Back from Shangri-La: A Word of Caution for Those Planning to Visit
Hi everyone 👋! I'm that travel enthusiast who loves exploring the world 😎. I just returned from Shangri-La and want to share my detailed travel guide from this March trip, which felt like a beautiful dream I never wanted to wake up from.
📍 Shangri-La, meaning "sun and moon in one's heart" in Tibetan, is located in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan. It's the closest place to heaven, with majestic snow mountains, vast grasslands, crystal-clear lakes, and mysterious Tibetan Buddhist culture where prayer chants float in the wind. The pristine forests of Pudacuo, the golden roofs and red walls of Songzanlin Monastery, and the ancient stone paths of Dukezong Old Town are mesmerizing - like stepping into a secluded paradise.
🚗 Transportation Guide
✈️ Most people fly to Kunming Changshui International Airport first, then transfer to Diqing Shangri-La Airport. Though it's a bit tiring, the fatigue instantly vanishes when you see the azure sky, white clouds, and distant snow mountains. Airport buses and taxis are available to the city center.
🚌 If time allows and you want to enjoy the scenery, take a bus from Lijiang. The route offers beautiful views of alpine meadows and forest valleys, but prepare for a long journey.
🚕 Within the city, taxis and ride-hailing services are convenient. For attractions like Pudacuo, you can hire a private car for flexible stops.
🗺 Recommended Itinerary
Day 1: Dukezong Old Town - Songzanlin Monastery
Morning: Stroll through Dukezong Old Town, spin the world's largest prayer wheel for family blessings, and feel the town's tranquil atmosphere. Lunch: Try yak meat hotpot - tender meat simmering in the pot, absolutely delicious 😋. Afternoon: Visit Songzanlin Monastery, the "Little Potala Palace" built on a hillside, with gleaming golden roofs, flowing monk robes, and magnificent murals inside.
Day 2: Pudacuo National Park - Napa Lake
Morning: Head to Pudacuo, breathe the crystal-clear air, walk the Shudu Lake boardwalk, enjoy lake and mountain views, and maybe spot squirrels. Afternoon: Visit Napa Lake, where grasslands meet water. Go horseback riding and enjoy the pastoral scenery - perfect for photos 📷.
Day 3: Shika Snow Mountain - Return
Daytime: Take the cable car up Shika Snow Mountain for breathtaking snow views and panoramic vistas of mountain ranges and rolling clouds. Afternoon: Pack up and head home with wonderful memories.
🌟 5 Must-Visit Spots
📍 Pudacuo National Park: Pristine forests, alpine lakes, and wetland meadows - nature's treasure trove.
📍 Songzanlin Monastery: Yunnan's largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, magnificent architecture with rich cultural heritage.
📍 Dukezong Old Town: A thousand-year-old town with strong Tibetan flavor, blending ancient charm with modern touches.
📍 Napa Lake: Unique grassland wetlands with seasonal views, perfect for nature immersion.
📍 Shika Snow Mountain: Easy access to multiple snow peaks, spectacular views, and a paradise for ski enthusiasts.
📌 Practical Tips
🎫 Book tickets and shuttle buses online to avoid queues.
👗 March is still cold in Shangri-La. Pack down jackets, windbreakers, thermal pants, non-slip waterproof hiking boots, sunglasses, and sunscreen - UV rays are intense at high altitude.
📸 For stargazing photos, find a spot without light pollution like hotel rooftops and bring a tripod. For snow mountain sunrise shots, check timing and secure spots early.
🍜 Local Food Recommendations
🥘 Yak Meat Hotpot: Tender meat in rich broth with local wild vegetables.
🍜 Butter Tea: Traditional Tibetan drink, rich and salty, helps with altitude sickness.
🥣 Highland Barley Cakes: Crispy outside, soft inside, with unique barley fragrance.
🐟 Tibetan-style Grilled Fish: Uniquely seasoned, tender flesh with crispy skin.
🥔 Tuo Tuo Meat: Large chunks of cooked pork with dipping sauce.
🏨 Accommodation
📍 Dukezong Old Town: The 5th Meteorite Light Years Hotel, strong Tibetan style, prime location.
📍 Near Pudacuo: Pudacuo Youyou Manor, serene environment, close to the park.
📍 City Center: Shangri-La Hotel, convenient location, comprehensive facilities.
💖 Personal Experience
These three days in Shangri-La felt like entering a secluded paradise. The majestic snow mountains, clear lakes, vast grasslands, and warm hospitality of Tibetan people touched my heart deeply. Despite the challenging journey and altitude sickness, the breathtaking views made it all worthwhile. Shangri-La is like a dream you never want to wake up from. You must experience it yourself - I'm sure you'll fall in love with it too 💕.
Pure land Pudacuo set off in the early morning, the plateau cold and bitter, and the star hanging outside the car window. Finally, entering Pudacuo, it was like stepping into the threshold outside the world, the genus Duhu was like a huge silver plate set with turquoise, lying quietly between fir forests. The morning mist was like solidified milk, and the lake and mountains were gently wrapped like Hada; the fir was like a silent sentry, and the shadow of the black shadow reflected in the clear water. The deeper the Militang grassland spread out at the foot, like a huge green carpet embroidered with wild flowers, thin and soft. The grass is holding the silver coins of dew, the green is full of water, and the fullness will drop. The Bita Sea is more deep, the lake is blue and green, floating in the mythical cuckoo drunk fish of the strange legend - azaleas petals fall on the lake, if a lake is brewed, fish drink slightly, float sway, in time to sink, like a dream. The scriptures were hunting in the wind, and for thousands of years, the wind and horse flags recited the unstoppable blessings for people over and over, as if even the grass and wood mountains and stones had heard this silent scripture. Once the people who had been trapped in the hustle and bustle of the city had stepped into this place, their hearts became a world of washed glass. Pudacuo has no place is not beautiful, no time is not quiet, nature is like an invisible hand, filtered out the dust, and we are a spiritual empty pure land. Tired, looking for a wooden house to rest, drinking a hot butter tea. The warm warmth quietly entered the heart from the throat, the tea aroma rose, it seemed to be wrapped in the breath of the snow-capped mountains in the distance, and the blue waves in the near place, and finally merged into the unique mellow taste of the plateau. The original natural comfort, after all, it must be slowly sunk into the depths of the soul through the body's perception. Build a fortress to resist the world's noise in silence.
The whole scenic spot is basically the original ecological scenery, very beautiful, the scenic transportation car is also very convenient, but the boat 65 yuan is a bit expensive, and I didn’t see any special scenery. I have to take the car back to the starting point when I arrive at the pier. In fact, you can see the place where you get off the bus.
5A level scenic spot, beautiful scenery, pleasant climate, simple and reasonable route arrangement. The first stop of the Dugang River ecological hiking must be experienced, the whole journey is about 2 kilometers, along the way, small flowers, trees shaded, streams, occasionally leisurely wildlife passing by, wild fun, the original ecological atmosphere is paved, on the way will see 500 years of ancient trees, The spruce and stacked waterfalls are really worth it. There are small pavilions on the road for people to rest. This line is really not to be missed. It is a 65-year-old Duhu cruise ship. The boat is slow, the scenery is average (mainly cloudy), the distance is short, (it takes at least an hour to walk around the lake without taking a boat to get to the next stop), and the shuttle bus to the next stop actually has to wait more than half an hour. In summary, this is really a bad experience. The last section of Bita Lake is beautiful, but there is nothing else except green mountains, green waters, blue sky and white clouds. There are no cattle and horses on the vast meadow, no flowers, lack of vitality and vitality, and the scenery is relatively monotonous. It is not particularly recommended. The park is large and the distance is long, because the first forest walk, the country is still worth the fare.
[View] When stepping into Pudacuo National Park, it seems to be in a fairy tale world. The sky is blue like a jewel. White clouds floated like marshmallows along the plank road, alpine meadows at the foot of the rolling, green, in which colorful wild flowers swayed with the wind, like telling natural love words. [Fun] The Duhu Lake is like a mirror, reflecting the green hills, green trees and snow peaks on the shore. The lake is crystal clear, swimming fish and stone, and looking directly at it. Walking by the lake, breathing the fresh air, feeling the gentle soul of the breeze, is purified by this pure beauty. And the virgin forest, tall and upright trees shade the sky, the sun shines through the gaps in the branches and leaves, forming a golden spot. The forest is filled with the fragrance of pineapple, quiet and mysterious. Occasionally, the birds' crisp song sounds like a natural movement.
Pudacuo National Park is located in the center of the "three rivers parallel flow" world natural heritage northwest of the Yangtze River. The highest point is 4,670 meters above sea level. There are many fault cliffs, forest small mounds, deep ditch canyons, etc., including relatively primitive and complete forest shrubs, alpine meadows, wetland lakes, geological relics, River canyon ecosystem, etc. It is best to bring oxygen tanks to Pudacuo Scenic Area, after all, the altitude is a bit high. There are four stations in the scenic bus, all of which are played in order. After playing, go to the next stop. The first site is a forest walk to the second site, which is generally completed in an hour. The third site is a lake around the lake, you can take the plank road (very easy, more than an hour), or you can take a boat. The fourth site is the Bita Sea, which is also a small lake.
Pudacuo, the Wizard of Oz outside the world The moment I stepped into Pudacuo National Park, the hustle and bustle of the city was left far behind, and I broke into the Wizard of Oz outside the world. As soon as I entered the park, I was captivated by the scenery of Duhu Lake. The clear lake is like a huge emerald, under the light caressing, twinkling the sparkle, the snowy mountains and forests in the distance reflect, the water and sky blend, like a dream. Walking along the plank road by the lake, every step is like walking into a beautiful oil painting, the breeze is light, the fragrance of the grass and trees, refreshing. On the way, I was lucky to meet a few cute little squirrels, their smart shadows shuttled through the forest, adding a lot of vitality to this quiet forest. Then I came to the Militang Yashan Ranch, the vast grassland, yaks and sheep leisurely graze, the mountains in the distance, and the blue sky and white clouds constitute a harmonious pastoral picture, people feel relaxed and happy. The park's infrastructure is quite complete, the plank road is flat and solid, and the signs along the way are clear and clear, so there is no need to worry about getting lost. The sightseeing car runs on time, making it easy and convenient to play. Pudacuo National Park is truly a treasure gifted by nature, not only has amazing natural scenery, but also carries a heavy ecological culture. Here, I feel the greatness of nature and the smallness of mankind, and the soul has been calm and healed unprecedentedly. I really recommend everyone to come here and feel this unique beauty.
Enter Pudacuo, Pudacuo National Forest Park, a unique world-wide wonderland in Shangri-La, south of Caiyun. Stepping into it is like stepping into a dreamland. Here is the kingdom of plants, towering fir, spruce cover the sky, the forest of wild flowers blooming wantonly, alpine cuckoo in spring and summer, red like fire, powder like Xia. The clear stream is in between, the bottom stone and the water grass are clearly visible, the stream converges into a pearl-like lake, the Bita sea and the genus Duhu sparkling, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds and green mountains and green trees, can not distinguish the false reality. There are also many wildlife in the park, squirrels jumping on the branches, red pandas occasionally appear, and lucky enough to meet the black-necked cranes and horse deer who eat grass leisurely. Walking on the plank road, breathing fresh and pure air, every mouthful is full of natural gifts. Pudacuo National Forest Park is a holy place for washing the soul, a great place to get close to nature, come here and go on a good date with the landscape.
The scenery is top1 in Yunnan. The natural ecological protection is particularly good. You can see a variety of animals such as cattle, horses, sheep, and squirrels. It has a beautiful scenery of grassland and virgin forest. It is recommended to ride in the Duhu Lake. There will be a very special experience.