Shangri-La Grand Canyon
This canyon was originally called “Biran Canyon.” Because one side of the canyon is called Xiang and the other Li, it came to be known as the “Shangri-La Grand Canyon,” a name that is grand but rathe…
Shangri-La Grand Canyon, Shangri-La
Key facts
- Admission
- ¥170
- Opening hours
- 08:30-18:30 (all year 2026)
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Getting there
- Tourist shuttle buses leave from the parking lot next to Shangri-La Old Town and go directly to the scenic area. Round-trip fare is about ¥50.
- By car
- From downtown Shangri-La, follow National Highway 214 toward Deqin until you reach the three-way junction at Shangqiaotou in Nixi Township, then turn right onto the scenic area road.
- Guidebook rating
- 4 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 266. Open in Google Maps
About Shangri-La Grand Canyon
This canyon was originally called “Biran Canyon.” Because one side of the canyon is called Xiang and the other Li, it came to be known as the “Shangri-La Grand Canyon,” a name that is grand but rather vague.
Some say the Blue Moon Valley described in “Lost Horizon” is located here, and locals have long believed this is a place where immortals dwell, the true Shambhala. Visitors can explore the deep canyon and towering snow peaks, go rafting through the scenic gorge, and visit Bala Village, an unspoiled ancient Tibetan village. It is well worth a visit.
Two marvels in the scenic area should not be missed. The first is a thousand-year-old Bodhi tree whose trunk has grown into the shape of a human palm, a striking sight. The second is the Qudeng Sacred Mountain in the pastures deep inside Jiala Village. Its round, pointed summit is covered in snow, with a black circular rock wall beneath it, and it is known as a natural stupa.
Tips from the guidebook
- 1. On the 15th day of the 12th lunar month, Tibetan communities from Yunnan and Sichuan gather in front of Immortal Cave (仙人洞) to sing and dance.
- 2. You will need to walk to explore the canyon groups, so bring suitable footwear and necessary gear.
- 3. Every November, when heavy snow closes the mountain passes, shuttle buses to the canyon are cancelled. At this time, you can ride horses in and out of the canyon. Prices are based on the bridge reached; from the canyon entrance to the third bridge, the fare is generally ¥60 per person.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Shangri-La Grand Canyon cost?
Admission to Shangri-La Grand Canyon is ¥170, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Shangri-La Grand Canyon?
Shangri-La Grand Canyon is open 08:30-18:30 (all year 2026).
How do I get to Shangri-La Grand Canyon?
Tourist shuttle buses leave from the parking lot next to Shangri-La Old Town and go directly to the scenic area. Round-trip fare is about ¥50.
How long should I spend at Shangri-La Grand Canyon?
Plan on 2 hours for Shangri-La Grand Canyon.
Where is Shangri-La Grand Canyon?
Shangri-La Grand Canyon is in Shangri-La, Yunnan Province, in the Southwest of China. Bala Community, Nixi Township, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
More places in Shangri-La
Niru Village
Located in the heart of the “Three Parallel Rivers” region, this Tibetan village of just 106 households and 643 people boasts high mountain gorges, glaciers and snow peaks, alpine wetlands, forest meadows, and glacial lakes. People call it “the last hidden paradise of Shangri-La,” an ecological Eden that brings together nearly every type of natural landscape found in the Northern Hemisphere, apart from deserts and oceans.
Free · 1–2 hours
Feilai Temple
Feilai Temple sits on the east side of Meili Snow Mountain and faces the Taizi Thirteen Peaks across the Lancang River Grand Canyon, making it one of the best spots to view Meili Snow Mountain. It is recommended to spend a night here. If you are lucky, you may see the evening glow and the “sunlit golden mountain” (Ri Zhao Jin Shan), the Shangri-La scenery described in the novel “Lost Horizon.”
Feilai Temple Viewing Platform: ¥60 · 1–3 hours
Bigu Tianchi Lake
Known as “Chuzhang” in Tibetan, meaning “small lake,” Bigu Tianchi Lake is a high-altitude alpine lake with exceptionally clear water and a very peaceful setting. Surrounded by primeval forest and green pastures where cattle and sheep graze quietly, it offers a serene, refined landscape that seems to lift all your worries away. The lake was also a filming location for the movie “The Promise.”
Free · 2–3 hours
Yubeng Village
“If you don’t go to heaven, go to Yubeng.” Yubeng Village, behind Meili Snow Mountain, has only about 20 households of simple, honest Tibetan people. They follow Buddhism and have lived here for generations to guard the sacred mountain. The village is divided into Upper and Lower Villages and is connected to the outside world by just one post road, which has helped preserve its purity. Its beauty is beyond question. Upper Village leads to the Sino-Japanese Joint Mountaineering Base Camp for Kawagebo, while Lower Village leads to the Yubeng Sacred Waterfall. Along the way, you can see wonders such as the Ancient Seal-Script Scriptures, five trees growing from one root, and mani stones piled along the river.
¥80 (an extra ¥5 management fee applies to enter Yubeng) · 2–3 days
Meili Snow Mountain, Mingyong Glacier
In the hearts of the local Tibetan people, Meili Snow Mountain is a sacred mountain. It is usually shrouded in mist, and locals believe that those who witness the moment the clouds part and reveal the mountain are truly blessed. Mingyong Glacier is equally beautiful. Spending the night in the mountains lets you watch the moon and stars up close, and the stillness and remoteness of the place are something you cannot feel everywhere.
¥150 combo ticket (includes Jinsha River Great Bend ¥60, Wunongding Viewing Platform ¥60, and Feilai Temple Viewing Platform ¥60); ¥228 combo ticket (includes Jinsha River Great Bend ¥60, Wunongding Viewing Platform ¥60, Feilai Temple Viewing Platform ¥60, and Mingyong Glacier ¥78); ¥230 combo ticket (includes Jinsha River Great Bend ¥60, Wunongding Viewing Platform ¥60, Feilai Temple Viewing Platform ¥60, and Yubeng Village ¥80). An extra ¥5 management fee applies to enter Yubeng. · 1–2 days
Shika Snow Mountain
It is the only snow mountain on the northwest Yunnan Plateau with cable car sightseeing facilities. Its location is excellent: from the summit of Shika Snow Mountain, you can take in the Eight Great Sacred Mountains of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet. The landscape changes with the seasons, which can be summed up in a saying: "Spring for green grass, summer for flowers, autumn for autumn colours, winter for snow."
¥270 (ticket + round-trip cable car) · 3–4 hours