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Songzanlin Monastery, the little Potala of Shangri-La, Yunnan
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Shangri-La Travel Guide — Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park, Dukezong and the world's largest prayer wheel

Shangri-La - the Tibetan town at about 3,200 m that took the name of the lost paradise - is the gateway of the Yunnan highlands. Songzanlin Monastery (the 'little Potala'), Pudacuo National Park with its alpine lakes and boardwalks, the old town of Dukezong with the world's largest prayer wheel, the Shika Snow Mountain above the Napa Lake wetland and the road south to Meili Snow Mountain and the Tiger Leaping Gorge make up the classic visit. The field guide budgets about RMB 1,500 for a 1-3 day stay; the best months are May-June for the rhododendrons and September-November for the autumn colour. This guide carries the tickets, buses, hotels and the practical numbers from the guide, so you can plan it yourself or have our team arrange it end to end.

Shangri-LaSongzanlinPudacuoDukezongNapa LakeShika Snow MountainTibetanYunnan
1-3 DaysThe classic stay covers Songzanlin, Pudacuo, Dukezong and the Napa Lake plain
RMB 1,500Entry to Pudacuo RMB 258 (ticket + shuttle), Songzanlin RMB 115, hostels from RMB 45 and five-stars from RMB 1,000
May-June & Sep-NovThe rhododendrons of May-June and the autumn colour of September-November; July-August is warm at 20-28°C
Free Booking HelpHotels, tickets & tours by our team
What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Shangri-La Bucket Listthe monastery, the park, the old town and the snow mountains

01

Climb to Songzanlin

The 'little Potala' on its hill - RMB 115, 07:30-18:30, bus 3 (RMB 1) or a RMB 15 taxi; the gilt roofs and the chanting of the morning.

02

Walk the Pudacuo boardwalks

The alpine park of Bita Lake and Shudu Lake - RMB 258 with the shuttle, the coaches at 09:30-15:00, and the mountain air at 3,500-4,200 m.

03

Turn the great prayer wheel

The world's largest prayer wheel above Dukezong - one turn is said to equal 1.24 million recitations of the mantra.

04

Ride the Shika cableway

The two-stage cableway of Shika Snow Mountain reaches 4,500 m - RMB 220, with the Napa Lake plain below.

05

Watch the autumn of Napa Lake

The wetland plain west of the town - the black-necked cranes in winter and the golden grass of autumn; entry RMB 65 with the horse ride.

06

Drive to Meili Snow Mountain

The sacred 6,740-m Kawagarbo - the Deqin coaches (RMB 70, 8 hours, 08:20/09:20/12:00) and the Feilai Temple viewpoint.

Top Highlightsthe monastery, the lakes and the high plateau

No.1Songzanlin Monastery

Songzanlin Monastery

The little Potala of the high plateau.

No.2Pudacuo National Park

Pudacuo National Park

The alpine lakes and the boardwalks.

No.3Dukezong & the prayer wheel

Dukezong & the prayer wheel

The old town and the golden wheel.

No.4The plateau pastures

The plateau pastures

The meadows and the yaks of Napa.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Shangri-La

How many days do I need in Shangri-La?

The field guide budgets about RMB 1,500 for 1-3 days. One day for Songzanlin and Dukezong, one for Pudacuo, and a third for Napa Lake and the Shika cableway; the Meili Snow Mountain road adds two days.

Is there altitude sickness?

Shangri-La sits at about 3,200 m - mild symptoms for some, rarely serious. Walk slowly on the first day, drink water and rest; Pudacuo runs to 4,200 m on the shuttle route.

What is the best season?

May-June for the rhododendrons and September-November for the autumn colour and the clear skies; July-August is warm (20-28°C) and the rainy season; winter is cold, sunny and quiet.

How much is Pudacuo?

RMB 258 combined - the RMB 178 ticket plus the RMB 80 shuttle; the coaches leave the coach terminal 09:30-15:00 at RMB 30 return, a hired car is RMB 180 a day, and a taxi is RMB 80 one way / RMB 150 return; the park office is +86 887 823 2533.

How do I reach Songzanlin?

Bus 3 (RMB 1) or a taxi at about RMB 15 from the old town; the monastery is open 07:30-18:30 at RMB 115.

Can I see Meili Snow Mountain?

Yes - the Deqin coaches leave at 08:20/09:20/12:00 (RMB 70, about 8 hours) and the Feilai Temple is the classic viewpoint; a hired car is about RMB 600.

Can ToursChinaTravel arrange my Shangri-La trip?

Yes - email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team books the Pudacuo shuttle, the Songzanlin tickets, the Shika cableway, the Deqin coaches and the hotels, free of charge.

Sample Itinerariesthe monastery, the park and the snow mountain

Shangri-La 2-Day Songzanlin & Pudacuo

The monastery, the old town and the alpine lakes - the essential highlands. View the plan →

Day 1

Songzanlin Monastery in the morning (bus 3 or a taxi), the Dukezong old town and the great prayer wheel in the afternoon, and the yak-broth hotpot of the town at night.

Day 2

Pudacuo National Park - the morning shuttle from the coach terminal, the Bita Lake and Shudu Lake boardwalks at 3,500-4,200 m, and the return to the old town.

Shangri-La 3-Day Napa Lake & Shika Snow Mountain

The wetland, the cableway and the plateau road - the wider Shangri-La. View the plan →

Day 1

Songzanlin and Dukezong - the monastery, the prayer wheel and the old-town lanes.

Day 2

Pudacuo National Park - the alpine lakes and the boardwalk day.

Day 3

Napa Lake and Shika Snow Mountain - the wetland plain, the two-stage cableway to 4,500 m and the plateau views; or the Balagezong Gorge option.

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Shangri-La itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Songzanlin Monastery

Songzanlin Monastery

The 'little Potala' on its hill above the town - RMB 115, 07:30-18:30; bus 3 (RMB 1) or a taxi at about RMB 15; the gilt roofs and the morning chanting.

RMB 115 · 07:30-18:30 · Monastery · Tibetan
View details →
Pudacuo National Park

Pudacuo National Park

The alpine park of Bita Lake and Shudu Lake - RMB 258 combined (ticket RMB 178 + shuttle RMB 80); coaches 09:30-15:00 (RMB 30 return), a hired car RMB 180 a day, a taxi RMB 80 one way / RMB 150 return; +86 887 823 2533.

RMB 258 · 08:00-16:00 · National Park · Lakes
View details →
Dukezong Old Town

Dukezong Old Town

The best-preserved and largest Tibetan old town of China - the tea-horse road hub, the lanes of the mud and timber houses and the hill of the great prayer wheel.

Free · All day · Old Town · Tibetan
View details →
The Great Prayer Wheel

The Great Prayer Wheel

The world's largest prayer wheel on the Guishan hill above Dukezong - one turn equals 1.24 million recitations; a taxi from the airport costs RMB 20-30.

Free · Daylight hours · Prayer Wheel · Landmark
View details →
Napa Lake & Shika Snow Mountain

Napa Lake & Shika Snow Mountain

The wetland plain west of the town with the autumn grass and the winter cranes - entry RMB 65 with the horse ride; the Shika cableway (two stages to 4,500 m) is RMB 220; the hourly RMB 6 bus or a RMB 50 taxi round trip.

RMB 65 / 220 · 08:00-17:00 · Wetland · Snow Mountain
View details →
Baishuitai (White Water Terrace)

Baishuitai (White Water Terrace)

The travertine terraces of the Bai Shui - RMB 30; the Sanba township bus at RMB 26 or a hired car at RMB 400 return.

RMB 30 · 08:00-17:00 · Terraces · Karst
View details →
Meili Snow Mountain (via Deqin)

Meili Snow Mountain (via Deqin)

The sacred 6,740-m Kawagarbo - the Deqin coaches (RMB 70, about 8 hours, 08:20/09:20/12:00) and the Feilai Temple viewpoint; a hired car about RMB 600.

Viewpoint free · All day · Snow Mountain · Sacred
View details →
Balagezong Grand Canyon

Balagezong Grand Canyon

The gorge and the terraces of the upper Jinsha - RMB 186 with the special bus (RMB 50 return, 08:30 departure, back about 17:00).

RMB 186 · 08:30-17:00 · Canyon · Gorge
View details →

More in the region on the Yunnan attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsthe horse races, the festivals and the plateau nights

The Horse Racing Festival

The first days of the fifth lunar month at the Wufengshan racecourse - the three days of the plateau horses and the songs.

The Xianzi Festival

The 7th-9th of the fifth lunar month - the Tibetan circle dance of the old town.

The Dengba Festival

The 15th of the seventh lunar month - the harvest festival of the monasteries and the villages.

The yak-broth nights

The Tibetan hotpot of the old town - the yak broth, the barley cakes and the butter tea of the high plateau.

Where to Stayold-town inns and the five-star retreats

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Yunnan hotels directory.

Ren'ai Banyan Tree (Ringha)

The five-star valley resort - from RMB 1,500; +86 887 828 8822.

Phone: +86 887 828 8822 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Songtsam Green Valley

The four-star Tibetan lodge - from RMB 1,000; +86 887 828 8889.

Phone: +86 887 828 8889 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Tianjie Shenchuan Hotel

The comfortable four-star of the town - from RMB 1,000; +86 887 822 8008.

Phone: +86 887 822 8008 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Mengxian Hotel

The budget hotel of the old town - from RMB 115; +86 887 828 9998.

Phone: +86 887 828 9998 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Tiantangniao Inn

The courtyard inn at 7 Donglang Street, Dukezong - from RMB 260; +86 133 9887 7789 / +86 887 829 0789, www.ttninn.com.

Phone: +86 887 829 0789 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Lantian International Youth Hostel

The travellers' hostel on the Sifang Street of the old town - beds from about RMB 45.

Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Qingke Hostel

The friendly hostel at 76 Beimen Street, Dukezong - from RMB 45; +86 887 823 2100 / +86 133 0887 8500.

Phone: +86 887 823 2100 · Book: Yunnan hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantsyak hotpot, barley cakes and the butter tea

Yak-broth hotpot

The Tibetan classic of the plateau - the yak slices, the vegetables and the rich broth of the old-town pots.

Butter tea & tsampa

The barley cakes (tsampa) and the salty butter tea - the everyday food of the highlands, not sweet.

Highland barley wine

The clear barley liquor of the plateau - served warm at the Tibetan tables.

Dried yak meat

The air-dried yak of the plateau - chewy, salty and the classic take-home.

The old-town teahouses

The Dukezong teahouses serve the Tibetan food and the plateau views - the quiet tables of the old town.

Shopping & Souvenirsyak products, Tibetan crafts and the plateau keepsakes

Dried yak meat

The air-dried yak of the plateau - the classic take-home of Shangri-La.

Tibetan knives & ornaments

The hand-made knives, the turquoise and the silver of the Tibetan workshops - the crafts of the old town.

Buddhist thangka & prayer flags

The thangka paintings and the five-colour prayer flags of the monastery shops.

Highland barley products

The barley flour, the cakes and the wine of the plateau - the food souvenirs.

The Dukezong market

The night market and the craft stalls of the old town - the prayer wheels, the beads and the weaves.

Full local-product guides live on the Yunnan specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundthe Lijiang road, the plateau buses and the hired cars

About 180 km - the coaches and the hired cars over the Dali Expressway to the Tiger Leaping Gorge junction, then the sealed road to Shangri-La, safe all year (snow closures rare in winter).

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/G3lnbKl2fogBuUx4wAEcjM8bnab

Shangri-La Airport, about 4 km from the town - a taxi to Dukezong at RMB 20-30.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/Z23dbYGZEoI2TNxY5i0c7ILvnWh

The coach terminal - Pudacuo shuttles (09:30-15:00), the Deqin coaches (08:20/09:20/12:00, RMB 70, 8 hours) and the Lijiang and Kunming lines.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/G3lnbKl2fogBuUx4wAEcjM8bnab

A full-day car with the driver at RMB 180-600 depending on the route - the flexible way to Pudacuo, Napa, Baishuitai and Deqin.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/GoWNbhC4ro5gBAxZQWvcROtNnxg

The town taxis are cheap and the buses are RMB 1-6 - Songzanlin by bus 3, Napa by the hourly RMB 6 bus.

https://media.doubao.com/space/api/box/stream/download/all_by_mount_point/Rw10bEPvOoICXRxIdJSc1PpAn5b

Day Trips From Shangri-Lathe monastery, the lake and the canyon

Songzanlin & Dukezong Day Trip

Songzanlin & Dukezong Day Trip

The monastery, the prayer wheel and the old-town lanes in a day.

Napa Lake & Shika Snow Mountain Day Trip

Napa Lake & Shika Snow Mountain Day Trip

The wetland plain and the cableway to 4,500 m.

Balagezong Canyon Day Trip

Balagezong Canyon Day Trip

The gorge and the terraces of the upper Jinsha.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

The altitude is real

At 3,200 m, walk slowly on the first day and drink water; the Pudacuo shuttle reaches 4,200 m - the pace is the key.

Dress for the plateau

The sun is fierce and the evenings are cold - the hat, the sunscreen and a warm layer all year; the cableway tops need the down jacket.

The season is May-June and September-November

The rhododendrons in May-June and the autumn colour in September-November; the summer rain can close the mountain roads.

Book the festival weeks

The horse-racing festival and the National Day week fill the old-town inns - book ahead.

Respect the monasteries

No photographs inside the chanting halls; walk clockwise around the prayer wheels and the stupas.

Carry cash for the villages

The Napa and Baishuitai villages take cash - the old town has the ATMs.

Practical Informationbanks, hospitals, emergencies and local help

Pudacuo park office

The park information and complaints: +86 887 823 2533; rescue +86 887 823 2529; www.puda-cuo.com.

Phone: +86 887 823 2533

Shangri-La tourism office

The town tourism information.

Phone: Not published

The old-town clinic

The clinic of Dukezong for the altitude complaints.

Phone: Not published

Shangri-La airport

The airport information: the flights of the plateau.

Phone: Not published

The coach terminal

The Pudacuo shuttles and the Deqin coaches - the timetable of the plateau.

Phone: Not published

Background & Historythe lost horizon of the highlands

The name

The town of Zhongdian took the name Shangri-La from James Hilton's 'Lost Horizon' in 2001 - the search for the earthly paradise that the plateau had long claimed.

The little Potala

Songzanlin was built in 1679 under the fifth Dalai Lama, laid out on the plan of the Potala in Lhasa - the largest Tibetan monastery of Yunnan.

The tea-horse road

Dukezong was the great caravan market where the Yunnan tea crossed the plateau to Tibet - the old town of the mud and timber houses.

The sacred mountains

Kawagarbo of Meili is the holiest peak of the Tibetan east - the pilgrims circle it and the Feilai Temple is the prayer place of the travellers.

Plan Your Shangri-La Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Shangri-La trip lives on the site.

Yunnan Attractions

Yunnan Attractions

Star-rated sight details — hours, tickets, phones and tips for every Yunnan attraction.

Browse Yunnan sights
Shangri-La Hotels

Shangri-La Hotels

Star-rated hotels across Yunnan — sorted by rating, all bookable by our team.

Book a Yunnan hotel
Flights & Trains

Flights & Trains

Routes, airlines and schedules for flights and rail to Shangri-La.

See China flights
Yunnan Specialties

Yunnan Specialties

Local products, crafts and foods of Yunnan — where to find each one.

Browse Yunnan specialties
Yunnan Travel Agencies

Yunnan Travel Agencies

Licensed agencies with addresses, phones and booking contacts.

Find a Yunnan agency
More China Travel Guides

More China Travel Guides

More city and region guides across China, including the Yunnan guide.

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