Shangri-La

About Shangri-La

Shangri-La lies in northwestern Yunnan at about 3,300 metres and is the seat of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Once called Zhongdian, it took its present name in 2001. The main sights are Pudacuo National Park with Shudu and Bita lakes, the Napa Hai grasslands, and Songzanlin Monastery — the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, often called a miniature Potala Palace; Guishan Park in Dukezong Old Town holds the world's largest prayer wheel. From May to October the meadows fill with wildflowers, after which come snow peaks and migratory birds. The altitude is high and oxygen thin: skip showers and heavy activity on your first day, and bring altitude medicine. Diqing Airport has direct flights to Kunming and Chengdu, and a private car from Lijiang takes about four hours. Two to three days suits most trips, usually combined with Lijiang and Dali.