5 Days in Shangri-La

Founded in 676 and rebuilt after the January 2014 fire, the "Moonlight City" keeps its wooden lanes; on Guishan hill a 21 m prayer wheel weighing about 60 t turns clockwise under many hands. Walk short, drink water — the town sits near 3,300 m.

1. shangri la gucheng
2. shangri la guishan park

Founded in 1679, the monastery is Yunnan's largest Tibetan Buddhist complex, about 5 km north of town; dress modestly, keep the circuit clockwise, and ask before photographing halls or monks. Afternoon at Napahai (3,266 m), where the grassland floods into a shallow lake and black-necked cranes winter from November to March.

1. shangri la songzanlin monastery
2. shangri la napahai

The park (national-park pilot since 2007, about 600 square kilometers) centers visits on Shudu Lake at 3,705 m; since 2016 the Bita Lake sector opens only at intervals, so confirm the day's route at the gate. Stay on boardwalks and shuttle routes.

1. shangri la pudacuo

The Jinsha river runs about 16-17 km of gorge between the Jade Dragon and Haba massifs, narrowing to some 30 m at its tightest; the upper-section walkways sit on the Shangri-La side, about two hours from town. The road drops far below the plateau — give your ears and pace time to adjust, and hold the rails at the viewing decks.

1. shangri la hutiao gorge

Calcium-carbonate terraces about 100 km southeast in Naxi country, where the Dongba script tradition is recorded as having taken root; the drive is half the trip, so leave early. Late flight from Diqing Shangri-La airport or the highway east.

1. shangri la baishuitai