Baishui Tableland
Bitahai Lake
Meili Snow Mountain
Songzanlin Monastery
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Shangri-La is the "Eden in dream". Since it first appeared in British novelistJames Hilton's Lost Horizon in the 1939, it has been associated withthe mystique of a place which could not possibly exist here on Earth. In Tibetan,Shangri-La means the "sun and moon in heart", an ideal home only found in heaven.There the lofty and continuous snowy mountains, endless grasslands, steep andgrand gorges, azure lakes and the bucolic villages always leave a deep impressionon visitors.
Located at point where Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan all meet, Shangri-La County is administered by Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. In the past, Shangri-La was called Zhongdian or "Jiantang" in Tibetan. In ancient times, it together with Batang (in Tibet) and Litang (in Sichuan) was the fiefdom of the three sons of a Tibetan King. In 2002, Zhongdian changed its name to Shangri-La.
At an average altitude of more than 3,000 meters (about 9,843 feet), Shangri-La is very difficult to reach. Without railways leading there, the chief means of transportation is motor vehicles. To get there, tourists will typically begin their journey in Kunming, traveling first to Lijiang and then taking the long-distance bus in Lijiang to Shangri-La. It's about 175 kilometers (108.74 miles) from Lijiang to Shangri-La. On this way, the Tiger Leaping Gorge can be seen.
Shangri-La is inhabited by many different ethnic groups, with the Tibetans comprising the majority of the population. There you will have an opportunity to experience Tibetan life and learn about their lifestyle, religion and cuisine. The unique scenery, highlighted by plateaus, together with the fascinating ethnic culture makes Shangri-La very attractive and charming to visit.
Shangri-La is rich in natural resources from valuable herbs to rich mineral deposits (including gold, silver, copper, manganese and many other rare metals) to abundant animal resources (such as golden monkeys, leopards and musk deer). Shangri-La is a land full of natural wonders.
As a Chinese saying goes, "The earliest sunrise is seen in Shangri-La; and the most unique place is also there". Once you visit, you will fully appreciate the meaning of this saying. In addition, the warm welcome of the residents of this land will make you feel at home.
Recommended Tour including the visit to Shangri-La:
Yunnan Highlights: 9 days tour of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-la More Shangri-La Tour Information:
Hiking Tours: Information about hiking in Shangri-La for your reference
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Travelers' Voices on Shangri-La County
1.
Nov. 15,2009 09:29 Reply
Ms.Tan said:
We are planning to go Shangrila mid Dec as part of a tour. Is it advisable? Are the days very short in December like it is in Europe?
Nov. 19,2009 02:56
Mr.Jamie replied:
No, days are not short in Shangri-la. For its high altitude, it has longer sun hours than many places in China. It is a bit cold in Dec, snow mountain maybe closed. It is more advisable to get there in MArch or April, or around Feb 14, Tibetan New Year. Two days before the new year, it is the Gedong Festival in Zongzanlin Monastery. It is a mysterious religious festival.
2.
Aug. 22,2009 01:15 Reply
Ms.Airy(Thailand) said:
Is there any flight from Kunming to Shangrila. I'm planning to be in Shagrila for a couple days. Will take day tour from there. Is there any reco about the day tour?
Aug. 24,2009 01:38
Mr.time(cn6649) replied:
No flight. Please go to kunming nanyao railway station first and there are buses to shangrila. There are two runs a day, 6:00 and 18:00. It needs 12 hours to get there and the cost is about 165yuan.
Nov. 2,2009 08:27
Mr.wang(singapore) replied:
take a flight from kunming to lijiang, get aclimatise to the altitude. from Lijiang join a 2 days tour to shangrila.
3.
Aug. 24,2009 21:51 Reply
Mr.Choong(Singapore) said:
Is Shangri-La closed for visitor in late October/November ? Please inform me the dates , as I plan to visit in October .
Aug. 26,2009 02:11
Mr.Paul replied:
As I know, it is not close at that time. Just a bit cold there. Take care and keep warm. Good Luck~
4.
Jul. 9,2009 00:25 Reply
Mr.AMARPRITAM007(India) said:
I MAKE PLAN TO VISIT Sangria-La ON MID OF SEPTEMBER. CAN ANYONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT ABOUT THE CLIMATE AT THAT TIME OVER THERE ?IS THAT TIME IS RAINING HEAVILY OR COLD?
Jul. 9,2009 01:11
Mr.Hank replied:
Generally the weather is comfortable during that period. You could enjoy sunny days at most of time. But, be aware of the rainfall which may cause cold weather suddenly although it is seldom~
Jul. 10,2009 02:16
Mr.AMARPRITAM007(India) replied:
THANKS HANK. CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH PLACES IN SANGRIA-LA MUST HAVE TO VISIT?
Jul. 11,2009 04:22
Mr.Hank replied:
Around Shangri-la, there are many charming places for visiting, including the Meili Snow Mountain, Pudacuo National Park, Guihua Temple, and of course the Tiger Leaping Gorge leading to Lijiang. From here, some people may visit the Lugu Lake for a special folk curturel trip.
Nice trip!
5.
Jul. 10,2009 02:43 Reply
Mr.AMARPRITAM007(India) said:
WHICH PLACES ARE TOP 5 PLACES ACCORDING TO U IN SHANG RI LA ? . THANKS
Jul. 10,2009 04:19
Mr.Jimmy(USA) replied:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/yunnan/shangri_la/
According to TravelChinaGuide.com, the attractions mentioned in the above page are well worth visiting. Although I've not been to these places, many people told me they are really stunning natural sights.
6.
May. 3,2009 09:33 Reply
Ms.Stella(Italy) said:
Hello,
If we start walking along the Tiger Leaping Gorge from Qiaotou and follow the path all the way to the end (we are still not so clear as to where its end is!), will there be a bus we can take from there up to Shangri-la? If so, how long does it take?
Thanks!
May. 3,2009 22:31
Ms.Sandy replied:
You have to return to Qiaotou Town after hiking along the Tiger Leaping Gorge. There, you could catch buses from Lijiang to Shangri-la. The journey is around 3 hours.