[Shangri-La | Yunnan Province, China "A place like the end of a journey. A utopia close to Tibetan culture and the sky"]

[Shangri-La | Yunnan, China "A place like the end of a journey. A utopia near Tibetan culture and the sky"] - A few hours further north from Lijiang. A town in a mountainous area at an altitude of over 3,000m, that is Shangri-La. The original name was "Zhongdian", but the name itself was changed because it resembled "Shangri-La" that appears in the novel "Lost Horizon". But this is not just a tourist spot. Tibetan culture, monks praying, snowy mountain air, slow time -- wherever you look, you will find a landscape that will calm your soul. ⸻ 📍【Location & Access】 ・Location: Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China ・Access: About 4-5 hours by car or bus from Lijiang (the mountain roads along the way are spectacular) ・About 15 minutes by car from Shangri-La Airport to the city center 🕰️【Best season for sightseeing】 ・April-June and September-October are the best (blue skies + highland flowers + comfortable climate) ・Snowy scenery in winter. At night, it gets below freezing, but the air is clear and the silence is amazing ⸻ 🌄Recommended points • Songzanlin Temple (Songzanlin Temple) → A large temple of Tibetan Buddhism. Modeled after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the scale and atmosphere are impressive. → The air in the main hall, resonating with the monks' chanting, gives you a feeling of being "purified." • Dukezong Ancient City → The old town of Shangri-La. Prayer flags and pagodas blend into the wooden buildings and stone pavement. → The world's largest prayer wheel (a spinning prayer tube) is a must-try. • Plateau nature and yak cuisine → The sky is close. Clouds flow slowly. Time to do nothing is a luxury. → Yak hotpot, cheese, and butter tea are also unique flavors here. ⸻ 📝 Tips ・The altitude is over 3,000m. It is essential to take measures against altitude sickness (don't push yourself on the day of arrival, take deep breaths and stay hydrated). ・The sun is strong, but it is cold in the shade and in the mornings and evenings. Wear clothes that are easy to put on and take off. ・English is hardly spoken at the airport or in the city. It's reassuring to have a translation app - The bus is shaky, so if you get motion sickness easily, it's recommended that you bring motion sickness medicine - The town is small, so you can explore it slowly in 1 night and 2 days to 2 nights and 3 days ⸻ #Shangri-La trip #Shangri-La #Tibetan culture #Absolutely free trip