[Shangri-La Free Travel] How to travel to Shangri-La for 5 days and 4 nights, a comprehensive guide to itinerary planning!
Contents
- Trip Planner
- Shangri-La Itinerary Planning Overview
- Shangri-La Day 1
- Shangri-La Balagzong Scenic Area
- Shangri-La Day 2
- Songzanlin Scenic Area
- Songzanlin Temple Treasure Exhibition Hall
- Napahai
- Shangri-La Day 3
- Mandala Square
- Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture National Museum
- Wufeng Mountain
- Dukezong Ancient City
- Shangri-La Day 4
- Shika Snow Mountain
- Xiaozhongdian Flower Sea
- Tiger Leaping Gorge (Shangri-La Section)
- Shangri-La Day 5
- Pudacuo National Park
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This guide carefully plans a perfect 5-day and 4-night trip to Shangri-La for you. Covering local attractions, authentic cuisine and popular shopping areas, you can easily enjoy Shangri-La and enjoy a worry-free holiday. Whether it is an in-depth exploration of history and culture or a fashionable check-in in a modern metropolis, this guide can meet your needs. Come and start your wonderful journey to Shangri-La!
Hike to Balagzong and admire the thousand-year-old Bodhi tree, walk through the colorful dense forest of Pudacuo, admire the golden redwoods at Shika Snow Mountain, and enjoy the thrilling rapids at Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Explore the treasure exhibition at Songzanlin Temple, walk the streets of Dukezong Ancient Town to look for traces of the caravans, ride a horse at Napahai to see the endless autumn grass, and all the Tibetan life is within your reach.
| Date | Journey |
| Day 1 | Shangri-La Balagzong Scenic Area |
| Day 2 | Songzanlin Scenic Area->Songzanlin Temple Treasure Exhibition Hall->Napa Lake |
| Day 3 | Mandala Square->Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture National Museum->Wufeng Mountain->Dukezong Ancient Town |
| Day 4 | Shika Snow Mountain->Xiaozhongdian Flower Sea->Tiger Leaping Gorge (Shangri-La Section) |
| Day 5 | Pudacuo National Park |
The Balagzong Grand Canyon has very magnificent natural scenery. You can visit the deep canyons, towering snow-capped mountains, drift in the valley, visit the primitive Tibetan ancient village and take pictures of the beautiful scenery. You can also see the thousand-year-old Bodhi tree, whose trunk has grown into the shape of a human palm, which is very magical. The natural pagoda is also a feature of the scenic area. To visit the natural pagoda, you need to hike from the end of the road in Gala Village.
Address: Bala Village, Nixi Township, Shangri-La County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Transportation: There are sightseeing buses in the scenic area. You can take the sightseeing bus from the entrance of the Balagzong Grand Canyon to Bala Village, and then take a bus to Yazan. The scenic spot ticket includes the sightseeing bus fee.
Business hours: Open from 08:30 to 16:30 tomorrow
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| The canyon itself is very stunning, with a drop of 1,700 meters between the entrance and the top. However, it is inconvenient to go to the Shambhala Pagoda in the off-season, as there are fewer cars. But the pagoda is well worth visiting. The following attractions are not that good. |
The full name of Songzanlin Monastery is Ganden Songzanlin Monastery, also known as Guihua Temple. It is a large Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan and the center of the Gelugpa (Yellow Sect) in Sichuan and Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery is built on the mountain and looks quite similar to the Potala Palace in Lhasa from a distance. Due to its large scale, it is known as the "Little Potala Palace". In addition, the religious instruments and precious cultural relics stored in the temple are also worth seeing.
Address: Near Niwang Road, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Business hours: Open from 07:40 to 18:30 tomorrow (no admission at 16:00)
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| Having been to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Songzanlin Temple can indeed be called the Little Potala Palace. Entering the main hall, you will find exquisite furnishings inside, solemn and compassionate Buddha statues, and colorful murals that tell the legends and teachings of Buddhism. Although I couldn't take photos, the exquisite details are deeply imprinted in my mind. |
The Songzanlin Temple Treasure Exhibition Hall is located near Niwang Road in Shangri-La County, Yunnan Province. It has magnificent Tibetan Yellow Sect temple architecture, exquisite murals, embroidered images and Buddha statues, which are well worth a visit.
Address: Near Niwang Road, Shangri-La County, Yunnan Province
Opening hours: Please contact the attraction to confirm specific opening hours
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| Songzanlin Temple has a long history and a large scale. The Treasure Exhibition Hall displays many exquisitely crafted Buddha statues, ritual vessels, ritual instruments and Buddha thangkas, which have extremely high artistic and cultural value. Many of them are treasures bestowed by the royal family of the Qing Dynasty. |
Napahai is located in the northwest of Shangri-La County and is a seasonal lake on the plateau. The scenery of Napahai in each season is unique. Late summer and early autumn are the rainy season when the water volume is large and Napahai is a large lake. In summer, the grass is lush and small flowers grow on the grassland. Sheep, cattle and horses graze in groups, blending into the grassland. The grassland is golden in autumn and the snow-capped peaks are reflected in the lake. During the dry season of winter and spring, the lake shrinks or even dries up, turning into a large swamp.
Address: Napahaila Grassland Ticketing Center, Wuyi Highway, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Business hours: Open from 09:00 to 18:30 tomorrow
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| Napahai, called "Napacuo" in Tibetan, means "the lake behind the forest". It is the same area as Yila Grassland, but it presents different scenes in different seasons. The landscape changes with the seasons: Rainy season (late summer and early autumn): There is abundant rainfall, rivers flow into it, the water level rises, and a vast lake is formed, which is the Napa Lake. At this time, the lake is sparkling and the grass is lush. There is a small grassland around it with herds of cattle and sheep, which blends into the scenery of lakes and mountains. Dry season (winter and spring): Rainfall decreases, the lake shrinks or even dries up, revealing a large area of swampy meadow, which is the famous Yila grassland. In autumn, the grassland is golden and the snow-capped mountains are reflected in the lake, making the scenery particularly charming. In winter, migratory birds such as black-necked cranes live and overwinter here, adding vitality to the grassland. Geographical location and characteristics: Located in the northwest of Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, about 8 kilometers away from the county seat. It is about 3,266 meters above sea level and is a plateau seasonal lake. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with peaks ranging from 3,800 to 4,449 meters above sea level. It is one of the most plateau-featured scenic spots in Shangri-La and also the largest grassland in the county. It has been listed in the "International Important Wetland List" and has rich flora and fauna resources. It is a migratory transit station and wintering ground for many birds. Travel experience: Tour around the lake: You can choose to charter a car or ride a bicycle around the lake to enjoy the grassland, lake and snow-capped mountain scenery in different seasons. Part of the highway around the lake will form a unique "water highway" landscape during the rainy season. Horse riding: You can experience horse riding in the scenic area and feel the vastness of the grassland. Bird watching: Winter is the best time to watch migratory birds such as black-necked cranes. Photography: Napahai (Yila Grassland) has beautiful scenery in all seasons and is a paradise for photography enthusiasts. Experience Tibetan customs: There are some fruit stalls and picnic spots along the road around the lake, where you can taste local food and experience Tibetan culture. Warm reminder: There is a big temperature difference between day and night in Shangri-La, so please keep warm when visiting Napahai (Yila Grassland). The ultraviolet rays on the plateau are strong, please take sun protection measures. Respect local Tibetan customs. The best time to travel is from June to October every year when you can enjoy the grassland scenery with green grass and blooming wildflowers, as well as the abundant lake landscape. In winter, you can see rare birds. In short, Napahai (Yila Grassland) is a charming natural scenic spot. Its unique seasonal changes have created diverse beautiful landscapes. Whether you like the vastness of the grassland, and the tranquillity of the lake, or are interested in plateau ecology and Tibetan culture, you can find your fun here. |
Mandala Square is located on the west side of Shangri-La city. It is a well-known square in the city and a popular area for local people. Every evening, there are many people dancing the local ethnic square dance - Guozhuang, and the scene is very lively.
Address: 100 meters southeast of the intersection of Pedestrian Street and Changzheng Avenue, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Opening hours: Please contact the attraction to confirm specific opening hours
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| The Mandala Square in Shambhala Park is a landscape built in the form of a mandala. It is a square with 26 pillar reliefs based on the themes of the local ethnic groups. Each pillar has an ethnic statue carved on it. The lake-viewing platform and water-friendly platform have illusory and lively lighting at night, just like a fantasy world. |
The Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture National Museum is located on the south side of the Moonlight Square in Dukezong Ancient Town, Shangri-La County. There are four exhibition halls: Natural Shangri-La, Historical Shangri-La, Cultural Shangri-La, and Today's Shangri-La. The museum consists of two floors. The first floor mainly displays cultural relics unearthed from the Neolithic Age; the second floor mainly displays Tibetan medicine and Buddhism. In addition to the exhibition, there is also a Tibetan medicine consultation room.
Address: Jiantang East Road, Shangri-La County, Yunnan Province, 674400
Business hours: 08:30-18:00 in summer, 09:00-17:30 in winter
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| To the south of Moonlight Square in Dukezong Ancient Town is the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Museum. The CPC Diqing Prefecture Committee and the Diqing Prefecture People's Government moved the museum, which was built as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the founding of Diqing Prefecture, from its original site to the Moonlight Square next to the Dukezong Ancient Town in Shangri-La County. The Diqing State Museum currently has three permanent exhibitions, namely the "Diqing History and Culture Exhibition", the "Diqing National Costume Culture Exhibition" and the "Chinese Tsa Tsa Art Exhibition", as well as two multi-functional temporary exhibition halls. The Thangka Painting Academy in the northeast corner can take you to wander in the magnificent world of Thangka. |
Wufeng Mountain is located 3 km southeast of Shangri-La City. The top of the mountain is 3,696 meters above sea level. It is named after its phoenix shape. Since ancient times, Wufeng Mountain has been revered as a sacred mountain by Tibetans. The mountain is covered with lush vegetation, and the grassland at the foot of the mountain is a traditional horse racing venue in the Tibetan area. Since the Tang Dynasty, Tubo has held horse racing here, and the tradition continues to this day. Currently, this is the main venue for the Shangri-La Horse Racing Festival on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month every year. During the festival, Wufeng Mountain is full of rhododendrons and the grassland becomes a sea of flowers. In addition to horse racing, there are also Yi wrestling, Lisu crossbow shooting, tug-of-war and other activities. Tibetan Guozhuang dance, Reba dance, Naxi Dongba dance, Guihua Temple Tibetan opera and other singing and dancing activities are held all night long, making it very lively.
Address: Kangzhu Avenue, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Business hours: Open all day
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| A magical mountain naturally has a magical story background. The scenery here is very beautiful in May and June. It is like this on the plateau. |
Dukezong Ancient Town is located in the southeast corner of Shangri-La County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It was built by the Tubo Dynasty in the Tang Dynasty. "Dukzong" is the Tibetan pronunciation, which means "moonlight city" and "castle built on stone". The ancient city was built on the mountain, and the road surface was paved with stone slabs according to the terrain, with natural undulations. To this day, you can still see horse hoof prints on the stone road, which are relics left by the horse caravans of long ago.
Address: Kangzhu Avenue, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province
Opening hours: 24 hours a day, all year round
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| I went to Dukezong Ancient Town in Shangri-La some time ago. It was an unforgettable trip. Let me share my experience of the trip with you. - Cultural atmosphere: This ancient city with a history of more than 1,300 years is an important post station on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. It retains many traditional Tibetan buildings, stone roads, prayer flags, and Tibetan houses, exuding a strong Tibetan cultural atmosphere everywhere. Here, you can deeply feel the Tibetan people’s beliefs and philosophy of life. For example, at the prayer wheel area of the Big Buddha Temple, I saw everyone praying devoutly. I was also infected by this atmosphere and followed them to turn the prayer wheel clockwise and make a wish. - Attraction Features: The prayer wheel at the Big Buddha Temple is the largest and tallest prayer wheel in the world. It requires the joint efforts of many people to rotate it, and the scene is spectacular. Guishan Park is located at the highest point of the ancient city, overlooking the entire ancient city, especially at sunset, when the golden afterglow sprinkles on the roofs of the ancient city, it is so beautiful that it leaves you speechless. Moonlight Square is very lively at night, with vendors setting up stalls, and people singing, and you can also see large prayer wheels with lights on the mountain. The Guozhuang dance on Sifang Street is not to be missed. Everyone holds hands in a circle and dances happily to the rhythm. I also joined in and felt the enthusiasm and vitality of the local people. - Food experience: Yak beef hotpot is a must-try. I chose an old shop that has been open for more than ten years. In addition to hotpot, I also tasted Tibetan food such as butter tea, yak yoghurt, and barley cakes. The taste was amazing. The butter tea has a strong salty and fragrant taste. You may not be used to it at first, but the more you drink it, the more you like it; the yak yoghurt has a mellow taste, and paired with white sugar, it is sweet and sour delicious, and very refreshing; the barley cake is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a strong wheat aroma. - Disadvantages: Some businesses in the ancient city overcharge customers, such as some Tibetan clothing rental shops, where prices are not transparent and it is easy to fall into traps. In addition, the ancient city has a heavy commercial atmosphere, and some shops sell souvenirs that are all the same and lack distinctive features. - Travel tips: Before you go, you can learn about Tibetan Buddhist culture and local customs in advance, so that you can better understand and feel them when you travel; when choosing a Tibetan clothing rental store, compare several stores and negotiate the price and included services; when tasting food, you can refer to the reviews of locals and tourists to avoid making mistakes. Dukezong Ancient Town is a place worth visiting. Although it has some minor shortcomings, its unique culture and beautiful scenery still make people linger. |
Shika Sacred Mountain - Golden Toad Swallowing the Moon Golden Toad Swallowing the Moon God of Wealth Mountain, the river flows east to Jinsha Bay; the golden toad is so beautiful, and the wild geese fly south to the grassland! Barley Trellis Avenue - Barley trellises pierce the sky, and Mani stones are piled on both sides; the meadow is crowded with people taking photos, and the love millet is like geese flying south! Yana Qingbo Ranch - see green grass in spring, flowers in summer, wolfsbane in autumn and snow in winter. The snow-capped mountains are colorful in all four seasons, each with its own visual experience! Alpine rocky beach - the rocky beach formed by melting snow-capped mountains looks like a snow-capped mountain from a distance! In the battle of Hexi Ka, both sides went up the mountain again! Suppressing rebellion and banditry in the snowy mountains, bandits and soldiers live together in the mountains! It's not that the flowing rocks don't disturb people, but the loud sound of gunfire shocks the snow-capped mountains! Lingxi Lake is full of spirituality. Legend has it that it was formed from a magic pearl that fell from the sky in ancient times. It is clear and blue all year round and is a natural spring lake full of legendary color. Shika Snow Mountain Scenic Area is located southwest of Shangri-La County, about 7 kilometers away from the county seat and adjacent to Napahai. In the local Tibetan language, Shika Snow Mountain means "mountain with red deer". Although it is called a snow mountain, it only has snow from November to April and May of the following year. The rest of the time, the rocks are exposed. However, the low areas of the mountains are full of lush meadows and blooming rhododendrons, which is very pleasant to wander around. The main peak of Shika Snow Mountain is 4449.5 meters above sea level. The scenery is different in four seasons, which can be summarized in one sentence: "Green grass in spring, flowers in summer, autumn colors in autumn, and snow in winter." In May, the snow is still there, but the foot of the mountain is already full of spring colors. On the green meadow, there are herds of cattle and sheep, and curling smoke from cooking, creating a harmonious pastoral scenery. The following summer will be a sea of flowers, with rhododendrons blooming all over the mountains, competing with each other in beauty and being intoxicating. In September and October, the meadows at the foot of the mountain are dyed red by the blooming wolfsbane, and there are large tracts of golden redwoods, poplars and birches in the mountains. In the winter of November and December, the entire Shika Snow Mountain is covered in white, and it looks particularly holy against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds. There are two cableways in the Shika Snow Mountain Scenic Area, which can easily reach the top. The whole journey takes about 3-4 hours to go up and down by cableway. Considering their physical condition, those with weak constitutions can buy oxygen as a backup at the cableway entrance. The first section of the cableway goes directly to the Yala Qingbo Ranch at an altitude of 3,764 meters. It is exhilarating to wander around the ranch and breathe the refreshing pure air of the plateau. Then return to the cable car station and take the second cable car to the top of the mountain. From the observation deck on the top of the mountain, you can see many surrounding snow-capped mountains in the distance, including Biluo Snow Mountain, Meili Snow Mountain, the Three Sacred Mountains of Yading, Haba and Yulong Snow Mountain. If you want to see all the snow-capped mountains, the suitable period is from November to March or April of the following year. From the mountaintop cable car station, you can walk for about an hour to reach the ten thousand mu azalea forest, where you can not only enjoy the magnificent azalea flowers but also overlook Lingxi Lake. If you are in good physical condition, you can even skip the second section of the cable car and walk directly from the top of the mountain to Yala Qingbo Ranch, but it will take a longer time, about 3 hours more for the whole journey.
Address: Shika Road, Jiantang Town, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province
Business hours: Open from 08:30-17:00 tomorrow
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| The world's No. 1 God of Wealth Mountain, you must prepare a plan in advance before going there, check the weather, and communicate with the scenic area staff in time after buying the tickets to avoid being unable to take the cable car due to strong winds. First take the two-level cable car to the top of the mountain to check in, and then go down to the ranch to slowly walk around. |
Xiaozhongdian Flower Sea is located in a small town that must be passed through when going from Lijiang to Shangri-La. It is located in a high-altitude dam area and has large areas of lush grassland. In early summer every year, this place becomes a sea of flowers, with colorful rhododendrons, wolfsbane, geraniums, and various unknown small flowers and grasses, which attract the admiration of tourists. In autumn, this place becomes the world of wolfsbane. The large, bright red wolfsbane flowers are very beautiful.
Address: National Highway 214, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Opening hours: 24 hours a day, all year round
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| Entering Shangri-La and reaching the plateau dam area, Xiaozhongdian is a village with an altitude of 3,500 meters. The terrain is suddenly open and the scenery is magnificent. Meadows, flower clusters, barley racks, and yaks are constantly passing by on both sides of the road... Unfortunately, the time was short and I was unable to taste real barley wine, tsampa, and butter tea, experience the Tibetan dwellings and customs with earth and wood planks, watch the ferocious "Eastern Divine Dog" Tibetan Mastiff like a lion, and experience the processing of the Kawa and Kazhu Tibetan knives that can cut through iron. |
Tiger Leaping Gorge is world-famous for its huge drop in height. It is located in the east of Tiger Leaping Gorge Town, Shangri-La County. It is divided into three sections: Upper, Middle and Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge, with a total length of about 20 kilometers. The Jinsha River lies in the middle of the canyon, with the Yulong and Haba snow-capped mountains on both sides. The narrowest part of the river is only 20 to 30 meters, and with the huge drop in height, the river water is surging and violent. Tiger Leaping Gorge is also a world-renowned hiking destination, attracting many outdoor enthusiasts every year.
Address: Shangri-La Shanghutiao Scenic Area, Tiger Leaping Gorge Scenic Area, East Ring Road, Tiger Leaping Gorge Town, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Business hours: Open from 08:30 to 17:30 tomorrow
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| It doesn't seem to be a very worthwhile attraction to visit. There are too many legends about it, which makes people feel regretful if they don't go. The only thing that is still okay is that when we went there, Shanghai tourists were free of charge😄, and there is an elevator to go up and down, so it's not tiring, but you have to pay😄 |
Pudacuo National Park is located in the central area of the Greater Shangri-La Scenic Area. It is an important part of the world's natural heritage "Three Parallel Rivers". It is mainly composed of three parts: Bitahai, Shudu Lake and Xiagei Folk Ecological Culture Village. The park has beautiful scenery and a well-preserved original ecological environment. The alpine lakes are quiet and clear, the pastures are vast, and there are wetlands full of flowers and dense virgin forests. Every spring, many azaleas bloom; in autumn, the colors are rich and the scenery is beautiful.
Address: Hongpo Village, Jiantang Town, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Business hours: Open from 08:30 to 16:00 tomorrow (no admission at 15:30)
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| This park is just on the edge of the city and can be reached in half an hour. Most people don’t suffer from altitude sickness 😁. There are two large lakes and a primitive trail. It takes more than five hours to walk, but it is not difficult. The little squirrels are the most interesting. I often see squirrels climbing on me to ask for food. I posted it on my Moments to surprise a lot of people. They all said that I was kind-hearted and had good fortune. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏I was very surprised |
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