Shangri-La is a must-visit destination in one’s lifetime.
Descriptions like “The Lost Horizon” and “The Closest Place to Heaven” have captivated the hearts of every traveler, and I am no exception.
I have been to Shangri-La three times, and it is truly remarkable.
Today’s article is a travel guide to Shangri-La, incredibly detailed and comprehensive.
1) Where is Shangri-La?
Shangri-La is the capital of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, located at the junction of Yunnan, Sichuan, and Tibet.
It borders Lijiang to the southeast; to the northwest, it connects to Meili Snow Mountain, Yubeng Village, and extends all the way to Tibet; to the northeast, it adjoins Daocheng Yading; and to the southwest, it leads to Nujiang.
Shangri-La boasts an advantageous location, allowing for easy connections to various destinations in all directions.
2) How to Explore Shangri-La
Refer to the map above; the main areas to visit in Shangri-La can be divided into three sections.
The first section is along the route from Lijiang to Shangri-La (recommended for 1 day), featuring attractions such as the First Bend of the Yangtze River Viewing Platform, Tiger Leaping Gorge, White Water Terrace, Baha Snow Mountain Viewing Platform, and Xiaozhongdian.
If you are traveling from Lijiang to Shangri-La, you can easily spend a full day visiting these attractions, as they are all along the way.
First Bend of the Yangtze River Viewing Platform
This scenic spot is located by the roadside on the way from Lijiang to Shangri-La. It is a simple yet breathtaking view, offering a panoramic view of the Yangtze River making a 270° turn here.
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Known as the most perilous gorge in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge is famous for its towering mountains, treacherous paths, and powerful waters that cut through rocks.
Indeed, the most unmissable attraction along the route from Lijiang to Shangri-La is Tiger Leaping Gorge. Especially during the rainy season from June to September, it is the most beautiful time to visit, with raging waters and spectacular waves.
In winter, the water flow is relatively calmer, and the water turns a beautiful emerald green.
For outdoor enthusiasts, a hike from Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge is a worthwhile challenge. This hiking trail takes two days, and although it can be strenuous, it is highly rewarding.
Hiking trails and viewpoints offer a different perspective, allowing you to descend from the Zhonghu Tiao Gorge to the valley floor and experience its awe-inspiring grandeur up close. At the Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge, you can also witness the unique scenery of a high gorge giving way to a tranquil lake.
White Water Terrace
The White Water Terrace resembles Turkey’s Cotton Castle, a natural wonder formed by the dissolution of calcium carbonate in spring water.
This spot is perfect for taking beautiful photos, but it’s not on the main route from Lijiang to Shangri-La, requiring a slight detour. As a result, it doesn’t see as many visitors.
Haba Snow Mountain Viewpoint
A great spot for a distant view of the snow-capped mountains, perfect for a quick stop to take photos.
Xiaozhongdian
Xiaozhongdian is a town on the must-pass route from Lijiang to Shangri-La, known for its vast, lush pastures. From late May to mid-June, it transforms into a sea of azaleas and cosmos flowers. In September and October, the pastures bloom with fiery red wolfberry flowers.
If you’re visiting Shangri-La during these months, don’t miss it.
Around Shangri-La City
The main attractions near the city include the Dukezong Ancient Town, Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park, and Napahai. These are the highlights of a Shangri-La trip, and I recommend spending at least two days here.
Dukezong Ancient Town
Also known as the “Moonlight City,” Dukezong Ancient Town has a beautiful name. With a history of over 1,300 years, it was once a major stop on the Tea Horse Road.
Unfortunately, a fire in 2014 destroyed more than two-thirds of the town, and what you see today is almost entirely rebuilt after the fire.
The town is built along the hillside, with the central point being the Turtle Hill Park and Moonlight Square. On Turtle Hill Park stands a massive prayer wheel that requires more than a dozen people to turn.
You won’t miss Dukezong Ancient Town, as you’ll inevitably find yourself either in the town or nearby, just a short walk away.
Additionally, the town’s is quite nice.
Songzanlin Monastery
Known as the “Little Potala Palace,” Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province.
With its grand scale and construction along the mountainside, it shines brilliantly in the sunlight, making it a must-visit attraction in Shangri-La.
Pudacuo
Bitahai, Shudu Lake, and the Militang Alpine Pasture are the main components of Pudacuo, which boasts lake wetlands, forest meadows, river valleys, and rare flora and fauna.
The beauty of spring and autumn is particularly striking, giving me the illusion of being in New Zealand.
Napahai
Napahai, meaning “the lake behind the forest” in Tibetan, is a place where half the year is spent by the lake’s edge, and the other half is dominated by the vast marshy grasslands of Yila Grassland.
I recommend renting a car to circle the lake; the scenery exceeds expectations.
If it’s June or July, the water of Napahai will overflow the nearby roads, making driving on them akin to the water train scene in “Spirited Away.”
Unfortunately, my last visit was in the wrong month, and I missed capturing this. The driving scene in the first episode of “” (Sitting in Silence) was filmed here.
Note that Napahai does not require an entrance ticket. However, some drivers may take you to the Yila Grassland ticket office and encourage you to ride horses, which incurs significant costs.
The best way to explore Napahai is by renting a car to circle the lake or staying at Gaoshan Biezhuang.
How Else Can Shangri-La Be Connected?
To the northwest, you can connect to Benzilan, Meili Snow Mountain, Yubeng, and Tibet.
It’s quite convenient to travel from Shangri-La to Meili Snow Mountain. Meili Snow Mountain is the foremost of the Eight Sacred Mountains, with its main peak at an altitude of 6,740 meters. The sunrise over the golden mountains at Feilaisi is far more spectacular than that at Lijiang’s Yulong Snow Mountain. The best time to view the “golden sunrise” at Meili Snow Mountain is from early November to late May of the following year.
Additionally, the sunset at Meili is also quite impressive.
Renting a car to visit Meili Snow Mountain is recommended; the scenery along the way is very beautiful, comparable to G318.
At the foot of Meili Snow Mountain lies Yubeng, which is now accessible by road. From the urban area of Shangri-La, it takes about three and a half hours by car on the national highway to reach.
Yubeng is a renowned hiking paradise, where you can see the primitive forests with towering ancient trees, the crystal-clear Yubeng River, the snow-capped and majestic Kawa Karpo Mountain, and the Nimeng Grand Canyon.
However, the accommodation conditions in Yubeng are somewhat poor.
On the way from Shangri-La to Meili, there is a must-see spot called Benzilan, where you can appreciate the magnificent view of the Jinsha River Moon Bay.
To the northwest, you can also connect to Daocheng Yading.
The journey along this route is quite strenuous, taking over 7 hours, and there aren’t many places to stop and explore along the way.
There is a route known as the Shangri-La Grand Loop, which connects Shangri-La, Benzilan, Meili Snow Mountain, Batang, Litang, and Daocheng Yading.
Heading southeast, it connects to Lijiang and Dali.
I won’t go into too much detail about these two places, as I’ve written about them far too many times. Just check out the related readings.
Follow along, and you won’t go wrong! The most comprehensive guide to Dali ever.
4) Where to Stay in Shangri-La
Dookart Ancient Town, Moonlight City Indigo, and LUX, which is set to open by the end of December this year.
In the city, the Shangri-La Hotel Group’s return to the scenic spot, Diqing Shangri-La.
At the Songzanlin Monastery, Shangri-La Songzanlinka and Songzan Green Valley.
At Napahai, Alpine Villa.
For high-end camping, choose the Yunjie Grand Flat Tent Camp.
For luxurious Tibetan-style residences, Banyan Tree.
5) The Best Travel Seasons for Shangri-La
The best times to visit Shangri-La are May or October. Yes, just these two short months. May is the time to see flower seas, yaks, and alpine meadows; October is the best time to see the fireweed and autumn scenery.
Additionally, July is when the Tiger Leaping Gorge is most magnificent; wildflowers bloom on the grasslands in July-August.
However, June-September is the rainy season in Shangri-La, with the mountains often shrouded in clouds; November-April is winter, very cold, and almost devoid of tourists.
6) About Altitude Sickness
The average altitude of Shangri-La is around 3,500 meters, far higher than Lijiang, Dali, and Kunming, which may cause mild altitude sickness.
So, it’s advisable to prepare altitude sickness medication. Consider purchasing portable oxygen bottles locally.
Additionally, Shangri-La has strong ultraviolet rays and very dry air, with significant temperature differences between morning and evening. Sun protection and moisturizing measures are necessary.
