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Shangrila (香格里拉; Xiānggélǐlā; formerly Zhongdian) is in Yunnan Province.

[edit] Understand

The town is split between Tibetan and Han Chinese residents, as well as a fair smattering of Naxi, Bai, Yi and Lisu, with the surrounding countryside entirely Tibetan. While the crass name change in 2001 was a sign of the desire for increasing mass tourism a la Lijiang, the town has got nowhere near Lijiang's crowds, and it's still possible to experience the area's Tibetan heritage and see gorgeous countryside in near isolation.

Zhongdian was renamed Shangrila for marketing reasons. Signs in bus stations still use Zhongdian. There is also a third name in Tibetan, used by many of the locals. The original Shangrila, inspiration for the book and movie, was clearly much further West, possibly Ladakh or in Hunza Valley.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

There are daily flights to Shangrila (the airport's name is Diqing, airport code DIG) from Kunming and Lhasa.

[edit] By bus

• Lijiang to Shangrila - these days a fast 4 hours.

• Dali to Shangrila is a 6-hour drive - both night and day buses do this run.

• Kunming to Shangrila is a 12-hour drive - also serviced by both night and day buses.

Shangrila is the important stop for the journey from Yunnan to Tibet (G214), with regular buses to Lhasa and Chamdo. see also Overland to Tibet.

• Lhasa - there are several buses to Lhasa from the bus station, you should ask at the bus station as it is not a daily schedule. You could choose the SEAT bus or the SLEEPER bus. The cost for the bus is around ¥550 and takes about 4 days for the trip. Although it is convenient for travellers, it misses much of the great views along the route.

• Chamdo - there is also a bus to Chamdo, an important city in East Tibet. Unfortunately, this bus is even less frequent than the Lhasa bus so it is important to check at the bus station for the itinerary.

[edit] Get around

The main area of town runs along the north-south running Changzheng Road. The old town is at the south end of Changzheng Road, and the bus station is at the north end of town.

[edit][add listing] See

• Old Town. The old town is rapidly being turned into a mini-Lijiang, complete with endless shophouses selling tourist trinkets (including fake tiger skins and counterfeit North Face jackets), minority costumed dancers and too-clean streets. However, there are still plenty of small charming streets to explore. The temple at the top of the hill gives a free taste of what can be seen in Songzanlin Monastery. The nightly dancing in the square beginning at 8PM is popular for locals of all ages, and anyone is welcome to join in. The whole thing lasts for an hour and each song has its own set of choreographed moves.  edit

Songzanlin Monastery

• Songzanlin Monastery (松赞林寺; Sōng​zàn​lín​sì​; Tibetan: Ganden Sumtseling Monastery), (On a hill a few kilometers north of town, take bus 3 (the green buses) heading north for ¥1, or a taxi for ¥20, it is the last stop). Impressive structure becoming less of a monastic institution, more of a tourist destination. The temple was restored by an architect named Xu Wei Han in 2005 to reflect its past glories. People have bypassed this extreme admission price by renting a bike for ¥15 as there is no one at the Monastery that checks for the pass. As well bus 3 actually goes to the monastery but if you are foreign the bus driver will tell you to get off where you pay instead of staying on till the monastery. It is suggested that you tell the bus driver you want to just view the Monastery from the outside and not go in and stay on the bus. ¥85 (¥55 for students aged under 25).  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

• Old town. Wander the old town at the south end of town.  edit

• Horses. Tibetan horses are available for hire outside of town. Taxi drivers should know how to get there.  edit

• Private homes. Go to the homes of the local. Many of the locals open up their homes to tourist. They ask for a small price to compensate for the food charge. You can hang out with the family, and the younger adults will lead you to the horse ride in the open field. Mind you the tibetant horses are trained, but they can get very unfriendly towards strangers.  edit

• Skiing, (About 15 minutes west of town on Shika mountain). Closed Apr-Sep. A new ski resort has opened. T-bars and chair lifts available. Price starts at ¥160 (including all equipment, fees) for 2 hours.  edit

• Countryside. Hire a vehicle for a few hours to just explore the countryside, or rent bikes and go see the surrounding villages.  edit

• Shika Mountain (石卡山; Shí​kǎ​shān; also known as Blue Moon Valley (蓝月谷; Lán​yuè​gǔ​)​). Climb the mountain or take cable car (¥220, 45-minute ride to the top).  edit

• Golden Dragon Street Gallery, (Next door to Raven Hot Pot).  edit

• Tianshenqiao Hot springs (天生桥). Natural outdoor amphitheatre. A bit expensive.  edit

• Xiagei Hot Springs (下给). Private rooms ¥30.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

The city is famous for Tibetan jewelry, yak tails, Nixi pottery, Yi lacquerware.

• Turtle Mountain Gear, (Walk into the old town from the main entrance, take first right (before the square), follow that for a minute and you are there). Opened in 2007 by an American who is a long-time resident of Shangrila. Selling and renting quality outdoor gear, local travel and ticketing info, motorcycle rental, plus coffee and internet available  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Arro Khampa, Pijiang po, Old Town, ☎ +86 887 8226442, 13988711656. Flavors from the Gyalam serving Tibetan, Indian, Nepali and Chinese cuisine.  edit

• Compass Cafe, (In the old town, just next to the old town square), [1]. Serves authentic western food, Serve one of the best Hot Chocolate. Equiped with an Espresso machine. Cozy atmosphere, its heated and great for family. Excellent service. Free wireless available.  edit

• Karma Cafe, (In the old town). Good food and hospitable staff. Owner Afang speaks perfect English. Not located in busy old town but off the beaten path. Tibetan house and meals, though western meals are also served. Rooms available, though only two rooms.  edit

• Hongxin Restaurant (红心餐厅; Hóng​xīn​cān​tīng​), Heping Road (Across from the big Longfengxiang Hotel). Decent restaurant, serves some Tibetan dishes (baba, pipa meat).  edit

• Korean Restaurant (also known as Yak Bar). Tasty Korean fare including seafood pancakes, sushi, zucchini rolls, table-top bbq, bibimbap.  edit

• Noah Cafe and Inn (挪亚). Best western food in town. Wireless available, for a price. Noah is also an hotel.  edit

• Puppet Restaurant, Old Town Street, ☎ +86 887 8225485, 13988782100. Great Tibetan food in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Full of locals rather than tourists.  edit

• Qionglai Restaurant (邛崃餐厅), Wujin Road (Not far from Paradise Hotel). Great Sichuan dishes.  edit

• Raven Hot Pot (乌鸦火锅), (In Old Town). The building is an old house that has been very nicely renovated. Great hot pot. Can even whip up a vegetarian version of it. Excellent sun room on the top floor with great views of town. An experience!  edit

• Sean's Cafe No 2, North Gate Street, Old Town (40 metres from the car park, up a flight of stairs, look for the English sign). Opens 6:30AM. Authentic Tibetan food, great for breakfast. The Tibetan porridge and yak cheese dumplings are recommended. Daisy, daughter of the Tiger Leaping Gorge's Sean, speaks great English and can give good local travel advice.  edit

• Black Pottery Coffee (Heitao Kafei), Old Town, Cangfang Street, 5 Chilanggang (Just below the giant prayer wheel in the Old Town, and up the street from the large stupa (chorten), look for its beautiful new stained wooden deck at the entrance), ☎ +86 13187988299, [2]. 8AM-10PM. The owner is a beautiful local Tibetan woman who is a former guide and knows the region well. So you can get up to date travel information in English, Chinese, and Tibetan if you wish. Her husband speaks Japanese as well. The Cafe serves the best western breakfast and coffee in China as well as excellent Tibetan and Chinese food. It has a fine selection of pottery for sale from Nixi Village, the owner's hometown, an excellent selection of books in English and Chinese, and a good selection of imported wines (Australian, South African). Reasonable.  edit
• The Shangri-La Yak Cheese Shop, No. 3 Chi Lang Shuo, Old Town (Next to So Ya La and across from Fragrant Valley Coffee), ☎ 15987595185. 10am - 10pm. A specialty cheese shop that produces locally sourced yak cheese with Western methods. Great selection of locals wines to pair with the cheese, as well as a wide selection of cheese-inspired local and Western dishes.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Traveller's Club (旅行者俱乐部). Recently renovated. Friendly boss Wandou. Located just north of the old town.  edit

• Raven Cafe/Bar (乌鸦酒吧). This place is a nice surprise, in the old town just up from the square. Good coffee, homemade cakes, quesadillas, and all manner of cocktails. Both locals and foreigners working here. They've got wireless. Pool table upstairs.  edit

• Tashiis Lodge/Guesthouse. Where European cuisine malanges with a quiet gentle breeze of Tibetan infuence. It is pretty good, bur who's goes the food though??  edit

• Black Pottery Coffee (Hei Tao Ka Fei), Shangri-la Old Town, Cang Fang Street, Chi Lang Gang #5 (Located just below the giant prayer wheel in the Old Town, and up the street from the large stupa (chorten). Look for its beautiful new stained wooden deck at the entrance.), ☎ (86)13187988299, [3]. 8am-12pm. Snacks, freshly cut French fries, popcorn, yak butter tea (served with Tsampa), Lhasa Beer, Dali Beer, good selection of imported wines, fresh hot chocolate made with real milk chocolate, ginger tea made with fresh ginger, hot buttered rum (a Tibetan take on a tradition New England drink using yak butter and local honey). Reasonable.  edit

• Helen's Pizza Ristorante, Dawa Road Zhong Dian (On the left just past the main junction at the bottom of the hill as you enter town from the south. Opposite the square on the edge of the old town.), ☎ 0887-8224456, [4]. When you feel like a respite from local food the friendly and helpful English speaking Italian owner serves authentic pizzas and pastas.The homemade tagliatelle is particularly good. The stove at the window table is very comforting on a cold night and the owner is very willing to give advice and help with onward travel etc.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

Several budget guesthouses can be found in the old part of town, prices for a double should be in the region of ¥50 per night (low season). Heating is not provided even in the winter months, but additional blankets are happily provided and electric blankets are common.

• Bright Hotel, (Five minute walk from main square). Amenities include western style toilets, 24-hour hot water, and free wireless internet and computer to use at reception for free. Laundry ¥2 per piece. Owner can help with booking tours. Clean, comfortable rooms. ¥90 double bed standard room.  edit

• Harmony Guesthouse (融聚客栈), 12 Dianlaka, Shangri-la Old Town (In the old town, just up from the main square, opposite The Raven Bar), ☎ +86 13988747739. Lovely, traditional, cosy little guesthouse. Has an excellent communal area with bar, log fire and free internet. Has cheap, cosy dorm rooms with hot shower etc. and en-suite rooms have just been added. Nancy speaks very good english and can arrange transport and excursions and give local advice. Popular with travellers.  edit

• Shangri-la Traveller Club (HI Affillited), 98 Heping Road, ☎ +86 887 8228671, 6878210 (qiuzhang13@163.com), [5]. Great youth hostel with clean and comfortable dorms and rooms with electric blankets. Good hot showers and decent toilets. The best part is the bar/restaurant/common room with a wood fired-stove. The staff are friendly, even if a little eccentric! Good travel advice and information (January 2008). Dorm beds cost ¥20 (¥15 for HI members).  edit

[edit] Mid range

• Noah Cafe and Inn (挪亚), Cangfang Street (In the old town, east of the Old Town Square), ☎ +86 887 8881144. Quiet, clean and spacious room. Air conditioning (cold/hot), bathroom with hot shower and wc, TV, free Internet access (cable or wifi) in room. Washing machine and dryer are available for ¥25 a load. Also a good western food restaurant. Staff speaks English. Singles from ¥120.  edit

[edit] Splurge

• Gyalthang Dzong Hotel, ☎ +86 887 8223646 (gyalthang@angsana.com, fax: +86 887 8223620). Opened in 1996, the hotel is the home base for travelers heading to/from the Kham region of Tibet and beyond. Beautifully situated on an alpine meadow in the lap of Rutapo Hill, it was designed in the traditional Tibetan dzong architectural style. The renovation preserved the traditional character of the hotel and enhanced many of the Tibetan aesthetic elements, while making it more comfortable and luxurious for guests.  edit

• Songstam Hotel (颂赞绿谷酒店), (Next to Songzanlin Monastery, about 10 minutes from town centre). The most charming hotel in Zhongdian. Excellent service and beautiful rooms.  edit

• The Compass Lodge, (It is right in the middle of Old Town Square). Have only four units of town house (double story per unit) with a courtyard. Fully heated, 24 hours hot water and wireless. Excellent for families with children.  edit

• Banyan Tree Ringha. A wonderful resort in a stunning location. Each private 2-storey villa is gorgeously appointed and fully heated, with 24 hours hot water supply and wireless access. The spa is excellent, and with the most gracious and attentive of staff, the service is just downright amazing all round, all of the time.  edit

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

[edit] Public bus