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Trip.Best Top 10 Best Things to Do in Shangri-La [2024]

Explore the best things to do in Shangri-La! Uncover top activities and experiences for an unforgettable visit.
Updated Sep 2024
  • top_1
    󰺂8.4
    4.6/5
    3654 Review
    From532.86
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1212 reviews
    "As the name implies, expect to see a lot of tiger statues from entrance, to the main sight of this attraction 😆The most fascinating part of course is to see and feel the oomph of the river water flowing harshly with your own eyes!We spent nearly an hour here, climbing down and up the stairs, isn't that difficult though if you are a frequent sports person."
    Shangri-La.Tiger Leaping Gorge
    82.1km from downtown
    Highlights: Tiger Leaping Gorge is famous for its size. It is located in the eastern part of Hutiaoxia Town, Shangri-La County. It is divided into three sections: upper, middle and lower gorges, with a total length of about 20 kilometers. In the middle of the gorge is the Jinsha River. On both sides are the snow-capped mountains of Yulong and Haba. The narrowest part of the river is only twenty or thirty meters and with the huge drop, the river flows very rapidly! Tiger Leaping Gorge is also a world-renowned hiking resort visited by many outdoor enthusiasts every year.
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  • top_2
    󰺂8.3
    4.5/5
    6029 Review
    From770.6
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 496 reviews
    "Very good, the evaluation of the attractions is still reasonable, the shuttle bus is also very convenient, the tour guide can listen to the explanation, but the scenery is very good, the first trail did not go, but the trail by the lake is recommended to walk, there are many small squirrels ~"
    Shangri-La.Pudacuo National Forest Park
    24.2km from downtown
    No.1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Shangri-La
    Highlights: Located in the center of the Shangri-La Scenic Area, Pudacuo National Park is an important part of the world's natural heritage, called the Three Rivers Convergence. It consists of three parts, namely Bitahai, Shuduhu, and the Xiagei Folk Culture Village. The park has beautiful scenery, a well-preserved ecological environment, quiet and clear mountain lakes, vast pastures, wetlands filled with flowers and lush virgin forests. Every spring, the park is filled with blooming rhododendrons, while the Autumn brings with it the rich colors of changing leaves.
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  • top_3
    󰺂7.7
    4.5/5
    2111 Review
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 686 reviews
    "For the baptism of the soul, I especially recommend it. The scenery is beautiful. Very typical Tibetan Buddhism. In short, I especially like it. There is no recommendation for religious belief. It is a feeling!"
    Shangri-La.Ganden Sumtseling Monastery
    3.4km from downtown
    Highlights: Sungtseling—or Ganden Sumtseling Monastery—is also known Guihuasi (Temple of Returning to Norms). It is a large Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan and is also one of the centers of the Gelug (Yellow) School of Buddhism. Built in 1679, the temple was given its name by the fifth Lama. Sungtseling is built into, around and on the mountainside. As it looks similar to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, it is sometimes affectionately called the Little Potala Palace. Because of the temple's many cultural and religious treasures as used in Tibetan Buddhism, this site is absolutely worth a visit.
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  • No.

    4

    󰺂7.4
    4.5/5
    1488 Review
    From1956.14
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 56 reviews
    "This scenic spot is a mountainous scenic spot, and the distance of each scenic spot is relatively far. First of all, for the village of Bala Village, there is no one living anymore. Everyone can punch a card and look at the former residence of the road builder. There is nothing to visit elsewhere. The second is that if you spend money to go to the tower of Barafota, his play time is limited, you must take this car to go up, so that the time to play will be relatively fast. It is difficult to relax and play. In this scenic spot, where there are not many people, his commuter vehicle departure frequency is relatively low. If you want to punch all the attractions in a day, the time is not enough. So on the whole, the most worthwhile place to go to this scenic spot, I think one is the Shambhala Buddha. Basically, if you want to play a good experience, you need to spend money at your own expense. If you buy tickets, there is basically nothing to play. This is the point."
    Shangri-La.Balog Zon Shangri-La Grand Canyon National Park
    56km from downtown
    No.1 of Water Fun Attractions in Shangri-La
    Highlights: Balagezong Grand Canyon offers breathtaking natural scenery. Here, you can visit the deep canyon, the awe-inspiring snowy mountains. You can choose to kayak in the valley, or visit the primitive, photogenic ancient Tibetan villages. You will also see a thousand-year Bodhi tree, the branch of which resembles human palms. It's quite fantastic. The naturally-formed Buddhist tower is also a special attraction in the park. You have to trek from the end of the Jiala village road in order to visit the Buddhist tower.
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  • No.

    5

    󰺂6.8
    4.5/5
    239 Review
    From355.67
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 95 reviews
    "From Lijiang, passing by the Tiger Leaping Gorge Scenic Area, because the congestion took 5 hours to arrive. The scenery is very good, the fare is not high, you can walk or ride horses, it is recommended to walk, not very high and far away, there are not many scenic spots."
    Shangri-La
    49.8km from downtown
    Highlights: Baishui Terrace is located in Sanba Township, Shangri-La County and is the birthplace of Naxi Dongba teaching.According to legend, the gods of the Naxi people used to creat the terraces in order to let the local Naxi people learn how to cultivate the farmland. Therefore, the descendants were praised as the "fairy people".
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  • No.

    6

    󰺂6.7
    4.4/5
    646 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 251 reviews
    "The ancient city of Dukezong is the best preserved and largest Tibetan settlement in China. Tang (AD 676-679), Tuyu here set up a Zhaibao on the top of the big turtle mountain, named "Dukezong", a Tibetan pronunciation contains two meanings, one is "castle built on stone", and the other is "moonlight city". For the horse gangs who cross the ancient tea horse road, Dukezong Ancient City is a heavy town on the ancient tea horse road, and the first stop after the horse gang entered Tibet. The most worth seeing in the ancient city is the Big Buddha Temple and the prayer wheel. The Big Buddha Temple on Guishan Mountain was built during the Qing Kangxi period. The prayer wheel was built in 2002 and is the world's largest prayer wheel. The prayer wheel is an iconic building built to commemorate Zhongdian's renamed Shangri-La. The current ancient city is similar to the ancient city of Lijiang and Dali. It is a store mainly for inns, restaurants, shops and travel photography."
    Shangri-La.Dukezong Ancient City
    2.9km from downtown
    No.1 of Night Attractions in Shangri-La
    Highlights: Dukezong Ancient Town is Located on the southeast corner of Shangri-La County in Yunnan province, Dukezong Ancient Town is an ancient Tibetan town with a history of more than 1,300 years. Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and was built for the Tubo Kingdom of the Tang Dynasty. "Dukezong" is a Tibetan pronunciation, meaning "Moonlight City" and "castle built on stone”. Dukezong Ancient Town is built on the mountain foot and the road surface was paved with slate from the ceaseless up-and-down undulations of paved roads, you can still find the faint imprints of horseshoes , which is the token left by the long-time horses and precious token from the ancient caravans since the town is the last stop of Old Tea - Horse Road.
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  • No.

    7

    󰺂6.7
    4.0/5
    416 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 182 reviews
    "When entering the scenic spot, I encountered a little obstacle. I contacted Trip.com Customer Service and quickly solved the problem. I liked ㄟ (≧◇≦) ㄏ. The riding environment is particularly beautiful, and the little girl is also very beautiful."
    Shangri-La.Napa Sea Scenic Area
    5.3km from downtown
    No.2 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Shangri-La
    Highlights: Located in the northwestern part of Shangri-La County, Napa Sea is a seasonal lake in the plateau. The four seasons of Napa Sea have their own characteristics. In the late summer and early autumn, it is the rainy season. At this time, the water is large, and the Napa Sea is a large lake. The summer water is full, the grass grows with small flowers, and the sheep, cattle, and horses graze in groups, blending with the grasslands. The autumn grasslands are golden and the snow peaks are reflected in the lake. In the dry season of winter and spring, the lake surface shrinks or even dried up, turning into a large swamp.
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  • No.

    8

    󰺂5.4
    4.7/5
    53 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 33 reviews
    "Haba Snow Mountain is the highest peak in the World Natural Heritage Reserve, and during the azalea sea, steep canyons, rapids, virgin forests, and glacial meadows, many scientists have called it “the most visual thermometer on the planet and a refuge for rare and endangered animals and plants in China.” Although climbing Haba has a challenge, but because of the altitude, climate, topography and terrain comprehensive factors, ordinary people can also successfully climb to the top when the weather is good, the body is normal, and the mountain is fully equipped, so this has also become the first life of many snow mountain climbing enthusiasts. A snowy mountain. Haba Snow Mountain climbing itinerary: On the first day, Lijiang departs at noon - Haba Village (before the evening trip) at 1:30 noon, Lijiang gathers to set off, passes the Tiger Leaping Gorge along the way, the Tiger Leaping Gorge Observation Deck stops to see the scenery, and then continues to move forward to Haba Snow Mountain, Go to the Haba Snow Mountain Observation Deck to see the whole picture of Haba Snow Mountain and Haba Village. Then arrive at Haba Village at the foot of Haba Snow Mountain and stay at Haba Inn. Dinner is a table meal. After the meal, a professional mountaineering butler or mountaineering captain will hold a pre-climbing meeting for everyone to organize equipment and materials. Driving: about 158 kilometers 2 and a half hours Accommodation: Haba Inn Meals: Dinner Accommodation: Haba Inn Standard Room Stay the next day Haba Village, Daqila Mountaineering Base Camp, Breakfast at 9 am, and then depart from Haba Inn, passing through the small lawn and large lawn, crossing the dry river, Arrive at Haba Base Camp (4080 altitude). After dinner at Base Camp, the alpine guide will organize the supplies such as ice claws and hail for the team members. After finishing the pack, everyone will go to bed. Hiking mileage: 8 kilometers hiking time: 5, 6 hours altitude climb: 2700 meters to 4080 meters Meals: breakfast, dinner (lunch needs to bring your own food) Accommodation: Mountaineering base camp on the third day of the base camp - climb to the top - Lijiang from the base camp at 3 am, through the small woods, through the big slate, through the snow line, Climb the desperate slope, walk through the moon bay, and finally successfully climb the Haba Snow Mountain. After withdrawing to the base camp, return to Haba Village. (Note: the weather is suitable for the top, and your body is suitable for the top.) From the base camp to Haba Village, you can choose to ride at your own expense. The summit was successful on the same day, and the summit certificate can be issued on the same day. Say goodbye to Haba Village at about 6 o'clock, return to Lijiang by car and end the trip. (As follows, withdraw to Haba Village for more than 6 o'clock, stay one more night, and return to Lijiang on the fourth morning.) Hiking mileage: 20 kilometers altitude rise: 4080 meters to 5396 meters Meals: early morning breakfast, simple meal down the mountain (lunch needs to bring your own road meal) Notes 1. Outdoor backpack, top bag (20 liters to 35 liters); 2. Cleaning pants, sweating underwear, down jacket, warm underwear, high-end hiking shoes, warm sweat socks, warm hat, 3, snow mirror, headlights, thick gloves, snow cover; 4, thermos bottle, dry grain (chocolate, red bull, raisins, snickers, etc.); 5, sunscreen, sun hat, anti-crack lipstick, toiletries, laundry and other personal items; 6, drugs, photographic equipment and other personal items."
    Shangri-La
    66.9km from downtown
    Highlights: Haba Snow Mountain is located in the southeast of Shangri-La County. The main peak is more than 5,000 meters. The top of the mountain is covered with ice and snow all year round. It is surrounded by large glaciers. Many ice-stained lakes are formed at the lower end of the glaciers. The Black Sea is famous among them, and the surrounding scenery is also beautiful. "Haba" is a Naxi language, meaning "flower of gold". In folklore, Haba Snow Mountain and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain are regarded as brothers, and their sister Jinsha River flows between the two tall and straight snow mountains, forming Tiger Leaping Gorge. Although the two snow mountains are next to each other, Habayuan Snow Mountain is not as famous as Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, but perhaps because of this, the commercial atmosphere here is not very strong, and it is still a relatively primitive place. When hiking the Tiger Leaping Gorge, you can see the Haba Snow Mountain in the distance. If you want to watch it up close, you must first come to Haba Village at the foot of the Snow Mountain. This is the base of tourists who first arrive at Haba Snow Mountain. . If you are playing in general, you can rent a horse from Haba Village and go up to the vicinity of the Black Sea (about 5 kilometers away from the base camp). It is recommended to go in May and June, when the azaleas are in bloom. Different types of alpine azaleas can be seen at different altitudes. The azaleas and the snow-capped mountains complement each other, which is really beautiful. Visitors can walk through the flowers, commonly known as "flying on the flowers", which is also a major attraction in the natural scenery of Haba Snow Mountain. Most of the tourists who come to Haba Village are for mountaineering. Because Haba Snow Mountain is steep below, but above the snow line is relatively gentle, it is regarded as an entry-level snow mountain in the mountaineering world. Starting from Haba Village, it usually takes two or three days to complete the summit.
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  • No.

    9

    󰺂5.3
    4.4/5
    66 Review
    "The Shambhala Shiluntan City Scenic Area began construction in 2005. After more than ten years of efforts, it has built a very grand and tall building, integrating modern architecture and Tibetan architectural style. It is a more comprehensive place for Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhist culture in Tibetan areas. The entire cultural exposition center covers an area of 22 mu and the construction area is 25,131 square meters."
    Shangri-La.Dukezong Ancient City
    900m from downtown
    Highlights: The Shambhala Kalachakra Mandala Cultural Expo Center is located in the middle of Shangri-La Mandala Square, with a majestic and majestic appearance. It is designed in accordance with the concept of the sky and the earth, and has the connotation of Tibetan Buddhism and the penetration of national culture. The building is 60.4 meters high and has 11 floors. The top is a white pagoda-style golden roof. It is a Tibetan landmark building with many floors and high heights in our state. The decorative paintings are made of natural mineral pigments and natural paints. It is a large-scale Tibetan-style building complex with internal and external coordination. At present, exhibition halls such as Tibetan Treasures, Colorful Shambhala, Impressions of Snow and Shangri-La are open to show diverse Tibetan culture from different perspectives, from natural scenery to human life, history and religious art.
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  • No.

    10

    󰺂5.1
    4.2/5
    285 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 64 reviews
    "If you find the right place to watch, it is still good. First, go to Shigu Kindergarten, Yulong County, Lijiang City, and walk up the cement road. You can find two observation decks. Whether you use your mobile phone or camera, you can take a beautiful view."
    Shangri-La
    >100km from downtown
    No.2 of Water Fun Attractions in Shangri-La
    Highlights: The first bay of the Yangtze River is located in Shigu Town, Lijiang. Here, the rolling Yangtze River was blocked by the cliffs and turned into a "V" shaped big bend, which formed the famous Yangtze River First Bay. The surface of the river is as smooth as a mirror. The two sides of the river are the green hills, the neat farmland and the villages and towns in the south of the Yangtze River. It is amazing to have this view on the plateau.
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  • 1

FAQ

What Best Things to Do are there in Shangri-La?
These are all Best Things to Do in Shangri-La:Tiger Leaping Gorge, Putatso National Park, Sumtseling Monestery, Balagezong Scenic Area, White Water Terraces
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Shangri-La?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Shangri-La include:Tiger Leaping Gorge:4.6, Putatso National Park:4.5, Sumtseling Monestery:4.5, Balagezong Scenic Area:4.5, White Water Terraces:4.5
At what locations in Shangri-La can Best Things to Do in Shangri-La be found?
The Best Things to Do in Shangri-La are mainly located in:Tiger Leaping Gorge:Shangri-La, Putatso National Park:Shangri-La, Sumtseling Monestery:Shangri-La, Balagezong Scenic Area:Shangri-La, White Water Terraces:Shangri-La
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