Diqing's Top Attractions
James Hilton wrote in The Lost Horizon about Shangri-la. To have an idea about how the place could feel and look like, visit these Tibetan areas in Diqing in Yunnan Province.
Shangri-la (Zhongdian)
A lot of people believe that Zhongdian (中甸) was renamed into Shangri-la in order to boost tourism. The truth is Shangri-la is just a figment of imagination of a writer, but nevertheless, Zhongdian or Shangri-la is just as mystical as the mythical place in the book. It features Old Town, which highlights the fun Tibetan culture that involves group dancing and singing in the square. Everyone is encouraged to participate. As one of the progressive areas in the Yunnan Province, various restaurants offer some of the best Tibetan dishes including barley wine and yak butter tea. There’s a special area where you can buy culturally inclined trinkets and other items. Even when you’re in Old Town, you can already catch a glimpse of the old and sacred Songzanlin Lamasery. It’s also a starting point for many adventurers who can rent horses more easily.
Within Shangri-la are two notable attractions. The Haba Snow Mountains is host to the Baishu Terraces, also referred to as White Terraces. The vast deposits of calcium carbonate create multiple hierarchical layers—like terraces. Spring water then flows among the layers, creating a magnificent cascade. Making it even more beautiful is its natural surroundings that turn multicolor during spring and summer.
It’s also in Shangri-la where you can find the Bitahai Nature Reserve and the famous lake. Its serenity, calmness, and cleanliness make it an excellent quick getaway for travelers. In the middle of the lake is a small island that resembles a floating boat. It spans no more than 30 meters, but it’s filled with plenty of plant varieties. Birds also love to stay here because of easy access in water.
In Shangri-la, you can hop on a bike to Napa Lake, ski in Shika Mountains, or linger in typical Tibetan homes.
Address: Zhongdian, Yunnan
Admission Fees: CNY 30 (Bitahai Nature Reserve), CNY 30 (Baishu Terraces)
Operating Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Bitahai Nature Reserve), 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Baishu Terraces)
How to Get There: Take a bus from Daocheng, Dali, Lijiang, or Deqin.
Three Parallel Rivers
Most of the civilizations are founded near rivers: Tigris and Euphrates, Ganges, and Yangtze. The waters from them fuel the development of agriculture, among others. Three of the most important ones—Mekong, Yangtze, and Salween—pass through the Yunnan Province. This, however, is just half of what makes it remarkable. Although these three flow simultaneously, they never meet as they are parallel from one another.
The Three Parallel Rivers (三江并流) now form part of a greater scenic area, which covers more than 15 protected spots in the province. These are often gorges such as the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge and mountains including the Jade Snow Dragon Mountain. The flora and fauna is also another very interesting factor of the entire park. Because the area covered is so massive, the climate can be different in certain sections, and the flowers and animals that you see can greatly differ depending on which altitude you’re in. It has many karsts formations, cliffs, and hundreds of snow-capped mountains with glaciers.
The park is very famous among adventure seekers. Several tour agencies now offer white water rafting in specific parts of the river. Because the length can be very long, it’s possible to be in the waters for more than 3 hours. The waters can also become raging that falling off is highly possible. Hence, it’s essential to wear the right gear and do the activity with a group. You can also just stay in the sidelines and observe the gorges more safely.
The Three Parallel Rivers Park also gives you an opportunity to experience the various Tibetan cultures since the region is home to a lot of minorities. All of these also make the park a worthy part of UNESCO World Heritage List.
Address: Gucheng District, Lijiang
Admission Fees: Free (fees can vary among tour agencies)
Operating Hours: all day
How to Get There: Most of the trips are organized by tour agencies.
Tiger Leaping Gorge
If you happen to find yourself in the Three Parallel Rivers Park, it’s very important you don’t miss out on the Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡). It’s currently dubbed as the deepest in the planet. It runs for more than 10 kilometers and is composed of three sections, with different water temperaments. The upper section, where the water from the Yangtze River flows, starts off quite more peacefully or composed, although over 15 rapids can happen within the gorge. However, as it traverses through the middle section, the waters can already get pretty wild and even more thrilling once it reaches the last part. In the middle of it all is a significant rock that measures around 30 meters in width. According to legends, this is the same rock used by a tiger to get to the other side—hence the name of the gorge.
There are a lot of things you can do in the gorge. For those who want to play it safe, they can simply watch on the sides. Some parts have railings for protection. Most, however, prefer to get involved in the action. One of the most exciting activities within the area is white water rafting. This involves riding out the waves aboard a round floating device. Paddles are provided for to achieve better control of movement, although balance becomes harder to achieve as the waves become more crashing and raging. Because the speed of the waters can vary depending on the section of the gorge, white water rafting appeals to almost all types of people. The upper sections are great for beginners while the more experienced can ride in the middle.
Hiking is another. The gorge actually offers different hiking paths. One of the easiest is to look for the colored markers that indicate the starting point of the walk. You normally begin in Qiao Tou after having been dropped off from Shangri-La. This also brings you close to the upper gorge. You can then walk along the path until you reach a halfway guest house. Continue walking until you reach the Paradise on the World. Turn right to arrive at a huge groove and Tina’s Guest House. Follow a straight path and walk for kilometers until you get to Woody Guest House, where the lower section of the gorge can be found. You can then exit to Daju. It’s possible to walk for more than 10 miles. The trek can also be part of a weeklong holiday in the province. Sometimes you may have to stay at any of the guest houses around the area overnight before you can complete the entire route. Along the way you can pass by Guanyin Waterfalls, the villages of Yongsheng and Bendiwan, Changsheng Village, and Walnut Garden.
Address: 100 kilometers northwest of Hutiaoxia Town, Shangri-la
Admission Fees: CNY 65
Operating Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
How to Get There: Take a bus from Lijiang and arrive at Qiaotou.
Meili Snow Mountain
There are countless mountains that are scattered all over one of the biggest countries in the world. What makes Meili Snow Mountain (梅里雪山) special? We can cite a lot of reasons. This mountain range is spectacular in so many ways. It is a range that is made up of no less than 10 peaks, a lot of which have very high altitudes. They range from around 5,000 feet to more than 6,000 feet.
The differences in the altitude also give the mountain varying climates and temperatures. As you go toward the upper sections, you can feel the coldness that is reminiscent of winter. The peaks are also covered by snow all year round, although at lower altitudes you can find varieties of flowers that are hard to find in other snow-capped land forms. The kinds of plants and animals that you see, moreover, can vary depending on the height of the mountain. The range, nevertheless, is currently home to some of the less-seen animals such as the snow leopards.
Many hikers, climbers, and adventurers visit the mountain not only for the thrill but also for the challenge. None of the 13 peaks in the range have ever been reached by anyone. The dream of many is the Kagebo Peak, which has a total elevation of over 22,000 feet, making it one of the highest it the world. It has still remained a “virgin” simply because the path toward it is extremely arduous and dangerous. There’s constant avalanche of snow and sleet, and sometimes the visibility is poor. That doesn’t mean, however, you cannot get “near” it.
The mountain range, especially the peak, has become a religious sight for the Tibetan Buddhists. They believe that one of the powerful gods is in here and serves as the protector of its people. Its presence is also the main reason why no man has ever conquered it. Otherwise, the god would eventually leave.
At certain times of the year, they climb the mountain to pay their reverence. It’s also common for other Tibetan Buddhists all over the Sichuan Province to arrive at Diqing to join the residents. They can stay up there for half a month, where they normally stay prostrate at specific sections of the mountain.
Also found in the Kagebo Peak is the Mingyong Glacier. It’s unique because it’s something that is formed in low altitude. You cannot get close to the glacier, but you can observe it in specific areas. Two of the known spots are the Lianhua Temple and the Taizi Temple. The latter is lower than the other and is reachable by walking for about 2 hours. The path is convenient and doesn’t have a lot of obstacles. It’s also possible to venture here riding a horse.
Address: Shengpeng Town, Deqin County
Admission Fees: CNY 228
Operating Hours: no clear information
How to Get There: Ride a bus from Kunming, Lijiang, Shangri-la, or Dali to Feilai Temple.
Songzanlin Lamasery
Adding to the mystique of Shangri-la is the Songzanlin Monastery (松赞林寺), which has a very long history. It was built during the reign of Emperor Kangxi (Qing Dynasty). It is also consecrated by the Fifth Dalai Lama so it has become a very sacred place for Tibetan Buddhists.
The lamasery is inspired by two things: the Ta’er Monastery and the Potala Palace, which is the home of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. The only difference is this is in a much smaller scale. This doesn’t mean that the design is very basic. For a lamasery, it still remains large, covering more than 30 hectares. The overall architectural style is inspired by that of the Tibetans. The complex is also made up of two lamaseries, namely, Jikang and Zhacang. These can already be viewed even from afar. The roofs are adorned with gilded copper while the different halls are filled with different kinds of artwork from sculptures to frescos, usually depicting interpretations of famous Buddhist legends and stories. The monastery also has 108 columns—a sign of something good for the Buddhists.
Aside from the main hall, there are also dormitories that serve as the home for the monks. More than a thousand of them can occupy the building. Sometimes you can find them chanting sutras all together.
The Tibetan monks in here belong to the Gelug sect, which adheres to the Buddhist commandments strictly. However, at certain times of the year such as during Gedong Festival, the lamasery comes alive. Visitors can get a chance to experience the lamasery more extensively as they might get a blessing from the High Lama or receive a khada or a blessed scarf.
Address: Shangri-la County, Diqing
Admission Fees: RMB 85
Operating Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How to Get There: Walk for around 15 minutes toward outside of town or take bus no. 3.
Mingyong Glaciers
A trip to the Meili Snow Mountain will never be complete without seeing the Mingyong Glaciers. This can be found within the Kagebo Peak. As mentioned, the glacier is special since it’s formed in a much lower altitude than what’s usual. Nevertheless, this works to your advantage since you can see it without traveling too far. The glacier is around 4 kilometers with width that can go as wide as 80 meters. The tongue of the glacier then touches a forest, which makes it an even more amazing sight. There are different points along the path where you can view it conveniently. You can go either of the temples along the way. Some, however, prefer to follow the path of a river so they can get closer. If you want to speed up the trip, you can ride the mule, but it may be more expensive for you. If you wish to spend overnight, you can stay in a local Tibetan home.
Address: Deqen County, Diqing
Admission Fees: RMB 200 (Mingyong Glaciers)
Operating Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Mingyong Glaciers)
How to Get There: Take a bus from Shangri-la to Deqen County.
Pudacuo National Park
The Pudacuo National Park (普达措国家公园) is one of the most protected areas in the country. Opening just in 2007, the park has garnered a lot of attention from the locals and foreigners because of its immense natural beauty. The national park is actually very accessible since it’s located within Shangri-la and thus close to the bustling town. When you’re in the park, you can then take a walk along the many paths or save time by riding an eco-bus. It may take about a half to whole day to enjoy everything. There are many signs along the way to save as your guide.
The park is located around 3,500 meters from sea level and is composed of majestic attractions. It is very close to the Three Parallel Rivers, a UNESCO World Heritage List. One of the highlights in the area is the Shudu Lake, which is home to a unique fish known as liefuyu. The waters are simply shallow. You cannot swim in the lake, but you can observe it in the planked path.
Another kind of lake in the park is the Bita Lake, which is about 3,500 meters above sea level. It is quite deep at 40 meters. In the middle of the lake is an islet that serves as home for the many birds. In other words, the area is a great place for bird watchers. Around the lake are also many different varieties of plants and trees such as the rhododendrons. Sometimes the flowers fall into the water, poisoning the fish in the process since the plant proves to be toxic. Separating the two lakes is Militang Pasture, which is home to yaks.
Address: Shangri-la County, Diqing
Admission Fees: RMB 190
Operating Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
How to Get There: Take Road 214 via bus.