[2024 Shangri-La Stay] Travel Guide for Songtsam Shangri-la Linka (Updated Nov)
Songtsam Hotel.
Travel with Songtsam | Lhasa Loop 6D5N||The Songtsam Lhasa Loop is an important travel route under the Songtsam Hotel Group. Centered around Lhasa, it connects several destinations with unique natural scenery and rich cultural heritage. This loop not only offers a high-end accommodation experience but also provides carefully designed itineraries that allow visitors to deeply experience the natural beauty of Tibet and Tibetan culture.
🏨Hotel Location: Songtsam Hotel is located in the core area of Basum Lake Scenic Area, facing the beautiful Basum Lake. The lake is clear and green, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dense forests, creating a picturesque scene. The hotel's location allows guests to enjoy the stunning natural scenery up close, as if they are in a fairyland.
I've listed the most impressive attractions and related travel experiences along the entire route!
Route Attractions
⛺️Basum Lake: Tashi Island and Cuozong Temple: Tashi Island in the center of the lake is connected to the shore by a floating bridge. Cuozong Temple on the island is a Tibetan Buddhist temple with a long history. The temple's architecture is made of wood and stone, simple yet solemn, and houses many Buddha statues and cultural relics. The temple adds a strong religious atmosphere and cultural charm to Basum Lake, making it not only a place of natural beauty but also a place with deep cultural heritage. When the morning sun shines on the temple's golden roof, incense smoke rises, and the chanting of monks echoes in the valley, it feels like being in a fairy tale world far from the mundane.
⛰️Baiba Valley: Baiba Valley has dense forests, mainly composed of spruce, fir, pine, and other tree species. The trees in the forest are tall and straight, with lush branches and leaves, forming a green ocean. Sunlight filters through the leaves, creating dappled shadows on the ground, creating a tranquil and mysterious atmosphere.
Travel Experience:
🚵Basum Lake Cycling: This is the most classic cycling route, allowing you to enjoy the lake view and surrounding scenery of Basum Lake to the fullest. Cycling along the lake, one side is the clear blue lake, and the other side is dense forests, rolling mountains, and occasionally visible Tibetan villages. The entire loop is long and requires physical strength and endurance, but the scenery along the way is breathtaking, allowing you to fully appreciate the charm of Basum Lake.
⛺️Baiba Valley Camping Experience: Camping in Baiba Valley is a very special experience. Visitors can choose to set up tents by the river, in the forest, or on the mountain top, getting close to nature. At night, gaze at the stars, fall asleep to the sound of flowing water and chirping insects, and feel the tranquility and beauty of nature.
Travel with Songtsam! This loop covers Tibet's natural beauty, cultural landscapes, and unique folk culture, allowing visitors to deeply experience the charm of Tibet.
bittererbrianna
This is a special hotel I have stayed in, with a strong Tibetan style!
This is a special hotel I have stayed in, with a strong Tibetan style. Feel the beauty of the years
The dizziness brought by the thin air of the plateau
Let your thoughts wander between dreams and reality
Until you arrive at the lobby, drink a cup of warm tea, and your soul will be at ease. The exquisite brass room card light source retains a warm tone
The heavy curtain cloth blocks the howling cold wind on the plateau at night, and the small balcony enjoys the scenery of the barren mountains and ridges in the morning alone
The carefully arranged layout meets all the needs of the traveler's hard work. It is the most beautiful pure land in the distance
Shangri-La Songzan Linka is located in a village behind Songzanlin Temple. The road to the hotel is narrow and hidden, which fits the concept of Songzan's "hidden door". Tibetan-style castles stand by the mountains, and the room balcony can overlook Songzanlin Temple. At breakfast time, the morning light is like a Buddha light, the temple's golden dome is magnificent and solemn, the fields and villages are quiet and peaceful, and the restaurant window is a mural of divinity and humanity intertwined.
The color of the room is the five colors of white, blue, red, green and yellow in Tibet. In addition to the yellow of the wall, the other colors used in the soft outfit are low saturation and low brightness, less enthusiasm, more heavy and quiet feeling, the next day I went to Songzanlin Temple and found that the large area of bright yellow wall in the room was in the same line as the temple wall. Wooden furniture, Thangka, bronze ware, black pottery, Tibetan pattern fabrics, are naturally ironed and placed in the space, the deep religious culture of the snow-capped plateau, the simple and rough lifestyle of Tibet is integrated into the details.
The hotel's public area is very good for shopping, there are Norlha Nole, BA bakery, Ancestor Bird joint store, Tibetan carpet store, Songzan Fengwu boutique store, and a small Tibetan culture museum.
Every morning, the hotel's Tibetan guide will take guests to walk to Songzanlin Temple, explaining Tibetan Buddhist culture along the way, and the tickets are complimentary from the hotel, which can be entered multiple times during the stay.
Songzan's service is needless to say, most of the waiters are local Tibetans, and the butler-style service is attentive and responsive at any time. This year, the Shangri-La Airport Songzan VIP Hall and security check channel have been opened, and you can make an appointment with the housekeeper one day in advance.
The two Songzans in Shangri-La are respectively the starting points of the Linka and Mountain Residence series. They have been criticized for their old hardware for a long time, but I personally think that there are many modern new hotels, but it is rare to extend the hotel experience to the local cultural comprehensive experience. Songzan gives guests a sense of connection with this land. The hotel is not just a temporary residence for "sleeping", the hotel is the destination.
Phoenix_Blackwooden
The best guest houses in Shangri-La.
Shangri-La | Songzanlinca Hotel worth staying at
📍The hotel is located behind Songzanlin Temple. Guests can enjoy free admission to the temple. It's about a 10-15 minute walk. The airport is about 20 minutes away.
🏨The hotel features a blend of Tibetan-style wood and stone decor. The reception, rooms, and restaurant are located in small buildings in a village. It's a classic, warm, and quiet place.
Alexander&Harris61
Shangri-La Songtsam Linka Hotel
🛏【️Hotel Guide】
📍Detailed Address: Located in Shangri-La, behind Songzanlin Monastery, 9.3 kilometers from Shangri-La City, Xiaojiezi Village, Songzanlin Monastery
🚗Transportation Guide: The hotel provides airport✈️ transfer service, which is very convenient. The hotel arranges Land Rover Defenders for transfers, giving a very grand impression
🌟Highlights and Features: One of Asia's 100 local-style hotels🏨 built along the mountain, featuring Tibetan-style stone houses with Kham characteristics, staggered and hidden among flowers and trees. Service : All hotel staff wear Tibetan clothing and are very enthusiastic❤️🔥. The luggage is delivered to the room by the staff, offering butler-style service. The facilities in the room are also explained to the guests one by one🩷
⛱Hotel Environment: The overall layout of the hotel is that of a resort hotel, with no high-rise buildings. All buildings are a combination of Tibetan wood and stone🏡, which is very distinctive.
💰Average Consumption: 1500-2000
📌Small Tips: 1️⃣ The hotel has a horse farm where you can book horse riding🐎
2️⃣ The overall environment of the hotel is very beautiful. You can take a leisurely walk with your family, stop and go, and take photos!
3️⃣ The hotel has the highest altitude Arc'teryx experience store in the world, where guests can have their Arc'teryx hard shells cleaned for free. Even if you don't shop, you can sit down, read a book, and take photos. It's really photogenic
Max Kirlin I
Shangri-La in Autumn
Driving 180 kilometers from Shuhe to Shangri-La, the journey on National Highway 214 takes five hours. The stunning scenery of the Tibetan area is breathtaking. Entering the true Yunnan-Tibet line, the autumn colors of the Tibetan area are vibrant, and the scenery along the way is incredibly beautiful.
Shangri-La City, formerly known as "Zhongdian," is called "Jiantang" in Tibetan. It is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China. Located in the "Great Triangle" area of Yunnan, Sichuan, and Tibet in the northwest of Yunnan Province, it is at the heart of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Shangri-La means "the sun and moon in the heart" in Tibetan, and the area is predominantly Tibetan Buddhism.
This time, we camped at the Songtsam Linka Hotel. The hotel environment is beautiful. In the evening, we had Tibetan cuisine in the restaurant, singing and dancing with Tibetan compatriot singers. It was very unique. The hotel is close to Songzanlin Monastery and Tiger Leaping Gorge, highly recommended.
2Johnson-Ethan
The combination of Tibetan characteristics and modern aesthetics, the details reveal the true essence
In my exhaustion after hiking, I decided to head to Shangri-La to find a tranquil place to rejuvenate. The Songtsam Hotel, recommended by a friend, became my destination, so I embarked on a new journey without hesitation.
First Impressions of the Hotel
Outside, the view unfolds as soon as you open the window. Inside, it opens towards the village. Songtsam is synonymous with practicing all that is kind and beautiful.
Decor Style
The hotel's interior decor cleverly combines Tibetan handicrafts with modern design elements. Wooden floors, fireplaces, Tibetan carpets, and handcrafted copperware all exude a unique Tibetan charm. From the room layout to the placement of every small item, the hotel's attention to detail is evident. The combination of Tibetan characteristics and modern aesthetics, the details reveal the true essence.
Butler Service
From the pick-up service before check-in to the farewell upon departure; ginger tea in the morning and tremella soup in the evening; every guest's request is heard and met. Such attentive care makes one feel very warm and welcomed.
PathfindingParables
Shangri-La Songtsam Linka Hotel
A Spiritual Journey Through Tibetan Culture 🏔️🌺
Hotel Name: 🏨 Shangri-La Songtsam Linka Hotel
Address: 📍 Songtsam Linka Village, Jiantang Town, Shangri-La
✍🏻 At the end of the world, beyond the clouds, there is a forgotten paradise by the world—Shangri-La 🌄. On this mysterious land, the Songtsam Linka Hotel is like a dazzling pearl 💎, embedded in the embrace of mountains, quietly telling the thousand-year-old stories of Tibetan culture 📖.
✍🏻 The moment you step into the Songtsam Linka Hotel, it feels like you have traveled through time 🕰️, arriving at a secret place that is both ancient and modern. The hotel's architectural style is unique 🏛️, adopting the Kham-style Tibetan fortress design, built along the mountain, with staggered heights. Each building seems to be a perfect blend of nature and human wisdom 🌳💡. Surrounded by lush forests and colorful flowers 🌳🌺, the air is filled with a faint scent of pine and the freshness of flowers 🌲🌼, making one instantly forget the troubles of the mundane world 💭.
✍🏻 The most unforgettable is the view from every window in the room 🪟, where you can clearly see the solemn and mysterious Songzanlin Monastery 🏯 in the distance. The golden roof shines, appearing even more sacred under the blue sky and white clouds ⛅. This is not only a visual enjoyment 👀 but also a spiritual baptism 💦, immersing one in this tranquility and devotion 🙏.
✍🏻 Entering the guest room, every detail reveals the utmost respect and inheritance of Tibetan cultural craftsmanship 🤲. Especially the exquisite copper basin 🛁, which is not only a practical household item but also a piece of art 🎨. Its unique texture and luster allow one to feel a warmth and weight from ancient times while washing 🔥📜.
✍🏻 Besides the exquisite guest rooms 🛏️, the Songtsam Linka Hotel also offers a series of unique services and facilities 🌟. The Arc'teryx co-branded store provides top-notch equipment for outdoor enthusiasts 🎒🧗♀️, while the exclusive bakery spreads the tempting aroma of baked goods 🍞🥐, allowing one to taste the flavor of home even on the journey 🏠. More surprisingly, the hotel also has a Thangka museum 🎨, which houses many precious Thangka works, opening a window for visitors to understand Tibetan Buddhist art and culture 📚🙏.
✍🏻 In terms of service, the Songtsam Linka Hotel has also achieved excellence 👍. The Land Rover airport transfer service 🚖 is not only convenient and efficient but also adds a touch of nobility and luxury 👑. The hotel also provides a shuttle bus directly to Songzanlin Monastery 🚌, with complimentary tickets and professional explanations 🎫🗣️, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of this Tibetan Buddhist sanctuary 🏯.
✍🏻 In addition, the hotel is equipped with Chinese and Western restaurants 🍽️ to meet the taste needs of different visitors 🍔🍜. Activities such as Tibetan photography 📸, hot air balloon experience 🎈, horse riding 🐎, and archery 🏹 make the trip full of fun and challenges 🎉, allowing every guest to fully experience the unique charm of Shangri-La and the profound heritage of Tibetan culture 🌈.
✍🏻 In short, the Shangri-La Songtsam Linka Hotel is not just a hotel 🏨; it is a comprehensive experience space about travel ✈️, culture 📚, and life 🌐. Here, every traveler can find their own peace and touch 💖, gaining an unforgettable spiritual journey 🚀.
TravelSage
My Life FIRST | Exploring the Songtsam Linka Bakery in Shangri-La
Shangri-La truly has everything. When I went to the Songtsam Linka Hotel for lunch, I was immediately drawn to the French bakery on the left as I entered the Tibetan-style courtyard of the Chinese restaurant. The entire baking area was visually striking with its golden bread displays. The next morning, I had to leave for a hike at Abuji Lake at 7:30, but the breakfast at the guesthouse started at 8:00, so I bought a rose maple European bread for breakfast. The shop assistant said that Songtsam's bakery has nearly ten branches in Yunnan, including one in the provincial capital, Kunming. I must say, the taste was authentic, and the prices were comparable to those in prime locations in first-tier cities.
Oliver345 Hall
Arriving at the place closest to heaven
📍Shangri-La | My three-day two-night guide is here!!! 🏞️You always have to make a trip to the place closest to heaven—Shangri-La.✨
💥Save it, I stayed up late to organize this detailed Shangri-La travel guide for everyone🗺️, fresh out of the oven😍, super practical!
⚠️ Packing list🧳:
◆Documents💳: ID card, student ID, a small amount of cash;
◆Electronic devices🎧: Power bank, charging cable, mobile phone, headphones, camera, selfie stick;
◆Clothing👗: Change of clothes👙, flat shoes, sun protection clothing (check the real-time weather before departure);
◆Skincare and makeup💄: Lotion, facial cleanser, makeup remover, toiletries🧴, face towel, cosmetics;
✅ Recommended routes🚘:
1️⃣: Ancient Town
This is the largest Tibetan residential area in China, Dukezong is Shangri-La's 'Moonlight City', the ancient town has a history of 1300 years, and the 'Turtle Mountain Park' in the town has the world's largest prayer wheel;
You can follow the crowd and turn it three times, make a wish, if you want to take a photo with the prayer wheel, it is recommended to do it during the day, at night go to Sifang Street to dance Guozhuang, feel the lively ethnic atmosphere;
🎫Ticket: Free
2️⃣:
Pudacuo is China's first national park, a must-visit, plateau hiking, primeval forests, beautiful lakes, highly recommended, there is a direct bus from Dukezong Ancient Town to the scenic area, purchase at the Moonlight Plaza Tourist Service Center;
🎫Ticket: 168 combo ticket (includes 68 ticket + 70 scenic area transportation + 30 round-trip bus from Dukezong to Pudacuo)
3️⃣: Lake + Monastery
It is recommended to visit Napa Lake in the morning and Songzanlin Monastery in the afternoon to avoid the peak crowds;
① Napa Lake: In winter it's a grassland, in summer it's a sea, also known as 'Yila Grassland', herds of cattle, sheep, and horses graze leisurely on the grass, very healing to watch, Napa Lake is not just an enclosed scenic spot, it is a large grassland, no need to go to the enclosed and charged part;
📌 Transportation strategy:
Bus🚌: Pay attention to the departure time, don't miss it;
Taxi🚗: The distance is not far, taking a taxi is not expensive, go to Hamugu Racecourse;
Rent an electric bike🛵: Navigate around the lake;
② Songzanlin Monastery: How can you not visit Songzanlin Monastery when in Shangri-La, it is known as the 'Little Potala Palace', this place is great for a leisurely afternoon stroll, very photogenic;
🎫Ticket: Scenic area ticket 55 + outbound bus 10 + return bus 10 + guide 15, after visiting, take the No. 3 bus directly from the entrance back to the ancient town.
Recommended 9 worth staying at guesthouses🏩:
1. Just down the mountain. Meili SUNYATA
2. Runjing·Meili
3. Deqin Tengyue. Meili Snow Mountain Resort
4. Ren'an Valley 270 Degree Tent Manor
5. Yumu Zhiye
6. Songzanlin Ka Hotel
7. Ren'an Yue Rongzhuang
8. Shili Snow Mountain Yila Sea Extreme View Manor
9. Yunjie Granping Tent Hotel
🥘Food recommendations:
1️⃣Haba Butter Tea House:
Recommendation index: ★★★★★
Recommended dishes: Butter tea, celery beef, buttered yogurt residue.
2️⃣Quiet Mani Stone Tibetan Restaurant Bar
Recommendation index: ★★★★
Recommended dishes: Yak meat hot pot, Tibetan meat pie, homemade yogurt.
3️⃣Honghong Smokeless Stone Grill:
Recommendation index: ★★★★☆
Recommended dishes: Yak meat, chicken kidney, red heart potato, braised chicken feet
⚠️Tips: Yunnan is a plateau region, the attractions are relatively far apart, and the transportation back and forth is not very convenient. If it's your first time in Yunnan, you can find a reliable local pure play group there, including food, accommodation, and tickets, the accommodation is also very good, and you don't have to worry about transportation, luggage, and other issues.
_1992_Stephanie_29
Live-action Zelda Yunnan Antarctica Luoga Luxury Trekking 5 Days
Fat otaku's first trekking experience! How can Antarctica Luoga be as beautiful as Zelda 🤩 Isn't it considered a pilgrimage 😄
After Antarctica Luoga is open, an entrance fee is required, and it is more convenient to enter by self-driving. It is recommended to join a group like me who is too lazy to make a strategy and set off comfortably!
·
🧩In the next 5 days you will experience ▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▪
▫Face the Meili Snow Mountain directly! Lie comfortably in the Meili Hotel and watch the sunrise on the golden mountain 🗻
▫Light trekking in Antarctica Luoga, walking into the backyard of the gods 🚶
▫Visit the Songzanlin Monastery, each flight of stairs offers a different view 🤩
▫Night tour of the ancient city of Dukezong in Moonlight City, the ancient castle on the Tea Horse Road 🏰
▫Go to Lijiang Ancient Town to stroll comfortably and drink authentic Yunnan roasted milk 👅
·
🧩About accommodation
📍Deqin Meili SUNYATA Hotel
Facing the Meili Snow Mountain 🗻 It feels super happy to be able to lie in bed and watch the snow mountain! And the interior design of the hotel is both classical and modern, full of Zen 💆
📍Lijiang Lishi Hotel
I really like to stay in Lijiang hotels with small courtyards! It's similar to the hotel where Xu Hongdou from 'Where There Is Wind' stayed, super comfortable!
📍Songzan Tsung
The hotel surrounded by snow mountains and forests, the interior decoration is as exquisite as a museum 🤩
📍Shangri-La Songzanlin Ka Hotel
Staying in the hotel, you can see the Meili Snow Mountain and Songzanlin Monastery 🕶
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🧩5 days and 4 nights arrangement 🚶
𝒅𝒂𝒚1 Dukezong Ancient Town
𝒅𝒂𝒚2 Ganden Songzanlin—Napa Lake—Meili Snow Mountain Viewing Platform—Wunongding
𝒅𝒂𝒚3 Wunongding—Antarctica Luoga Trekking—Achidaga Village—Transfer to off-road vehicle to enter Antarctica Luoga—Start trekking from Lake 3 to Lake 9—Cizhong Village
𝒅𝒂𝒚4 Cizhong Village—Yulong Snow Mountain/Tiger Leaping Gorge—Lijiang Ancient Town
𝒅𝒂𝒚5 Lijiang Ancient Town free time—Return trip
Cressida_
Songzan, an isolated paradise in the land of Tibet
In 1999, the Tibetan Bai Ma Duo Ji returned to his hometown of Shangri-La, and next to the Songzanlin Monastery, he transformed his family's old house into a Tibetan-style hotel—Songzan Green Valley. 25 years later, the Songzan Group has stood out among many boutique hotels in China, becoming the dream soul habitat for countless travelers.
The hotel is mainly Tibetan-style, built by more than 20 Tibetan carpenters according to the different cultural styles of Shangri-La, Lhasa, and other places. The rooms are decorated with a large number of Tibetan antique furniture, wooden bathtubs, Tibetan carpets, and Tibetan furniture. At the same time, the hotel has innovated tradition, using traditional Tibetan copper craftsmanship to create hotel utensils such as door plates, tea trays, and washbasins. Every detail is filled with Tibetan charm, making it a living museum of Tibetan life.
The Songzan Group has a total of 12 hotels, including Songzan Shangri-La Linka, Songzan Lhasa Linka, and 10 boutique mountain lodges—Songzan Green Valley Mountain Lodge, Songzan Lijiang Mountain Lodge, Songzan Tacheng Mountain Lodge, Songzan Benzilan Mountain Lodge, Songzan Meili Mountain Lodge, Songzan Cizhong Mountain Lodge, Songzan Rumei Mountain Lodge, Songzan Lagu Mountain Lodge, Songzan Bomi Mountain Lodge, Songzan Namjagbarwa Mountain Lodge. In addition, the first tent camp under the Songzan banner—Songzan Yubeng Tent Camp, was completed in September 2020 at the foot of Meili Snow Mountain.
98% of the hotel staff come from local rural areas, and in addition to providing quality services, they also share Tibetan stories with guests.
SereneWhisper
Journey to Shangri-La
🚗🚗🚗Travel Itinerary:
Day1: Sanyi Airport→Lijiang Ancient Town Dashi Wheel Yado Hotel
Day2: Lijiang Ancient Town Dashi Wheel Yado Hotel→Shangri-La Haba Snow Mountain Viewing Platform→Songzanlin Scenic Area→Ganden Sumtseling Monastery→Shangri-La Songzanlin Ka Hotel→Dukezong Ancient Town→Diqing Moonlight City Indigo Hotel
Day3: Diqing Moonlight City Indigo Hotel→Pudacuo National Park→Washbasin Pass→Napahai Halfway Boiling·White Pagoda·Coffee→Napahai Lake Loop Road→Shangri-La Thangka Academy→Diqing Moonlight City Indigo Hotel
Day4: Diqing Moonlight City Indigo Hotel→Nixi Tangdui Village→Meili Snow Mountain National Park Jinsha River Big Bend→Dongzhulin Monastery→Baima Snow Mountain→Baima Snow Mountain Pass→Wunongding Viewing Platform→Meili Snow Mountain Viewing Platform→Deqin Highland Villa · Meili Hotel
Day5: Deqin Highland Villa · Meili Hotel→Feilai Temple→Kawagebo Peak→Deqin Highland Villa · Meili Hotel
Day6: Deqin Highland Villa · Meili Hotel→Lugu Lake Tingxia Island Hotel
Day7: Lugu Lake Tingxia Island Hotel→Lugu Lake→Daluo Shui Village→Pig Trough Boat Lake Tour (Daluo Shui Dock)→Lugu Lake Tingxia Shuian Resort Hotel→Lugu Lake Tingxia Island Hotel
Day8: Lugu Lake Tingxia Island Hotel→Gem Goddess Mountain→Lijiang Ancient Town→Shanshe·Courtyard Coffee→Sanyi Airport
Ella Scott
Songzanlin Monastery, a place that brings peace to the heart
In the new year, may all your wishes come true. On this land full of mystery and beauty, every corner has its unique charm.
Songzanlin Monastery, a place that brings peace to the heart. Here, every scene seems to be telling an ancient story, immersing people in it and forgetting the hustle and bustle of the world.
May all your wishes come true, and may your journey be smooth. In this new year, may you have more joy, long peace, and live the ideal life in your heart.
Happy New Year! At the same time, may the good times of the past year continue into the new year, making every day full of sunshine and hope.
Violet.Simmons^15
Must-visit attractions - Songzanlin Monastery and Shika Snow Mountain
🌄 The first ray of morning light illuminates the golden dome of Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, which appears solemn and mysterious in the morning mist. Stepping into the temple, you can feel a kind of tranquility that transcends the mundane world, as if time is slowly settling here.
🙏 The monks in the temple recite scriptures and pray devoutly, their faces revealing a kind of inner peace and joy. Here, you will also be involuntarily immersed in their atmosphere, feeling the purity and sanctity.
🏔️ As the sun rises, we turn to Shika Snow Mountain. This place, known as the 'God of Wealth Mountain', shines with golden light under the sun. It is said that climbing Shika Snow Mountain can bring wealth and good luck, which makes people yearn for it.
💰 Along the path at the foot of the mountain, you can see many Tibetans turning the mountain and praying for blessings. They believe that as long as they have reverence in their hearts, they can receive the blessing of the sacred mountain. Here, man and nature, faith and wealth, seem to have found a perfect balance.
🌈 Whether it's the tranquility and peace of Songzanlin Monastery or the mysterious power of Shika Snow Mountain, both make people deeply feel the magic of nature and the insignificance of man. On the journey, you might as well slow down and feel the charm and charm of this land with your heart. Maybe you will find your own wealth and good luck.✨
BROOKLYN SWANSON
It is a "hotel" that is not a hotel
It is a "hotel" that is not a hotel.
About the hotel: Shangri-La Songzan Linka, currently the largest resort destination in the Songzan series
Location: Hidden in the peaceful valley of Kena Village, it looks at Songzanlin Temple across a small pasture, about 12km from Dukezong Ancient City and Shangri-La Airport, and 15-20 minutes walk to Songzanlin Temple.
Design: The entire building complex is built according to the mountain, with a well-arranged layout, typical Tibetan fortress design, no grand lobby, more like a living room at home, the not large space is filled with Tibetan solid wood furniture, Tibetan carpets, copper Buddha statues and other antiques and artworks, the iconic Songzan. The restaurant building hides a Songzan boutique, where you can take home everything you eat and use, and you are very lucky to find two out-of-print black pottery vases.
Room: Basic room, about 35 square meters, slightly small, with a small terrace, excellent view, overlooking the 400-year-old Songzanlin Temple, the vast land and the village are integrated, under the summer sun, it is particularly peaceful and peaceful. The combination of solid wood furniture and Tibetan tapestries with Songzan's handmade custom utensils makes the entire room full of rich ethnic flavor and time texture.
Catering: The restaurant's location and view are extremely excellent, with first-class landscape, large terrace, and you can see Songzanlin Temple through the window glass. In the early morning against the light, everything in front of you is like an oil painting, and you seem to participate in this drama dominated by light and shadow. The performance of the meal is also extremely excellent, the authentic Tibetan taste, the localization and the chef's creative interpretation make the food particularly comforting in the hot summer tips: This is a large-scale vacation product launched after the success of Songzan Green Valley, so in the early stage, Songzan invited the management of Meijing Pavilion of Accor (the first Meijing Pavilion in China).
Phoenix_Blackwooden
I've been to Shangri-La four times and here's a super comprehensive guide based on my experiences
Is Shangri-La good? Is it worth going? You can tell by the number of times I've been there, and my answer is definitely yes!
✈️Transportation: It is generally recommended to fly to Lijiang first when going to Shangri-La. Firstly, there are fewer direct flights to Shangri-La and the tickets are expensive. Secondly, Shangri-La is at a certain altitude (over 3000 meters), so it will be more comfortable to stay in Lijiang for a day or two before going up.
🚌You can charter a car from Lijiang to Shangri-La (you can visit Tiger Leaping Gorge on the way), carpool, or take a bus. Now there is also a high-speed train🚉, which is more convenient and fast!
✅DAY1. Dukezong Ancient City, Songzanlin Monastery.
Stay near the ancient city. If you stay near Songzanlin Monastery, I recommend Songzanlinka Hotel.
Food recommendations in the ancient city:
⏩Niu Niu Restaurant (mainly for delicious yak hot pot)
⏩Kangzhuo Meiduo Tibetan Restaurant (the owner is a local singer with a great voice, you might hear him perform live in the evening! The beef hot pot is good, and the stir-fry is also good)
⏩Honghong Smokeless Stone BBQ (on the outskirts of the ancient city, it's hard for ordinary tourists to find without a local friend~ the grilled potatoes and tofu are super delicious)
⏩Xinqiao Snack Butter Tea House (on the outskirts of the ancient city, strongly recommended for breakfast and lunch, we wanted to have a pot of Guanguan rice noodles, but ended up ordering a big table full of food, great value for money)
⏩Minzhulamu (a Tibetan restaurant with a quality feel and performances, recommended by locals)
Songzanlin Monastery is known as the 'Little Potala Palace'.
✅DAY2. Pudacuo, Napa Lake.
Pudacuo can be reached by the scenic area bus and then a short walk, it's beautiful, and there are little squirrels😁
You can drive or charter a car. If you charter a car, the driver will know all the good spots around Napa Lake, including the viewing platform on the mountain, which is great for taking photos. You can also ride horses and hold lambs. If you want to take photos, you can change your outfit in the ancient city in the morning and then come out to take photos.
✅DAY3. Balagezong Scenic Area, Meili Snow Mountain, stay near Feilai Temple
Go to Balagezong in the morning and head to Meili in the afternoon.
For lunch, you can have Nixi Pot Chicken👍👍👍 I even brought back a pot!
If you stay near Feilai Temple, I recommend the View Paradise Hotel, which has a great view of Meili Snow Mountain. For more details about Meili Snow Mountain, you can refer to my previous note.😘
✅DAY4. From Meili Snow Mountain's Feilai Temple viewing platform back to Shangri-La. You can see the White Horse Snow Mountain, Jinsha River, and the confluence of three rivers on the old road.
Here's a rough itinerary for you👆But if you have more time, there are many more places to visit, such as: Baishuitai, Yubeng Village trekking, Nanji Luo trekking... The scenery is absolutely beautiful.
Of course, if you have the chance, you can also visit a Tibetan friend's home, and if you're lucky enough to catch a Tibetan friend's wedding or housewarming, it's a truly rare experience.
I wish you all a happy journey to Shangri-La😊 I'm Jinzhulamu👩❤️, who works for 15 days and travels for half a month. Welcome to follow me and experience a different world together
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kaelith_9406
Immerse yourself in Tibetan style and pursue inner freedom and peace
Shangri-La Songzanlinca Hotel is hidden in a peaceful and quiet green valley, facing the most famous Gelugpa temple in Yunnan, Songzanlin Temple. Between them are Tibetan villages and barley fields, and the whole Linca is built against the mountain, using the Tibetan-style fortress architecture of Kangba, which is staggered and covered with flowers and trees. On the pine path next to Linca, there are often lamas, herdsmen, and horses passing by, which is natural and harmonious, and has a natural Zen charm.
Rooms
Songzanlinca has a total of 92 rooms, the room decoration is very ethnic, genuine. It conforms to the Tibetan luxury positioning, stone room wooden house. It cleverly integrates modern aesthetics into the traditional Tibetan style, with wooden floors, fireplaces, Tibetan carpets, handmade copperware, etc., which are comfortable and warm. The most eye-catching is the traditional Tibetan copper washbasin.
Food
Songzanlinca is located in the Tibetan village next to Songzanlin Temple, where the altitude is 3280 meters, and the local people's eating habits are mainly meat and grains such as Tibetan fragrant pigs, beef and mutton, buckwheat cakes, barley cakes, butter tea, etc. The Tibetan restaurant on the first floor needs to be reserved in advance for meals. The Sunshine Restaurant on the second floor serves Chinese and Western meals and breakfast. The Horizon Restaurant next to the front desk, the bar serves Western meals and breakfast and self-paid afternoon tea. The lower level of the front desk only provides free afternoon tea. Rice noodles, matsutake chicken soup, yak hot pot, grilled lamb chops, Thai-style beef burgers, fried chicken burgers, barley biscuits + butter tea, their artisan bread is really delicious!
Facilities
The hotel has large indoor and outdoor spaces, a great natural environment, and complete facilities, including a swimming pool, SPA, horse farm, archery, and ancestor birds, BA bread, museum, sunset tent. You can find any travel experience you can think of here! The stone gate of the horse farm is particularly recommended, which is an excellent framing.
Service
The butler's service attitude is very good, the service is very comprehensive, the shuttle bus in the hotel park is available on call, it is really important not to have to worry about luggage all the way on the plateau. The hotel has a dedicated travel butler, leading everyone to visit Songzanlin Temple and Ramyangcuo, Tibetan banquets, small Zhongdian picnic, etc. It is a 20-minute drive from Shangri-La Airport.
ELISE HAMMOND
Yunnan | Shangri-La Songzanlinca
Yunnan | Shangri-La Songzanlinca, immersive experience of Tibetan style
I only stayed in Shangri-La for one day, and now I think it was a bit hasty, and I still have a lot to do in the small and pure Dukezong City, the morning mist of Songzanlin Temple, and the strong Tibetan style of Songzanlinca.
It is said that Baima Duoji founded Songzan for a large part because he hoped to invite colleagues and friends to his hometown of Shangri-La to have a relatively comfortable place to stay, so as to better understand and spread Tibetan culture. So from the green valley to Linka and then to the total of 12 hotels, most of them chose the Tibetan area or the minority area, and hired local residents to operate like "the host welcomes guests from afar".
So when I arrived at Songzanlinca, there was no "lobby" that was magnificent and prominent to welcome me. Except for the necessary check-in, it was indeed more like staying in a large Tibetan house. Each small building is the name of a nearby village, room balcony, restaurant, viewing platform, folk museum... you can see the white walls and golden roofs of Songzanlin Temple almost everywhere.
The hardware of the room may be a bit ordinary due to the long time, but various soft decoration details still create a strong Tibetan atmosphere, carpets, decorations, handmade copperware, and even the lock of the key...
The restaurant's products are surprisingly delicious, and it is not easy to maintain the richness and freshness of the ingredients in the high-altitude mountains and fields, as well as balance the characteristics of Tibetan meals and Western meal standards; don't miss the hotel's museum and cultural and creative museum, Tibetan incense, handmade fabrics and copper ornaments, etc. all have very good quality; the concept store "shopping" in cooperation with the ancestor bird is better than "buying", you can make an appointment in advance
The hotel accommodation includes tickets and explanations for Songzanlin Temple, which can be reached by a ten-minute walk from the back door of the hotel. Local staff will introduce the past and present of this "Little Potala Palace" and the personal experience of Tibetan culture in detail, which is more detailed than most tour guides.
Finally, if you bring a telephoto lens, you must get up early to go to the viewing platform of National Highway 214 to see the spectacle of the misty Songzanlin Temple being covered in gold at sunrise; if not, it does not prevent the naked eye from enjoying this shock and beauty.
🏘 Shangri-La Songzanlinca
ESTELLE TODD
Songtsam Shangrila Hotel Review
Address: Shangrila Old Town, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China.
Ambiance/Facilities: Songtsam Hotel Shangri-La is a beautiful boutique hotel with traditional Tibetan architecture and modern amenities. The hotel is located in the heart of Shangri-La Old Town, offering guests a tranquil and serene environment. The rooms are spacious, well-equipped and beautifully decorated with traditional Tibetan furnishings. The hotel also has a restaurant serving local cuisine and a cozy bar for guests to relax in.
Highlights: The highlight of Songtsam Hotel Shangri-La is its location and ambiance. The hotel is situated in the heart of Shangri-La Old Town, giving guests easy access to local attractions such as the Songzanlin Monastery and Pudacuo National Park. The hotel also offers guided tours and activities for guests to experience the local Tibetan culture.
Avg. Price per Person: The average price per person at Songtsam Hotel Shangri-La is around 800-1200 RMB per night, depending on the room type and season.
Rating: I would give Songtsam Hotel Shangri-La a rating of 4.5 out of 5. The hotel offers a unique and authentic Tibetan experience with its beautiful architecture, comfortable rooms, and great location. The staff is friendly and attentive, making for a truly memorable stay.