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Songzanlin Temple, Shangri-La

Shangri-La Tours - The Heaven on Earth

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Shangri-La, a pure land kissed by the deities, is not only the home of trippers’ heart, but also the paradise in the dreams. With many traditional customs and structures retained, there is a strong Tibetan cultural atmosphere for the devout to immerse themselves in. Additionally, the ravishing landscapes is also abundant, making it easier for comers to feel the pulse of nature.

4 days is a classic length of time for a general Shangri-La tour. Walk with us into the Songzanlin Monastery, Yunnan’s largest Tibetan Buddhist temple, and stand in front of the splendid halls representing peace, health and wisdom, clasping your hands together, closing your eyes and praying for yourself. Adventuring in the Potatso National Park, alpine meadows like soft green carpet, highland pastures with yaks and horses grazing in, serene lakes and primeval forests will surely free your soul like never before. While in the Dukezong Ancient Town, let’s admire prayer flags ‘carve’ the shape of the wind, turn the world’s largest prayer wheel to ward off all vexations, and dance around bonfires with locals in traditional Tibetan costumes. If the holiday can be a little longer, then you will receive an invitation from the sacred Meili Snow Mountain to witness the rare “Sunshine Gold Mountain”. Prepare to let your heart echo the mountains’ majesty, bathed in golden rays, and your breath mingle with the morning mist. An outdoor enthusiast? Then check out our themed tour to Yubeng Village, a Chinese National Geographic-rated hiking paradise.

You can unlock even more of Yunnan's magic by extending your trip to Lijiang, Dali, and Kunming, or explore other China destinations or even neighboring countries. All these private itineraries can be customized, and welcome to contact our travel consultants at any time to get your own vacation plan.
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Best Private Shangri-La Tours

FAQs on Shangri-La Tours

The Origin of the Name "Shangri-La"

Shangri-La is Diqing Tibetan, meaning "the sun and the moon in the heart". The word "Shangri-La" became famous in the 1930s when it appeared in James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon. It soon became attractive and desirable when the novel was turned into a film and won a number of Academy Awards.

In 1996, the expedition to find Shangri-La was launched. After one year's effort, the experts found that Zhongdian County was the best place to meet the ideal described in Lost Horizon. In 2001, Zhongdian County was renamed Shangri-La County with the approval of the State Council of China. From then on, this place has become one of the most popular tourist spots.
Songzanlin Monastery
Patatso National Park

How to Get to Shangri-La?

Flight is the first way to get into Shangri-La. At present, there are direct flights available daily from Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Lhasa. It would be better if you're departing from these cities. If not, you could consider transferring from these cities, and among them, Kunming is the best option. In addition to flight, Shangri-La is also accessible by train. There are daily high speed trains available from Chengdu, Kunming, Lijiang and Dali.


► Chengdu to Shangri-La
Train: D239 8:40 / 19:32;
Business Class (CNY1462); First Class (CNY702); Second Class (CNY439).


► Kunming to Shangri-La
5 trains are available from 7:12 to 16:43 every day, each taking about 5 to 6 hours.
Fare Reference: Business Class (CNY715-787); First Class (CNY365-403); Second Class (CNY229-253).

► Lijiang to Shangri-La
9 trains are available from 7:35 to 21:42 every day, each taking about 1.5 hours.
Fare Reference: Business Class (CNY170-219); First Class (CNY78-100); Second Class (CNY49-63).

► Dali to Shangri-La
Train: C597 11:45 / 16:22;
Business Class (CNY458); First Class (CNY227); Second Class (CNY143).


What is the Best Time to Visit Shangri-La?

The best time to visit Shangri-La is in late spring and early summer from May to July and in autumn from September to October.

From May to July is the most beautiful season of Shangri-La when azaleas, irises and other kinds of wild flowers are in full bloom. Imagine the scene of different kinds of flowers, yaks and alpine meadows under the clear blue sky and the warm sunshine. How beautiful and comfortable it is!

From September to October is the season when Shangri-La is most colorful with the blood euphorbia flower, red plum blossom, purple chrysanthemum, white anemone as well as blue gentian. It is also the best time to take photos.

The period from November to April is less recommended due to the cold weather, especially from January to February when the scenic spots are easily blocked by heavy snow.

As for August, it's also not that recommended as it's during the rainy season, which may bring inconvenience for travelling.

Yubeng Village in Shangri-La - a hidden hiking gem in China

A Simple Yubeng Village Hiking Route
A Brief Introduction of the Yubeng Village Hiking
Yubeng village, known as a land of idyllic beauty, is located at the foot of the Goddess Peak of Meili Snow Mountain. As it's not easy to access, it still maintains the most primitive living conditions and the most original forests that have been almost untouched by human destruction.

Entering the Yubeng village is just the beginning and during the following days, we will take the Yubeng village as the camp and hike to the Glacial Lake, the Sacred Waterfall or other scenic spots respectively. We will hike more than 60 kilometers (37 miles) and cross through large areas of virgin forest, mostly at altitudes between 3,000 and 4,000 meters (9,843 - 13,123 feet).

Is the Yubeng Village Hiking Physically Demanding?
The hiking route in the Yubeng village belongs to the elementary level and there are almost no requirements for hikers' skills and equipment. The only test is your perseverance. As long as you can stick to it, there is basically no big problem to get through the whole journey.

Suggestions for a Trip to Shangri-La

• Shangri-La, 3,300 meters (10,827 feet) above sea level, belongs to the high altitude region. Therefore, it's not suitable to do strenuous exercise and drink alcohol and you're kindly suggested to eat more vegetables and fruits to prevent altitude sickness.

• Shangri-La is a plateau area where the temperature is low, so you're suggested to bring thick clothes, especially after October.

• The climate of Shangri-La is dry and the ultraviolet radiation is strong, so you're suggested to prepare the sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses in advance.

• Every year from June to September is the rainy season in Shangri-La and the weather on the plateau is changeable, so please remember to take rain gear when getting out.