See the mountains, see the Buddha, see the world

✅ I. Recommended Itineraries 💐 1. Snow Mountain Pilgrimage (3 Days, 2 Nights) 🐾 D1: Dukezong Ancient City → Guishan Park (Prayer Wheel) → Tibetan Song and Dance at Moonlight Square 🐾 D2: Songzanlin Monastery → Napa Hai Yila Prairie → Baima Snow Mountain Viewing Platform 🐾 D3: Meili Snow Mountain Golden Sunrise (Feilai Temple) → Yubeng Hiking Trailhead Features: Tibetan Buddhist culture + snow-capped mountains and grasslands + hiking adventure. Hiking poles and a windbreaker are recommended. 💐 2. Ecological Secret Realm (2 Days, 1 Night) 🪾 D1: Pudacuo National Park (Shudu Lake Loop Trail → Bita Lake Bird Watching) 🪾 D2: Baishuitai (Fairy Field) → Haba Snow Mountain Viewing Platform → Return trip Highlights: Alpine lakes/rhododendron flower sea/calcified terraces, a triple natural wonder. The alpine rhododendrons are in full bloom in May. 💐 3. Tibetan Cultural Immersion (2 Days, 2 Nights) 🌱 D1: Songzanlin Monastery → Napa Hai → Niru Village (Ancient Tea Horse Road Relics) 🌱 D2: Dongzhulin Monastery → Dukezong Ancient City Thangka Workshop → Tibetan incense making experience Experience: Thangka painting/Tibetan incense making/yak bone carving crafts. Visiting a local Tibetan family is recommended. 💐 4. Photography Tour (3 Days, 2 Nights) ✨ D1: Baima Snow Mountain Pass → Wunongding Viewing Platform (Meili Thirteen Peaks) ✨ D2: Yubeng Waterfall → Ice Lake Hike → Mingyong Glacier ✨ D3: Cizhong Catholic Church → Lancang River Grand Canyon aerial photography Equipment recommendations: Carry a polarizing filter to eliminate water reflections and a telephoto lens to capture details of the snow-capped mountains. ✅ II. Transportation Guide • Main transportation: ◦ Airplane: Shangri-La Airport (5 km from the ancient city), direct flights to Kunming/Chengdu/Chongqing ◦ High-speed train: Lijiang-Shangri-La Railway is now open, 40 minutes from Lijiang Station to Shangri-La Station • Intra-island transportation: ◦ Chartered car: Average of CNY 300–500 per day (Tibetan drivers recommended, can also serve as guides) ◦ Scenic spot direct bus: Regular buses from the ancient city entrance to Pudacuo/Tiger Leaping Gorge (CNY 30/person) ◦ Car rental: Four-wheel drive SUV CNY 500/day (border permit required) ✅ III. Accommodation Recommendations Area Recommended Accommodation Features Highlights Reference Price Ancient City Core Songtsam Green Valley Hotel Tibetan manor/Thangka art space CNY 1,200–1,800 Snow Mountain View Meili Snow Mountain View Guesthouse 360° panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows/starry sky room CNY 800–1,200 Ecological Experience Yubeng Shangcun Inn Wooden house/fireplace/hiking equipment rental CNY 400–600 High-end Resort Pudacuo Resort Hotel Lake view villa/private viewing platform CNY 2,500+/night ✅ IV. Must-Eat Food Map 🍵 1. Traditional Flavors • Yak Meat Hot Pot: "Yunxueli Restaurant" in the ancient city (with mushroom soup base) • Butter Tea with Highland Barley Cake: "Aruo Kangba" Tibetan Restaurant (intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship) • Tibetan Clay Pot Chicken: Dukezong "Ama Spare Ribs" (stewed with plateau potatoes) 🥙 2. Seasonal Delicacies • May Matsutake Sashimi: "Snow Mountain Delicacy Workshop" in Yubeng Village • September Highland Barley Wine Feast: "Tibetan Family Harvest Festival" in Niru Village • Winter Yak Milk Hot Pot: "Herdsman's Home" in Napa Hai 🍯 3. New Fusion • Tibetan Molecular Cuisine: "Snowy Kitchen" (yak meat mousse) • Ancient Tea Horse Road Theme Restaurant: "Tea Horse Paradise" (Pu-erh tea-flavored grilled fish) • Starry Sky Bar: "Summit of Meili" (alpine beer + Tibetan barbecue) ✅ V. Scenic Spot Guide Combination ticket for paid attractions (valid for 5 days): • Classic Combination Ticket: CNY 198 (including Songzanlin Monastery + Pudacuo + Tiger Leaping Gorge) • Cultural Combination Ticket: CNY 150 (Baishuitai + Dukezong Ancient City + Dongzhulin Monastery) • Hiking Package: CNY 398 (Yubeng Waterfall + Ice Lake + Holy Lake) Free experience: • Dukezong Ancient City Night Tour (20:00–23:00) • Napa Hai Lakeside Cycling (rental points in the ancient city) • Thangka Painting Experience (workshop next to Guishan Park) ✅ Four Wonders Observation: 🪸 1. Golden Sunrise: Feilai Temple Viewing Platform (best in May–June) 🪸 2. Rhododendron Flower Sea: Baima Snow Mountain Pass (late May) 🪸 3. Starry Sky Galaxy: Yubeng Shangcun (no light pollution in summer) 🪸 4. Glacier Calving: Mingyong Glacier Viewing Platform (October–April) ✅ VI. Featured Experiences 🍭 1. Tibetan Buddhist Culture: ◦ Songzanlin Monastery Morning Class (6:30–7:30) ◦ Circumambulation Pilgrimage (Meili Snow Mountain circumambulation route) ◦ Living Buddha Debate Observation (15th day of each lunar month) 🍭 2. Plateau Outdoor Sports: ◦ Meili Snow Mountain Paragliding (Feilai Temple Base) ◦ Tiger Leaping Gorge High Road Hiking (28 km/3 days) ◦ Bita Lake Kayaking (inside Pudacuo Scenic Area) 🍭 3. Intangible Cultural Heritage: ◦ Tibetan Incense Making (Dukezong Ancient City Workshop) ◦ Butter Sculpture (Songzanlin Monastery in winter) ◦ Yak Wool Weaving (Niru Village Handicraft Workshop) ✅ VII. Useful Tips ⭐️ 1. Altitude Sickness: ◦ Do not shower/drink alcohol on the first day, prepare oxygen cylinders (CNY 25/can at pharmacies in the ancient city) ◦ It is recommended to acclimatize to the altitude for 1–2 days before going to the snow-capped mountains. ⭐️ 2. Photography Tips: ◦ Use a 70–200mm telephoto lens to capture the golden sunrise on Meili Snow Mountain. ◦ Choose 7:00–8:30 in the morning to photograph the reflections in Napa Hai. ◦ A tripod + ND filter is required for the Yubeng starry sky. ⭐️ 3. Safety Tips: ◦ A satellite locator is required for hiking (CNY 50/day for scenic spot rental) ◦ Be cautious when traveling through the Yubeng River Valley during the rainy season (June–August). ◦ Respect Tibetan taboos: do not touch Buddha statues/do not step on thresholds. ⭐️ 4. Environmental Protection Requirements: ◦ Garbage bag deposit system (free to collect at the entrance of the ancient city) ◦ It is forbidden to fly drones over temples. ◦ Follow the guide's instructions in the horse riding area. Classic Route Bonus: Dukezong Ancient City → Songzanlin Monastery → Napa Hai → Baima Snow Mountain → Yubeng Village (7-day loop, covering the essence of nature/culture/hiking)