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Shangri-La

Travel Guide Asia China Yunnan Shangri-La

Introduction

Sompasteling Monastery, near Zhongdian

Shangri-La County (香格里拉县 Xiānggélǐlā Xiàn) is the new Chinese name for this ancient Tibetan county, previously known as Zhongdian County (中甸县 Zhōngdiàn Xiàn) to the Chinese, and Gyalthang to the Tibetans. In a wide, sweeping valley ringed by vast mountains, the town is the capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Deqin - the largest self-governing Tibetan area outside of the province of Tibet itself.

The renaming, inspired by the possibility that Zhongdian/Gyalthang could be the valley discovered in James Hilton's 1933 novel Lost Horizon, is part of a drive to put the area on the tourist map - also evidenced by the rate of development in the town centre. "Shangri-La" or "Zhongdian" may also refer to Jiantang Town (建塘镇 Jiàntáng Zhèn), the capital of the county.

The town still retains a distinctly Tibetan feel, however - the trip from Lijiang takes you past huge traditional Tibetan farmsteads and windswept meadows grazed by Yak - and sights near to town include huge, remote mountains and lakes as well as the enchanting Ganden Sumtseling Monastery (松赞林寺 Sōngzànlín Sì).

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Sights and Activities

The Old Town - including hefty Tibetan wooden buildings (some old, and many that look rather older than they are), and several temples built onto a hill in the centre of town.
The Ganden Sumtseling Monastery - one of the holiest monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism, and a fascinating structure in an awe-inspiring setting.
Explore the surrounding countryside, including Napa Lake - more of a sodden bog, really, but an interesting wildlife sanctuary grazed by Yak and visited by rare birds - a good place for a stroll at the foot of some glorious mountains.

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Getting There

By Plane

Diqing Airport (DIG) is located just a few kilometres from the capital, Jiantang Town. Airlines flying into DIG are China Eastern Airlines (from Kunming, Lhasa, Shanghai), China Southern Airlines (Guangzhou), and Shanghai Airlines (Kunming). There are daily flights from Kunming. Some flights to Lhasa are available, though not officially available to foreign tourists at the time of writing.

By Car

In 2007, the road to Lijiang via Hutiaoxia Town was still poor, however construction on improvements continues and it won't be long before Shangri-La is connected to the fast highway network.

By Bus

Buses run to Lijiang, Dali and Kunming via Hutiaoxia Town. It is possible to (legally) organise trips to Tibet from here.

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Getting Around

By Public Transport

Buses run frequently across town, including particularly on the bumpy road to the Monastery.

By Foot

The Old Town is explorable on foot, including the pleasant stroll up the central hills overlooking the town.

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Eat

There is a wide selection of Western, Chinese and Tibetan restaurants available here. The Western food is actually very good. Sometimes you have western food in China, and it's not so flash!! Western recommendations are:

N's Kitchen
The Compass - excellent coffee, breakfasts and burgers!

Tibetan recommendations are:

Lhasa Cafe - momo's (like xiaolongbao, except a bit drier)
Soyala
Shangri-La Cheese Shop - yak cheese!

In the Dancing Square during the day there are also loads of little stalls selling BBQ sticks and some dumplings.

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Sleep

Budget

Property	Address	Type	Popularity
Dragoncloud International Hostel	No. 94 Bei Men Street, Jian Tang County, Shagrila Yunnan	HOSTEL	70
Ge Sang Garden Inn	No. 043 Bei Men Street Shangri-la Old Town	Guesthouse	83
Harmony Guesthouse	#22 Beiman Street	Guesthouse	-
Lao Shay Youth Hostel	Shangri-la, Yunnan Jinugu Village, Blue Moon Valley(Si Ka Shue San)	Hostel	76
Tavern 47	47 Cuo Lang Street Shangri la Old Town	Hostel	88
The Home Tibetan Home	No.6 Wayao Road Old Town	Hostel	-
Tina's Youth Hostel - Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge	Hu Tiao Xia Zhong Xia (Tiger Leeping Gorge - Middl (Tiger Leeping Gorge - Middle Gorge), Di Qing	Hostel	-
N's Kitchen & Lodge	No.33 Yiruomulang St. Beimen, Old Town, Yunnan	HOSTEL	78
Shangri-La Lamtin Hostel	No.11, Co Lang Street Jian Tang County Near The Centre of The Old Town-Sifang Square	Hostel	78
Noah Inn	No. 11 ChiLangShuo，CangFang Street JianTangZheng Town	HOSTEL	76
You Jia Guesthouse	No.16 Dian La Ka Street Old Town Shangrila	HOSTEL	77
Tiger Leaping Gorge Janes Tibetan Guesthouse	No.2 Hedong St. Tiger Leaping Gorge	HOSTEL	-
Shangri-la Swallow's Nest Hostel	No.52 CuoLang Shangrila Old City	HOSTEL	76
Collect View Inn	No.61 CuoLang Shangrila Old City	HOSTEL	-
517 Guest House	10# Xiarongrui, Jiantang Town, Shangri-la County,	GUESTHOUSE	-
The Long Journey Backpackers' Lodge	No. 13 Hong Xue Lang Jin Long Street	GUESTHOUSE	-

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Keep Connected

Phone

Post

China Post (中国邮政) is the official postal service of the People's Republic of China, operated by the State Postal Bureau of the People's Republic of China (website in Chinese only), and has more details about price to send letters, postcards and parcels, both domestically as well as internationally. The Chinese postal service is very good. Remember that in more remote places usually only one post office in a city can handle sending international boxes or letters. Also many times it might be worth having the name of the country you are trying to send to in Chinese characters. Post offices have a striking green logo and can easily be found everywhere in the cities. They are mostly open every day (including weekends!) from 8:00am to 6:00pm, though small offices might have shorter opening times, while the bigger ones in central and touristic areas are sometimes open during evenings as well.