Changzheng Avenue in the heart of Shangri-La, stands a majestic and elegant building, arguably the "Potala Palace" of Shangri-La. It is the Shambhala Kalachakra Mandala Cultural Expo Center.
This 11-story building, steeped in Tibetan style, offers 360-degree views of Shangri-La and its surroundings from the top floor. The seventh floor also serves as an observation deck, and the ninth floor offers the best vantage point for aerial photography of the mandala.
The building's eighth floor boasts the world's largest indoor 3D Kalachakra mandala, which has been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records.
From the third to the sixth floors of the building, 20 exhibition halls are cleverly arranged. Browsing through each is like opening a magical treasure box, allowing you to experience the diverse culture of Shangri-La.
On the fifth floor, we saw thangkas dating back over 600 years, as well as numerous other exquisite artifacts.
The thangka series from the Shambhala Dynasty is a treasure of Shangri-La, showcasing the unique charm and magnificent style of Tibetan culture from its interior and exterior.
The Tibetan Medicine Thangka Display Area features China's most detailed and comprehensive collection of Tibetan medicine thangka wall charts. The collection, comprising 175 hand-painted Tibetan medicine thangkas, was recently recognized by the Guinness World Records.
On the fourth floor, the "Colorful Shambhala" exhibition vividly showcases Tibetan life and customs. The "Golden Lamp" in the Treasure Hall is also a highlight.
In the Diqing intangible cultural heritage display on the third floor, we saw an ancient Tibetan sword, a printed copy of the Kangyur Tripitaka, and a water-patterned knife, an intangible cultural heritage of Yunnan Province. They are all treasures of the museum.
The most iconic view on floors 3-6 is located in the central hall.
This is the largest indoor Kalachakra Buddha statue in China, forged using traditional Tibetan craftsmanship. The artistic effect changes with each orientation, showcasing the profoundness of Shangri-La culture.
Tip: The Expo Center has a Tibetan clothing rental area and offers travel photography services. Renting a Tibetan costume and taking photos while touring the area is a much more enjoyable experience. You can also experience thangka and Tibetan incense making under the guidance of professional masters.
Opening hours: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM. The night view is also beautiful. There are many snow-capped mountains in Diqing Prefecture. Shika Snow Mountain is the one closest to Dukezong Ancient Town, Shangri-La Railway Station and Shangri-La Airport. The distance between it and Dukezong Ancient Town is even shorter than the commuting distance for office workers in many big cities. In ancient times, Shika Snow Mountain served as a link between Tubo and Nanzhao. Standing tall on the Yunnan-Tibet Tea-Horse Road, it was hailed as a sacred mountain. Its alpine scree landscape showcases nature's boundless creativity. Due to the different altitudes, a variety of ecosystems are distributed vertically, including snow-capped mountains, Lingxi Lake, dense forests and vast meadows, giving birth to many rare and highly ornamental plants and animals.
Shika Snow Mountain is a seasonal snow-capped mountain. Its peak is covered in snow from late autumn to early spring, while the surrounding scenery is vibrant and vibrant throughout the rest of the year.
Not only is the scenery here breathtaking, the mountain also offers an unparalleled "viewing spot," offering panoramic views of Shangri-La city and the surrounding mountain ranges. Standing on the top of the sacred mountain, looking into the distance, you can see the blue sky and white clouds complementing each other, and the mountains in the distance standing majestically. Your mind becomes clear and simple in the tranquility.
Major check-in points include:
Get off at: Qingkejia Avenue, Mani Pile (you will pass by before entering the mountain)
Mid-range stops: Yana Qingbo Pasture, Lingxi Lake (near the upper station of the first section of the cable car, accessible by sightseeing bus)
Upper stops: Alpine Flowstone Beach, Prayer Flag Platform, Little Golden Toad, Fairy Cave, and Mizong Canyon (near the upper station of the second section of the cable car)
Taking the cable car round trip saves time and energy, and offers beautiful scenery at varying altitudes along the way.
Important reminder: Ascend the mountain early to ensure better light.
As many areas exceed 3,500 meters in altitude, please wear sunscreen, avoid running or jumping, and avoid altitude sickness. Bring your own small oxygen tank for oxygen therapy if necessary. If you have a history of severe altitude sickness, we recommend avoiding this trip.
From downtown Shangri-La, it's a 25-kilometer drive, about 40 minutes, to Pudacuo National Park.
This is China's first national park, a national 5A-level scenic spot, and a paradise in a picturesque setting.
The park boasts a poetic, refreshing, and dreamy landscape encompassing forests, alpine meadows, wetland lakes, geological relics, fault cliffs, forest streams, and deep canyons. Its beauty changes with each season and weather.
Pudacuo is located in the heart of the Three Parallel Rivers World Natural Heritage Site in northwest Yunnan. Its altitude ranges from 3,500 to 4,159 meters, creating a richly layered ecological landscape.
From the scenic area entrance, take a sightseeing bus for about 20-25 minutes to the entrance of the Shudu Lake plank road. Walking along the plank road, crossing small bridges, passing through colorful dense forests, and approaching the emerald lake, it feels like searching for a fairyland. The unpredictable weather in the early morning adds to the mysterious and dreamy feeling of the journey. Shudu Lake is a central feature of Pudacuo National Park and one of the largest lakes in Shangri-La. Surrounded by mountains, grasslands, and forests, Shudu Lake is a prime example of Pudacuo National Park. As autumn approaches, the trees gradually change color, complementing the emerald waters of the lake and pond. I marvel at the magnificence and tenderness of nature. 
Walk to the cruise ship dock and take a boat into the "secret land" for another breathtaking view of the lake.
The Shudu Lake Nature Education Trail, a trail shared by Guo Jingjing and Huo Qigang's family of four, provides a vivid lesson in nature education and showcases the plateau's ecological conservation system. The 1.5-kilometer-long trail is rich in resources, including a variety of plants and natural treasures, such as the rare oil-wheat hanging spruce and Zhongdian deer medicine.
Classic check-in spots: In front of the "Shangri-La Hiking Holy Land" sign by Shudu Lake, various locations on the plank road, and on the boat.
Tickets: Pudacuo National Park ticket + round-trip sightseeing bus ticket within the scenic area, 138 yuan for adults.
Pudacuo National Park Shudu Lake boat ticket is 65 yuan for all groups.
Opening hours: 08:30-16:00 year-round
A trip to Shangri-La is filled with surprises at every turn.
The further you go, the lower the altitude, and the natural wonders take on a whole new, dreamlike quality.
Arriving at Baishuitai in Sanba Township, I marveled once again at the wonders of nature.
Isn't this a natural watercolor painting? No wonder it's called "The Immortal's Abandoned Field."
Travertine pools of varying sizes and shapes are like priceless jade inlaid on the hilltop.
After looking through the information, I learned that Baishuitai is one of the largest Huaquan terraces in the world. The approximately 200-acre terrace and the surrounding environment form five beautiful scenes. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the entrance of the scenic area to the core tourist area. Along the way, you will meet many local Naxi compatriots and some very strong horses, which is full of local flavor. Baishuitai is one of the origins and birthplaces of Naxi Dongba culture. Every year on the eighth day of the second lunar month, local compatriots hold a grand "Chao Baishui" ceremony.
Approaching the core area of Baishuitai, it feels like entering a magical world created by immortals.
The travertine pools cascade layer upon layer, with water cascading down from the heights, like sweet spring water flowing from the Milky Way to the human world.
Standing in front of the travertine pools, I longed to sing, but I didn't dare, for fear of disturbing the tranquil beauty of the moment.
The small tree stretches lazily upwards alone, and its casual posture makes the scenery more lively.
Tickets: Adults from 30 yuan
Opening hours: 7:00-17:00
Suggested visiting time: About 2 hours
The Yangtze River originates in the Tanggula Mountains of Qinghai Province, with its source at the Dangqu River. After merging with the Tuotuo River, it becomes the Tongtian River. It then flows onward, becoming known as the Jinsha River. It is not until it merges with the Minjiang River in Yibin, Sichuan, that it becomes the Yangtze River.
The Jinsha River, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, is named for its abundant golden sand. As it flows through Shangri-La and Lijiang, it largely weaves through towering mountains. Its roaring, turbulent waters resemble the Hukou section of the Yellow River.
How can you come to Shangri-La and not visit Tiger Leaping Gorge?
Tiger Leaping Gorge is divided into three sections: upper, middle, and lower. Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge is the best place to view the gorge, located next to the East Ring Road in Tiger Leaping Gorge Town, Shangri-La City.
Here, dangerous peaks soar into the clouds. The Jinsha River rushes down through the first bend of the Yangtze River into the canyon between the Yulong and Haba snow-capped mountains, creating a large altitude difference and forming a series of majestic and magnificent waterfalls.
You can walk or take the escalator to the viewing area directly by the water.
Seeing the rolling waves and hearing the loud rumbling sounds, I exclaimed: "Danger, dangerous, really dangerous!"
Within the scenic area, there's a Tiger Leaping Stone, and there are also many tiger symbols around the area. Legend has it that a tiger once used this stone to leap across the river.
Tiger Leaping Gorge also offers a high-altitude hiking route, offering panoramic views of snow-capped mountains, canyons, rapids, and more. It is known as one of the "World's Top Ten Classic Hiking Routes."
Ticket Price: Adults 45 yuan. A full-length Pingbu Qingyun Ladder ticket is 70 yuan (online price): 50 yuan for the ascent and 30 yuan for the descent.
Suggested Visit Duration: 1.5-2 hours.
During this trip to Shangri-La, we stayed at the Elong Hotel (Dukezong Ancient Town High-Speed Railway Station Branch) for both nights.
This is a newly opened hotel, very close to Shangri-La Station, the airport, Dukezong Ancient Town, and Shika Snow Mountain. It has a nice interior and exterior environment and is very cost-effective.
This was the best Tibetan meal I've had so far in Shangri-La. The presentation was exquisite, the flavors were top-notch, and there was a performance with rich ethnic flavor, creating a wonderful atmosphere. After dinner, you can walk directly to Dukezong Ancient Town for a tour.
By the way, the restaurant is called Minzhu Lamu Tibetan Restaurant Shangri-La Kitchen.
Main Transportation: Fly to Diqing Shangri-La Airport or take an intercity train to Shangri-La Station.
Minor Transportation: We recommend renting a car or chartering a car.
My trip to Shangri-La was absolutely perfect. I look forward to my next trip to Diqing Prefecture.
In addition to Shangri-La, Weixi and Deqin in Diqing Prefecture are also very nice.
Number of days: 1 day, Average cost: 200 yuan, Updated: 2021.02.28
Number of days: 4 days, Average cost: 3,000 yuan, Updated: 2020.11.22
Number of days：5 days, Average cost: 5600 yuan, Updated: 2023.05.27
Number of days: 10 days, Average cost: 4,000 yuan, Updated: 2022.02.14
Number of days: 4 days, Average cost: 4,000 yuan, Updated: 2024.07.05
Number of days: 4 days, Average cost: 2400 yuan, Updated: 2022.01.27
