# Shangri-La travel guide (香格里拉) Yunnan Province · Southwest, China · 13 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/yunnan/shangri-la ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Ganden Sumtseling Monastery → Dukezong Ancient Town → Guishan Park → Moonlight Square - **Day 2:** Shangri-La → Napa Lake → Shika Snow Mountain → Shangri-La - **Day 3:** Shangri-La → Bigu Tianchi Lake → Tiger Leaping Gorge → Shangri-La - **Day 4:** Shangri-La → Baishuitai Terraces → Haba Snow Mountain → Shangri-La - **Day 5:** Shangri-La → Feilai Temple → Meili Snow Mountain → Yubeng Village - **Day 6:** Shangri-La → Pudacuo National Park → Shangri-La ## The feel of the place - **The Origin of the Name Shangri-La:** The name “Shangri-La” comes from *Lost Horizon*, a novel by a foreign author that describes a tranquil, harmonious, serene utopia, a paradise on earth. In 2001, Zhongdian, a place in northwestern Yunnan, was renamed Shangri-La, because it truly is a heaven on earth. - **Trekking Through Shangri-La:** The beauty of Shangri-La cannot be described in words. It can only be felt with the heart, seen with the eyes and discovered on foot. Trek to Yubeng or Meili, lose yourself among the flower meadows, run freely across the open grasslands, and search for your own paradise in the hidden valleys. ## The feel of the place A Spiritual Journey: Pilgrimage to Meili Snow Mountain Meili Snow Mountain has long been a sacred mountain in the hearts of the Tibetan people, and every year countless pilgrims travel from far away to worship here. The moment you first see the snow peaks, you will surely be awed by their majestic beauty. ### Preparation and Information ### Language Most people speak Mandarin. Only in some remote Tibetan mountain areas will you find people who speak only Tibetan. ### Climate and Travel Season May and June are the best months to visit Shangri-La. During this period the meadows turn green, wildflowers dot the grasslands, the sky is a crystal-clear blue, and clouds drift by from time to time. Around the Dragon Boat Festival, a three-day horse racing festival becomes a grand spring gathering for the Tibetan community. Winter is cold and not ideal for travel, but Losar (Tibetan New Year) and the Gedong Festival both take place in winter. ### Altitude Sickness When your vehicle reaches Little Shangri-La, many people begin to feel tightness in the chest and shortness of breath, which are signs of altitude sickness. The average elevation in Diqing Prefecture is 3,380 meters, and Meili Snow Mountain, at 6,740 meters, is the highest point in Yunnan Province. ### Beware of Photo Fees Before taking photos with locals, always ask first whether they expect a fee for the photo. ### Getting Around There is no airport bus from the airport to central Shangri-La. You will need to take a taxi. Taxis usually do not run on the meter. A typical fare is ¥20–30. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There Shangri-La has no railway station. Flights and long-distance buses are the main ways to reach the city. ### By Air Diqing Shangri-La Airport is about 5 kilometers from the city center. When searching for flights online, you must enter “Diqing Airport” to get accurate results. Searching for “Zhongdian Airport” or “Shangri-La Airport” will return inaccurate information. Diqing Shangri-La Airport ### Shenying Road, Shangri-La City 0887-8229916 ### By Road Long-distance buses run several times a day from Kunming, Dali and Lijiang to Shangri-La, so traveling by road is the most convenient option. Shangri-La Long-Distance Bus Station operates buses to major cities in Yunnan Province and other parts of Diqing Prefecture. There are direct buses to Deqen and to Panzhihua and Daocheng in Sichuan. ### Getting Around the County ### Public Transport Shangri-La city has 8 bus routes. The fare is ¥1. ### Charter Cars Hiring a car is a convenient way to visit the attractions around Shangri-La. Charters are priced by the day, typically ¥500–900 per day for trips to nearby sights. - **Shangri-La Long-Distance Bus Station** — (70 meters directly south of No. 22 Kangding Road) ## Eat & drink Perhaps the beautiful scenery makes up for the limited food here. Apart from butter tea, qingke barley wine and dried yak meat, there is really nothing else special worth recommending. - **Jingjing de Mani Stone Tibetan Restaurant** — A popular local Tibetan hot pot restaurant with lots of character, so expect a queue. Yak hot pot, Kham-style steak, grilled mushrooms and butter tea are all delicious. (No. 3 Chilanggang, Dukezong Ancient Town (near Sifang Street), 13988776674) - **Old Brand Specialty Tibetan Restaurant** — Generous portions of Tibetan-style yak hot pot, plus homemade yogurt, yak pizza, qingke flatbread, qingke tsampa and butter tea. The flavors are authentic and genuine. (No. 1 Chigulang, Cangfang Community, Dukezong Ancient Town (next to Zhima Kaihua Inn, beside 88 Club), 13988733443/13988767297) ## Shopping - **Wooden Bowls and Wooden Boxes** — Wooden bowls and boxes are among the most common everyday household items in Tibetan homes, and Tibetan decorative accessories are another tempting souvenir. Both can be bought in local shops. - **Precious Tibetan Medicines** — Shangri-La city has specialist shops selling medicinal ingredients such as cordyceps, snow lotus, saffron, musk and fritillary bulb. Shangri-La also has a market selling fresh matsutake mushrooms, which summer visitors can buy, but they spoil quickly and should be eaten promptly. ## Where to stay Shangri-La's tourism developed later than that of other attractions in Yunnan, yet its facilities are fully equipped, and its accommodation is comparable to that of big cities. - **Runjing Muqi Hotel** — Located right inside the Napa Lake scenic area, this hotel is clean and hygienic. Some rooms have extra-large floor-to-ceiling windows, so you can enjoy the view without leaving your room. (Inside the Napa Lake scenic area, 15096620258) - **GreenTree Eastern Hotel** — (Shangri-La Dukezong Ancient Town branch) Part of the GreenTree hotel group, this chain hotel has an excellent location and convenient transport. It is about 2.3 kilometers from Dukezong Ancient Town and about 3.4 kilometers from Ganden Sumtseling Monastery. (No. 55 Yangtang Road, Jiantang Town, 0887-3089999) ## Things to see - **Dukezong Ancient Town** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours Open all day (all year 2026); Time needed 2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dukezong-ancient-town - **Napahai Yila Grassland** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 8：00—19：00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/napahai-yila-grassland - **Ganden Sumtseling Monastery** (★★★★): Admission ¥90 (includes the scenic area eco-shuttle fee); Opening hours 7：30—17：30; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/ganden-sumtseling-monastery - **Pudacuo National Park** (★★★★): Admission ¥138 (includes ¥68 park entry and ¥70 shuttle bus fee); Opening hours 8：00—16：30; Time needed 4–6 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/pudacuo-national-park - **Shika Snow Mountain** (★★★★): Admission ¥270 (ticket + round-trip cable car); Opening hours 8：00—16：00; Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shika-snow-mountain - **Baishuitai Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥45; Opening hours Open all day; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/baishuitai-scenic-area ## Day trips & beyond - **Meili Snow Mountain, Mingyong Glacier** (★★★★): Admission ¥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.; Opening hours Open all day (all year 2026); Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/meili-snow-mountain-mingyong-glacier - **Yubeng Village** (★★★★): Admission ¥80 (an extra ¥5 management fee applies to enter Yubeng); Opening hours 07:30-18:00 (all year 2026); Time needed 2–3 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yubeng-village - **Feilai Temple** (★★★★): Admission Feilai Temple Viewing Platform: ¥60; Opening hours 08:00-17:00 (all year 2026); Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/feilai-temple - **Niru Village** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours Open all day (all year 2026); Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/niru-village - **Shangri-La Grand Canyon** (★★★★): Admission ¥170; Opening hours 08:30-18:30 (all year 2026); Time needed 2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shangri-la-grand-canyon - **Bigu Tianchi Lake** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours Open all day (all year 2026); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/bigu-tianchi-lake - **Haba Snow Mountain** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 08:00-20:00 (all year 2026); Time needed 1–3 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/haba-snow-mountain --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 254–269. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.