Shangri-La, formerly Zhongdian, is the capital of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan province in southern China.
Shangri-La, a Tibetan word meaning 'a land of sacredness and peace', is remarkable for its Tibetan culture and alpine landscapes, including sacred snowcapped mountains, spectacular gorges, clear lakes, and bucolic villages.
We have produced this 7-step Shangri-La trip-planning guide to help you discover the top things to do, when the best times to visit are, how to get to Shangri-La, where to stay, and what a Shangri-La tour usually includes.
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1. Choose from the Top Things to Do in Shangri-La
Our recommendations are based on the unique characteristics of the Shangri-La experience. Choose according to your preferences. If there are other places you'd like to visit that aren't listed, just contact us and we will arrange them for you.
What Are the Must-Sees?
- Experience mysterious Tibetan Buddhism at Songzanlin Monastery: It is the most representative landmark of Shangri-La and should not be missed.
- Explore Dukezong Ancient Town: It is also a must-visit. There, you could see the best-preserved Tibetan residential building group in China and also immerse yourself in the warm hospitality of the local residents.
- Marvel at the incredible Tiger Leaping Gorge: The Upper Gorge with its well-paved plank path is suitable for sightseeing and an easy hike. If you prefer an adventurous hike, the Middle Gorge is recommended.
How to Choose between the Snow Mountains
Shangri-La boasts many stunning snowcapped mountain views. If you have limited time but want to witness the most classic snowy landscapes, the Meili Snow Mountains are the top choice.
The sunrise glow on the Meili Snow Mountains is one of the main attractions that draws countless visitors, with the best viewing time being from October to April.
For a deeper snow mountain experience, such as trekking, we recommend Haba Snow Mountain. Conveniently located between Lijiang and Shangri-La, it is accessible and great for beginners.
Another relatively lesser-known option is Baima Snow Mountain, which you would pass on the way to the Meili Snow Mountains. Compared to the Meili range, Baima Snow Mountain features richer vegetation and is perfect for capturing diverse scenic photos.
Where Is Best for Natural Views?
The stunning plateau lakes and meadows of Shangri-La are also must-see attractions. Pudacuo National Park and Napa Lake are the two most popular spots to appreciate these landscapes.
If you have limited time and could only choose one, Pudacuo National Park is recommended. It offers a more diverse range of scenery, including forests, lakes, and streams, and provides more ways to explore, such as hiking, cycling, and boating.
Napa Lake, on the other hand, is mainly focused on grassland views, but it is at a lower altitude, making it easier to explore. It is also a free attraction.
If you have ample time, visiting both sites would provide a richer experience. However, it is not advisable to visit both on the same day as it could make the trip too rushed and the experiences repetitive.
Our guest in PudacuoHow to Choose Places for Hiking
Tiger Leaping Gorge is the most popular hiking route. Aside from Tiger Leaping Gorge, if you're looking for more hiking options, you might consider a Yubeng trek.
Compared to the gorge and snowy mountain views of Tiger Leaping Gorge, the scenery in and around Yubeng Village is more diverse, including snowcapped peaks, glaciers, forests, lakes, and waterfalls. You could also get a closer view of the Meili Snow Mountains. The scenery in Yubeng is more beautiful but also relatively more challenging.
Additionally, there are some lesser-known hiking routes, such as Nanjiluo and Mingyong Glacier. Nangjiluo is more pristine and, to protect the ecological environment, daily entry is limited and requires advance booking.
The hiking difficulty is less than that of Yubeng and the scenery is similar to the Swiss Alps. In April and May, the mountains are covered with blooming rhododendrons.
Mingyong Glacier, the longest glacier under Kawagebo Peak (the highest of the eight sacred mountains in China's Tibetan areas), is the closest place you could get to the sacred mountain.
Few people hike there, making it so tranquil that you could hear your own heartbeat, the sound of the wind, and the melting glacier water. Accompanied by the fluttering colorful prayer flags, you could quietly feel the power of faith.
Hiking in Yubeng2. Consider the Length of Your Stay
Shangri-La is often included in a 7- or 8-day trip to Yunnan province, along with Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang. Typically, 2 to 3 days are recommended to explore Shangri-La's attractions and nearby highlights, such as Tiger Leaping Gorge, Songzanlin Monastery, and Pudacuo National Park.
Check out our 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour for more details.
If you want to explore Shangri-La and extend your trip to remote areas, such as Deqin, where the Meili Snow Mountains are located, you would need 6–7 days. You could refer to our 7-Day Shangri-La and Meili Snow Mountains Adventure Tour for detailed planning.
After a Shangri-La trip, you could fly to Chengdu or Tibet. These routes are popular extensions for travelers exploring Yunnan province. If you have such a plan, you could get some inspiration from our How to Plan a Yunnan and Tibet Trip and How to Plan a Yunnan and Chengdu Trip.
Alternatively, if you have other requirements or need help, feel free to contact us. All of our tours can be customized or adjusted based on your preferences.
3. Know Shangri-La's Weather and Best Times to Go
The best time to visit Shangri-La is from May to October when the weather is not very cold and the air has a relatively high oxygen content. However, Shangri-La could be visited year-round, with each season offering unique scenery.
- Spring (April to May): Enjoy the blossoming wildflowers in Pudacuo National Park or Nanjiluo.
- Summer (June to August): Ideal for cool weather and experiencing lush grasslands and forests, although there is more frequent rainfall.
- Autumn (September to October): Perfect for sightseeing, hiking, and photography.
- Winter (November to March): It could be cold but you would get the clearest, snowiest views of the Meili Snow Mountains and more chances to witness an awe-inspiring sunrise.
What to Bring for a Shangri-La Tour
The daily temperature difference is big in Shangri-La, so wearing layers is best if they are easy to take on and off. Lightweight, warm, rainproof, and breathable coats or down jackets and other technical mountain clothing as well as comfortable walking shoes are always suggested for Shangri-La, especially if you plan to go hiking.
As the sunshine is strong in Shangri-La, sunblock, sunglasses, and hats are recommended year-round.
4. How to Get to Shangri-La
Direct flights from Chengdu, Chongqing, Lhasa, and Guangzhou to Shangri-La are available. For most other cities, the most convenient way to reach Shangri-La is to fly to Kunming first and then head to Shangri-La.
Within Yunnan province, the recommended way to travel from Kunming to Shangri-La is by plane, which takes about 1 hour. If you choose the high-speed train, it would take about 5 hours.
From Dali, the best option is the bullet train, taking about 4 hours, as there are no direct flights.
From Lijiang, there are two options. If you plan to visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is located between Lijiang and Shangri-La, traveling by car is recommended. If you want to go directly from Lijiang to Shangri-La, taking the 1-hour bullet train is the best choice.
5. How to Get Around Shangri-La
In Shangri-La, there are few attractions within the city and even fewer are accessible by public transportation. The main attractions reachable by public transport are Dukezong Ancient Town and Songzanlin Monastery.
More distant attractions, such as Pudacuo National Park and Napa Lake, are better accessed by taxi or private vehicle. For more remote destinations, such as the Meili Snow Mountains, which are about a 3-hour drive from the city, renting a car and driver is the best option. Even for Chinese tourists, most people choose to hire a car.
Foreign travelers, if you are concerned about the language barrier or the safety of renting cars, you could consider using a private tour service such as ours. Having a private tour guide and car on standby all day would provide a more personalized experience and deeper insights into the local culture and history. Additionally, it is more convenient and hassle-free. Contact us to book a Yunnan trip.
6. Where to Stay in Shangri-La
In Shangri-La, it is common to stay for 2–3 nights. If your trip focuses mainly on the city and its surroundings, staying in the city center area is ideal. However, if you plan to visit the Meili Snow Mountains, you could spend one night in the vicinity of the mountain.
The City Center Area
Shangri-La is a relatively small city with its center around Dukezong Ancient Town, the top recommended location. It is conveniently close to both the airport and the train station, and the surrounding area is lively with plenty of restaurants and entertainment options. In the evenings, you could explore the ancient town and enjoy its nighttime atmosphere.
Staying on the outskirts of the ancient town is more recommended than staying inside as the cobblestone streets could be difficult to navigate with suitcases, especially for families with a lot of luggage.
Another recommended area is near Songzanlin Monastery, particularly if you are seeking a high-quality and tranquil environment. There are some high-end hotels around it, such as a Songtsam hotel.
The area is surrounded by lakes and forests, and when it snows at night, you could open the window and enjoy views of snowcapped mountains right outside your window.
Zongzanlin MonasteryThe Meili Snow Mountains
Around the Meili Snow Mountains, there are two popular areas to stay: Wunongding Village and Feilai Temple. Both offer excellent platforms for viewing the snow mountains.
If you want a closer view of the mountains and are looking for more hotel options or cost-effective ones, staying near Feilai Temple is recommended. The mountains appear larger and more imposing from this location.
If you are seeking high-quality accommodation and want to see more expansive mountain views, Wunongding Village is the better choice. The vantage point offers a panoramic view due to fewer surrounding buildings, providing an unobstructed, expansive view of all 13 peaks of the Meili Snow Mountains.
The view of Meili Snow Mountains seen from Feilai TempleSpecial Accommodation Experience
Shangri-La also features unique ranch hotels. Some are built as traditional Tibetan tents on the grasslands while others are renovated Tibetan homes located in natural villages.
These hotels are surrounded by vast meadows and snowcapped mountains, such as those located in Napahai and Ren'an Valley.
You could participate in Tibetan pastoral activities, go hiking, go bird-watching, or enjoy barbecues. If you are drawn to nature and adventure, such a hotel could be an excellent option.
7. What and Where to Eat
Butter tea and other Shangri-La snacksShangri-La is a mainly Tibetan area, so you could take the chance to taste authentic Tibetan food.
Butter tea and zanba or tsampa (roasted barley dough) are the main foods there. Yak meat, pipa meat (traditional Tibetan bacon), yogurt, and highland barley wine are also popular types of Tibetan food in Shangri-La.
Shangri-La also produces a type of delicious matsutake. June to November is the best time to pick this mushroom in the wild.
Dukezong Ancient Town is a popular place to discover food. There are various dining options, and if you would like something different to Tibetan food, there are also some Western restaurants or other Chinese food options.
Make Your Yunnan Trip with Us
Feel free to contact us and tell us your (approximate) travel dates, available time, group size, interests, and other requirements. We will create an itinerary based on that information. All of our tours can be customized/adjusted to suit your preferences.