Ganden Songzanlin Monastery

Ganden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province, one of the famous large monasteries in Kang region, and the center of the Yellow Sect in Sichuan and Yunnan. It plays a vital role in the entire Tibetan area and is known as the "Little Potala Palace".

Like many scenic spots, Songzanlin Temple relies on the scenic area's shuttle bus for entry and exit. The temple is very large and built against the mountain. Visiting the temple requires climbing very high stairs. There are special interpreters in the temple, who should also be believers of Tibetan Buddhism. The interpreters will take you in and out through a certain pattern of doors, so as to instill the ideological theories of Tibetan Buddhism into you. Personally, I feel that this method of indoctrination is not acceptable to everyone. If you cannot accept some of the statements and practices, you will feel depressed. Therefore, you must be mentally prepared to visit the temple, believe in freedom of belief, and fear the gods.

Ganden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province, one of the famous monasteries in Kang region, and the Yellow Sect center in Sichuan and Yunnan. It plays an important role in the entire Tibetan area and is known as the "Little Potala Palace". The monastery is built on the mountain and looks like an ancient castle. It is a collection of Tibetan plastic arts and is also known as the "Tibetan Art Museum".

Ganden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province, one of the famous monasteries in Kang region, and the Yellow Sect center in Sichuan and Yunnan. It plays an important role in the entire Tibetan area and is known as the "Little Potala Palace". The monastery is built on the mountain and looks like an ancient castle. It is a collection of Tibetan plastic arts and is also known as the "Tibetan Art Museum".

I don't know much about Tibetan Buddhist culture. When I first saw it, I felt that this Tibetan temple was quite different from the ones I had seen before, both inside and out.

There were many bar-headed geese circling in the sky. Songzanlin Temple was built on the top of a mountain, and the wind was very strong. I don't know what those cloths hanging on the doors and windows are, they look very beautiful when blown!

At the entrance of the scenic area, there is a sightseeing bus to take you to the foot of the mountain, and then you can walk up the mountain to visit. There are monks in the temple who serve as guides to explain the history of the temple, Tibetan Buddhism, etc.

Note: Keep to the left - respect local customs and be humble towards Buddhist holy sites; walk slowly - you will get out of breath after a little exercise in the plateau.

The red-billed mountain eagle, a frequent visitor to Songzanlin Temple, hovers over this sacred temple.

The Songzanlin Temple is obviously much more lively and noisy in the summer, as if all the tourists who come to Shangri-La have gathered here. Fortunately, you can always find peace and the feeling of being away from the world in this temple, which belongs to Shangri-La.

The local children in Tibetan costumes melted my heart instantly. I couldn't help but take a few more photos of them. They are so cute!

When you come to Songzanlin Temple in summer, the weather is almost always cloudy and rainy. However, at the end of 2018, Songzanlin Temple looked magnificent under the warm winter sun and the backdrop of white snow in the distance.

We walked up the stairs to the top floor of the main hall and looked down at the Shangri-La on the central axis. We unexpectedly discovered that the Shangri-La Hotel where we stayed this time was also on the central axis. The sky was so blue that it looked like a huge blue background.

Because of Cangyang Gyatso's poems, I yearn for Lhasa and the Potala Palace. Unfortunately, I have no chance to see the real face. I heard that this place is like a small Potala Palace, so I decided to go and see it. When I arrived at the ticket checkpoint of the scenic area, I could already feel the solemnity and colorfulness of Tibetan culture. I took the scenic shuttle bus to the gate of Songzanlin Temple and was attracted. The golden buildings have a Tibetan-style heritage. The lamas are all very handsome. Looking from a distance, it is like an extremely vivid landscape painting. This kind of beauty has only been seen in the scroll! Next to the station, there is an old man selling barbecue. I bought two strings of potatoes and threw away a ticket for the scenic spot! (To be honest, it’s super unpalatable) I wandered around the door for a long time and didn’t go in. Later, I went directly in from the small door next to the bathroom, but it seemed that there was no need to check the ticket inside! I saw a puppy sleeping very soundly. Its mother was next to it, and I didn’t dare to touch it. There was an old lady selling her own yak yogurt on the steps of the stairs. It was very kind and delicious.

The whole building is on the mountainside, majestic, with golden roof and red bricks. I have been to many famous buildings, but the first time I saw Songzanlin Temple, I was still shocked by this building complex full of exotic and strong religious style. There is bus No. 3 a few hundred meters from the north gate of the ancient city to Songzanlin Temple, but there is an inconvenience. If you go by yourself, you must buy your own ticket. At present, the online ticket purchase agent will deliver the ticket to you at the stop before Songzanlin Temple, so you have to walk a long way by yourself. If you buy tickets at Songzanlin Temple, you will get the original price. So it is actually more recommended to sign up for a local one-day tour group, with a car to send, better cost-effectiveness and experience. There will also be a tour guide at a fixed time, and there is only one road, which is relatively simple. Listen to the history, learn about Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhism, take pictures, and you will be very satisfied.

Take the No. 3 bus that stops when you wave at it. The ride takes less than 30 minutes. The ticket price is ¥90/person. There is a special bus from the scenic area to the temple. The latest return time is 18:30 (I don’t remember it clearly, but I think it’s this time)

The temple buildings are arranged in an orderly manner, stacked up along the mountain. From a close look, they appear tall and majestic.

When you enter the temple, there is a long staircase in front of you. You have to walk up all 108 steps without looking back.

The tour guide will talk about the culture of Tibetan Buddhism. You can listen to them quietly and feel their awe of life and gratitude for the gifts of nature. You can experience the faith and piety of Buddhists. I don't know what the roof is made of. The breeze adds a bit of agility to this ordinary house.

Before we set off, the lady from the inn introduced us to Songzanlin Temple and told us that they would go around the outer circumambulation path when they went to the temple, so we should follow the local customs. Walk in a clockwise direction, and there are signposts along the way. Walk slowly, and it takes about 40 minutes to go around.

Songzanlin Temple is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan. The ticket is 90 yuan, including the scenic bus from the gate to Songzanlin Temple and the temple explanation fee. The explanation is scheduled. You can choose to visit by yourself, or you can ask the time at the door and wait for a while, and a guide will take everyone in. For museums and temples, I usually follow the guide to learn some cultural background and folk beliefs, so as not to just take a quick tour. The guide introduced some Tibetan Buddhist knowledge and local folk customs to us along the way. The whole tour time is about an hour. If you visit by yourself, please pay attention to visit clockwise, do not take the return route, and enter the temple from the left and exit from the right.

Songzanlin Temple is built on the hillside, with a well-arranged layout. It looks like the Potala Palace from a distance, so it is called the "Little Potala Palace". The gilded eaves look even more exquisite under the blue sky and sunshine. In front of Songzanlin Temple is Lhamoyangcuo Lake. In November, the lake water recedes and some meadows at the bottom of the lake are revealed.

The next day, I saw the Songzanlin Temple in the morning mist. The entire solemn and majestic building complex was shrouded in a thin mist like a veil. The magnificent eaves and corners of the temple were looming in the diffuse mist. The whole picture was as psychedelic as a mirage.

Actually, I am not a religious person, but I like to listen to other people's explanations and stories about any place, building or object. I chose this place because I heard others say that the explanation was great. But unfortunately, the guide who was in charge of explaining it to us didn't seem to be very serious. He seemed to be just doing it casually and didn't explain it very well. I was a little disappointed with this place.

松讚林寺是雲南省規模最大的藏傳佛教寺院，被譽為“小布達拉宮”。從獨克宗古城大門邊上的公交車站花1塊錢坐3路車或者16路車，二十來分鐘就能直達松讚林寺遊客中心，神奇的卻是公交車居然不收硬幣。

淡季90塊錢。買了門票，遊客中心的擺渡車會直接送到松讚林寺建築群門口。依山而建的松讚林寺外形猶如一座城堡，而藏族的建築永遠都是那麼莊嚴華麗。

每座宮殿和僧舍都有它自己的故事，進景區之後，都會有安排一個喇嘛做導遊講解。

門票原價115，淡季90塊錢。買了門票，遊客中心的擺渡車會直接送到松讚林寺建築群門口。依山而建的松讚林寺外形猶如一座城堡，而藏族的建築永遠都是那麼莊嚴華麗。

每座宮殿和僧舍都有它自己的故事，進景區之後，都會有安排一個喇嘛做導遊講解。

I didn't have high hopes for Songzanlin Temple, but I was pleasantly surprised.

In addition to the temple, the Songzanlin Temple scenic area also has a sky burial platform and Ramyangcuo Lake. There are also many houses inhabited by believers around it, occupying the entire hilltop.

It takes more than 100 steps to get from where you get off the bus to the main hall, and there are Tibetans selling butter tea on both sides of the steps.

There are special people to lead the tour and give explanations in the main hall, and you can follow and listen. The lake in front of Songzanlin Temple reflects the blue sky, which is very beautiful.

The main hall of Songzanlin Temple is forbidden to take photos once you enter. The best angle for taking photos is actually the hall next to the main hall. After entering, you climb up the steps of the side hall. It seems to be circling around the Buddha statue in the middle. You can only see a corner of the Buddha statue through the gap. There is basically no place to see the whole picture. When you climb to the highest point, you can walk to a platform and overlook the entire Songzanlin Temple scenic area from the highest point. You can't stop taking photos.

Songzanlin Temple in Diqing is known as the "Little Potala Palace", solemn and mysterious. The temple complex is magnificent, built against the mountain, and the golden roof and red walls are particularly eye-catching under the blue sky and white clouds. When visiting, you can not only feel the strong atmosphere of Tibetan Buddhism, but also appreciate the exquisite murals and sculptures, and experience the fusion of history and faith. Between the morning bells and evening drums, it seems to hear the whisper of time, and every step and every scene shows the profound charm of Tibetan culture.

It is said that Songzanlin Temple (Guihua Temple in Chinese) was named by the Fifth Dalai Lama himself. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty and expanded in the 18th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1679). After several reconstructions and renovations, Songzanlin Temple has become the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province. It is also one of the famous large temples in Kang region and the center of the Yellow Sect in Sichuan and Yunnan. It plays a vital role in the entire Tibetan area and is called the "Little Potala Palace" by people.

Ganden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province, one of the famous monasteries in Kang region, and the Yellow Sect center in Sichuan and Yunnan. It plays an important role in the entire Tibetan area and is known as the "Little Potala Palace". The monastery is built on the mountain and looks like an ancient castle. It is a collection of Tibetan plastic arts and is also known as the "Tibetan Art Museum".

There is an observation deck near National Highway 214 where you can take panoramic photos, which are spectacular.

You must visit the Songzanlin Temple scenic area, which is known as the Little Potala Palace. The scenic area is very large. Most tourists visit the temple in less than an hour. I later walked around the lake next to it and found that this is the essence. After buying the ticket, there will be a full-time monk to lead the tour. There are many sects in Tibetan Buddhism, which are difficult and complicated. I only know a little bit about it. I only know that the temple enshrines Master Tsongkhapa and belongs to the Yellow Sect. Around the main temple, there are several large "Kangcan" distributions, that is, monastic communities, where many monks live, highlighting the influence of the temple in the surrounding area.

The time to stay in Shangri-La is limited, only half a day and night. I asked the tour leader, if we only go to one place, where would he recommend? The tour leader replied: Songzanlin Temple. Songzanlin Temple is known as the Little Potala Palace, and this title is well deserved! I really like to walk around here. The place is quite large, with an altitude of more than 3,300 meters, which will cause some altitude sickness. For me, who is a newcomer, with chest tightness and shortness of breath, and legs like lead, it takes a lot of energy to walk around for half a day. Going up to the top of the temple, it is glittering with gold everywhere, which is very noble and exquisite. There are birds flying freely in the sky, and they also come to the eaves and roofs to play and rest. Birds are more noble than humans, and they can stand on the solemn golden roof. Go to the opposite Ramyangcuo Lake, and you can take a panoramic view of Songzanlin Temple and its reflection in the water.

Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province. Built on a mountain, it is known as the Little Potala Palace in terms of its appearance, scale and status in the Tibetan area.

Ladies need to wear clothes below the knees when entering. Very suitable for taking photos and making great movies. You need to climb a lot of stairs, which is quite challenging at high altitudes.

Songzanlin Monastery is known as the "Little Potala Palace". Before entering the scenic area, you can go to the museum-like building opposite the ticket office to listen to a free explanation. The tour guide will explain some Tibetan culture and collections in the museum, most of which are magnificent thangkas, as well as Tibetan "secret items" such as dzi beads and beeswax.

We took the scenic area bus 🚌 and passed through a local residential area to the gate of Songzanlin Temple. Songzanlin Temple was built on the mountain. From below, it looked very similar to the Potala Palace, with a milky white exterior wall and all the eaves and walls dotted with yellow. In Tibetan areas, yellow and red are generally not seen in civilian homes, but are mostly used in Tibetan Buddhist temples and monks' clothing. There is an endless stream of tourists in front of the sweet walls of the Potala Palace.

Ganden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province.

Songzanlin Temple is built on the mountain and looks similar to the Potala Palace in Lhasa from a distance.

Because of its large scale, it is known as the "Little Potala Palace".

Another mysterious thing about it is that both sunrise and sunset fall on the golden roof of the temple.

So we arrived at the photography spot before daybreak

7:30 Beijing time

The stars in the sky and the lights of the temple complement each other

But there was silence

Ganden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan and the center of the Gelug sect of this generation. It is built on the mountain and is known as the "Little Potala Palace". The shape is particularly beautiful and it showcases the Tibetan architectural art. The whole building is very brightly colored, and it is also a great place for many photography enthusiasts to take pictures of Tibetan art.



To go to Songzanlin Temple, you need to buy a ticket to enter the Songzanlin Scenic Area. To enter the scenic area, you first need to take the scenic area shuttle bus through the streets around the temple to the gate of Songzanlin Temple. Then you can wait at the gate for the scenic area's tour guide to take you in. The tour guide fee is included in the ticket. If time is tight, you can choose not to follow the tour guide and tour on your own, but since you are here, you must listen to the explanation, otherwise you won't gain anything by just walking around.

Because we had to rush to Feilai Temple at 2:30 in the afternoon, we decided to just visit some small attractions on DAY1 and then leave.

We didn't have high expectations for Songzanlin Monastery at first, because various travel guides said that you don't need to visit here after visiting the Potala Palace, and there are so many people here that it would be difficult to film. Two people who had never been to Lhasa didn't think much of it and just planned to just wander around.

But the weather in Shangri-La saved us! After a sudden rain shower, the tour groups all withdrew and the whole temple immediately became quiet. Tibetan temples look good when there is no one around.



I think this is the best camera position for the front of the temple. It is right at the entrance. However, you must wait until there are fewer people because it is a main road. If it is not raining, it is basically difficult to take quiet photos here.

【Ganden Songzanlin Monastery】



Ganden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province. It plays an important role in the entire Tibetan area and is known as the "Little Potala Palace".

The temple, also known as Guihua Temple, is 5 kilometers away from the ancient city of Shangri-La. It is a group of ancient castle buildings on the scale of an ancient town. It was built in 1679 (the eleventh cycle of the Tibetan calendar, the Yin Earth Sheep Year) and completed in 1681 (the Yin Iron Rooster Year).



Regular ticket: Original price 55, half price this year 27.5

The sightseeing bus takes 20 yuan round trip, and the distance is two kilometers and half an hour to walk.

The explanation is 15 yuan per person. Just wait at the temple gate until enough people come.

Opening hours: 08:00-18:00



transportation:

You can take bus No. 3 (1 yuan) or minibus (2 yuan) on Changzheng Road in Shangri-La County and get there directly. The journey takes 30 minutes. The parking lot is opposite the temple gate. A taxi costs 12 yuan.

Artistic value: large scale, unique and exquisite decoration, dreamy reflection

Historical value: It has a long history and some cultural relics, but it has been restored.

Management: Not strict enough. The queue at the ticket hall is quite long. It is recommended to use the Yunnan Travel app to scan the code to buy tickets, which is more convenient.

Songzanlin Temple is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province. It is not only the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple complex in Yunnan, but also the Yellow Sect center in Sichuan and Yunnan. It is known as the Little Potala Palace. The temple is built on the mountain and looks like an ancient castle. There are oval walls around the temple. The main hall is majestic and gorgeous, and the murals inside the hall are colorful.

After passing through the gate, you will see countless steps, which are said to be 147 in total, with a slope close to vertical. I heard from a tour guide on the way that most people will have a little altitude sickness after climbing this.

Climb up the steps and you can see the side-by-side halls. The upper level of the main hall is covered with gold-plated copper tiles, and the corners of the hall are decorated with beasts and flying eaves, which are also in the architectural style of Han-style temples. The lower hall has 108 pillars, which represents the auspicious number of Buddhism. The hall can accommodate 1,600 people.

The main building, Zhacang, means "monastery" in Tibetan, where monks study scriptures and study doctrines. The rear hall houses Tsongkhapa, Maitreya Buddha, and the seventh bronze Buddha, which is more than three meters high and leads directly to the upper floor. The middle floor has eight rooms, namely the Hall of Gods, the Hall of Dharma Protectors, the Abbot's Room, the Quiet Room, and the Dining Room. The living room in the front building is used for VIP banquets and watching "Qiangmu" (mask) dances. The top floor is the Jingshe Buddhist Hall, which houses the fifth and seventh Buddha statues, as well as palm leaf scriptures, thangkas, and handed-down instruments. To the south of the Buddhist hall is the towering bell and drum tower, which beats drums to announce time in the early morning, noon, and dusk, and the sound can be heard ten miles away.

The temple architecture can be said to be a collection of the quintessence of Tibetan religious culture. The buildings are magnificent, with gilded copper tiles of various shapes, eaves with beast-horns and flying mouths, and the spacious and magnificent Zhacang Hall. There are many Buddha statues enshrined in the hall: the Kun Pagoda is tall and sacred, and the murals on the west wing on both sides are exquisitely carved. It shows the profoundness of Buddhism, interprets the rich connotations of Buddhist scriptures, resounds with the Buddha's preaching of saving all living beings, and is a hall filled with Buddha's light.

Opposite the temple is Lhamoyangcuo Lake. Standing on the plank road in the lake, you can take pictures of the reflection of Songzanlin Temple, which is very spectacular!

My Yunnan Travel Notes: I am waiting for the wind to come here - Yunnan Lijiang / Lugu Lake / Shangri-La Travel Notes http://www.mafengwo.cn/i/17066239.html

When I was making a guide for Songzanlin Temple, I found two classic angles for taking panoramic photos of the temple:

1. On the slope opposite the main gate of Songzanlin Temple

2. There is a lake called Ramyangcuo Lake at the entrance of Songzanlin Temple. Go around the lake to take pictures of Songzanlin Temple and you can take pictures of the temple's reflection in the water.

But when I actually arrived at Songzanlin Temple, I found that the dirt slope opposite the temple gate had been fenced off, and there was a large sign saying "Farmland inside, no entry". However, if you go around a little, you can find a place to climb up the dirt slope, but it is difficult to climb here, and a more delicate girl may not be able to climb up.

As for taking photos of Songzanlin Temple across the Ramyangcuo Lake, we didn't go because of time constraints. Ramyangcuo Lake is actually quite large. We estimated that it would take at least half an hour to walk to the angle on the other side of the lake, and about an hour to go there and back. Because it was almost six o'clock, and my parents were tired, we didn't go there. Moreover, I saw in other people's travel notes that they could take photos of the reflection of Songzanlin Temple in the lake. But I don't know if it's because of the wrong season or what, the Ramyangcuo Lake I saw was full of water plants, and I couldn't take any reflections. This needs to be verified by future tourists~



The architectural appearance of Songzanlin Temple is really similar to the Potala Palace.

The ticket to Songzanlin Temple is 55 yuan, the shuttle bus to the scenic area is 20 yuan, and the tour guide fee is 15 yuan.

If you go directly to the ticket window to buy, you will generally be sold a 90 yuan ticket that includes all services by default. But because my parents and I were too lazy to listen to the explanation, we told the ticket seller to buy a 75 yuan ticket.

We took the scenic area shuttle bus to the entrance of Songzanlin Temple. The ticket inspector saw that we had bought tickets without a tour guide and told us that we could move freely. The rest of the tourists who bought the tour guide had to wait at the entrance for a while. When there were about 30 to 50 people, a local guide would take these tourists into the scenic area and explain while walking.

However, August is the peak tourist season, so after entering Songzanlin Temple, I found that there were tour guides giving explanations with microphones and tourists gathered everywhere.

Because we met several groups of tour guides and tourists during the tour, sometimes when we stopped at the same place, we would pass by more than two tour guides. I was surprised to find that for the same place, these tour guides explained completely different things. Some of them explained knowledge, such as the history of Songzanlin Temple and the local Tibetan customs of sky burial and water burial; but some of them rarely explained knowledge, and basically talked to tourists about merits and blessings, and tended to persuade tourists to donate incense money.

So, whether or not to follow the tour guide to listen to the explanation is up to you.

You can take photos of the exterior of Songzanlin Temple, but you are not allowed to take photos or videos once you are inside the temple.

The architecture of Songzanlin Temple combines the characteristics of Tibetan and Han architecture. It is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province, one of the famous temples in Kang region, and the center of Yellow Sect in Sichuan and Yunnan. It plays an important role in the entire Tibetan area. Because Songzanlin Temple is built on the mountain, it looks a bit like the Potala Palace in Lhasa from a distance, and it is large in scale, so it is known as the Little Potala Palace. Shocking!

Songzanlin Monastery consists of three main halls, which from right to left are Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. There are eight side halls next to it. The side halls are called "Chankang", named after the place name. They were built here by the eight counties under the jurisdiction of Shangri-La for the lamas in each county to practice.

This place is worth visiting. It has the ethnic characteristics of Tibet. If you want to understand Tibetan culture in depth, it is best to listen to the explanation of the tour guide.

It is very close to Shangri-La. The tour guide is very patient and has a pure heart for worshiping Buddha. It is worth the trip to hear such explanations in the snowy plateau.

Songzanlin Temple is known as the "Little Potala Palace". The whole temple imitates the layout of the Potala Palace in Lhasa and is built according to the mountain. The main hall is solemn and magnificent. The murals in the hall are colorful and delicate. They mainly describe historical allusions and promote Buddhist teachings. The two main temples, Zhacang and Jikang, are built at the highest point and are located in the center of the temple. They have the architectural style of Han temples. Songzanlin Temple houses eight gold-plated Sakyamuni Buddha statues from the fifth and seventh dynasties, palm leaf scriptures, colorful gold-painted thangkas, golden lamps, etc. Songzanlin Temple is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province, one of the famous large temples in Kang region, and the center of the Yellow Sect in Sichuan and Yunnan. At an altitude of 3,300 meters, we panted and stopped when we climbed up because we were really tired from altitude sickness. We still bowed sincerely under the main hall!

In mid-May, I finally went to Shangri-La, which I had longed for. Due to work reasons, I couldn't go to the Potala Palace, so the first stop after arriving in Shangri-La was to go to Songzanlin Temple, the largest Tibetan temple in Diqing Prefecture. When buying tickets at the reception, I strongly recommend that you buy a guide and a ticket. My personal suggestion is not to buy it. It is less than 1.5 kilometers from the gate to the temple. Since the average altitude of Shangri-La is above 3500+, people with poor physical strength should take a car. I encountered the sky burial platform on the way, which aroused my curiosity, but I was afraid of violating the taboos of Tibetans alone, and I had to climb a mountain to reach the top, so I finally gave up. After arriving at the foot of the temple, a magnificent scenery came into view, and the fatigue of the journey was swept away. Climbing the steps one by one, listening to the bells in the wind, and experiencing the unique tranquility of Tibetan culture, which cannot be felt in other areas. Although the styles of large and small temples are very different, I also feel how hard it was to build this building at that time. The only puzzle is that the crows all over the temple are noisy and no one drives them away. I asked the locals and found out that in the eyes of Buddhists, everyone is equal for life, but in the eyes of ordinary people like us, crows are ominous. After touring the temple, there is a large natural wetland in front of it, with groups of yaks grazing leisurely, and there are several best shooting spots on the wetland plank road to take pictures of the whole temple. Friendly reminder: The temple is at a high altitude and the ultraviolet rays are strong, so you must take protective measures. Unlike me, my arms peeled off after coming back. Overall, this temple is a piece of pure land in Diqing Prefecture. Whether you are a devout Buddhist or a travel enthusiast, come here to experience the unique culture of the Tibetan area and a kind of tranquility that goes deep into the soul!

Songzanlin Temple is a scenic spot. There are a group of inns around the scenic spot, forming a village-like life. However, there are no fresh ingredients sold inside. The food in the inn is bought from outside, and there are few shops. The key is that even if you don’t go into Songzanlin Temple to worship, you want to take pictures outside. Yes, you must buy a ticket for 100 yuan per person. It’s a rip-off, right? Even if you stay inside, the hotel will buy tickets for you in advance. They buy 60 yuan per person, which is relatively cheaper. Moreover, when you go in to stay, the owner of the inn usually goes out to pick you up because the road is not easy to walk and it is not easy to pull the suitcase. There are still many places to take pictures, such as the White Pagoda and many scenes of prayer flags. If you are serious about taking pictures, you can arrange two days here and take a lot of pictures. For details, please see my travel notes: http://www.mafengwo.cn/i/13431112.html

In my freshman year of college, the school organized a sketching trip to Yunnan. We also went to Shangri-La. The golden roof and red walls of the Songzanlin Temple were spectacular! Flocks of crows circled in the sky. It is a place I will never forget in my life!

The only problem with renting a Tibetan costume to check in and take beautiful photos is that there are too many people and you need to have plenty of physical strength.

It is really beautiful and worth a visit. There are free explanations available in the scenic area.

Tibetan Buddhism at least has real monks and teachings, and free lectures, but they are full of nonsense and take a long time.

It really looks like a small Potala Palace. It would be even better if it weren't for the altitude sickness.

It is a really big temple, with a large scale. There is a lake in front where you can swim around, and a sky burial platform, but it seems that ordinary tourists are not allowed to enter.

You can arrange half a day to visit and play, especially when the weather is good, it is very photogenic.

Songzanlin Temple is a large Buddhist temple. The Lhamoyangcuo Lake next to it is even more beautiful. It is worth a visit!

Songzanlin Temple is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province. Because it is built on the mountain, it is also known as the "Little Potala Palace".

Ganden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province and is known as the "Little Potala Palace".

1. Bus No. 3 from the ancient city can go to the scenic spot, but you must get off in advance. Check that tourists must get off and buy tickets (including 20 yuan fare)

2. Of course, the scenery of the scenic spot itself is undoubtedly beautiful

There are regional cultural differences, such as walking clockwise on the left and down on the right. Some Kangcan (temples) have monks who are not allowed to enter without permission. The etiquette for entering the temple requires taking off hats, sunglasses and masks, etc. You can follow the temple guide to learn more details.

I went in through the back door and a monk took me in. I didn't have to pay for the ticket. The Little Potala Palace. The temple is very large and magnificent. The stone house at the entrance feels like Santorini. The morning mist on the lake in the morning makes me feel drunk and unaware of the sky and the stars in my dreams.

It's great. You'll know when you go there. The scenery is always on the road.

I have great respect for the Bodhisattvas in Songzanlin Temple... But the 15 yuan guide fee does officially drive consumption. I hate this kind of scenic spot that directly uses "Sincerity is effective" as a gimmick and a way to make money. Putting WeChat payment codes in front of Buddha and Bodhisattvas really makes me despise it... Poor places are still poor places, and the sun and moon in my heart suddenly dissipated...

Go to Songzanlin Temple in the morning, go in the morning, go in the morning, don't sleep late, like us

In the morning, you can see monks chanting sutras. When we went there at noon, we could only listen to the guide explaining the history of Songzanlin Temple, the differences between the various halls, etc.

Opposite the Songzanlin Temple is a lake. It is said that those who are destined can see their past lives. You can walk around it along the plank road, but when we went there, it was closed for some reason. We just stood by the lake and fed the ducks with bread. Hahahahaha

I drove to the parking lot in front of Songzanlin Temple in the morning. I was surprised that the parking lot was free.

There are scenic area buses that drive directly to the entrance of Songzanlin Temple and get off.

Songzanlin Temple is divided into two scenic areas. One is to visit the entire Songzanlin Temple, which is what they call the inner circumambulation route. Because Songzanlin Temple is known as the Little Potala Palace, it is full of Tibetan Buddhist culture. If you go in to visit by yourself, it may be a bit of a rush.

In fact, the scenic area is equipped with free tour guides, but he will only explain to everyone when there are enough people to form a group, so it is recommended that you follow the large group when you go there so that you can hear the explanation. I have to say that the guides here are all very handsome guys. The guide who explained to us really looks like Huo Jianhua from the side.

It takes about an hour to visit the entire inner circumambulation route.

The outer circumambulation route is Lhamoyangcuo Lake.

When I walked in and saw the stairs, I wanted to give up this attraction.

But the ticket cost 100 yuan, so I just had to bite the bullet and climb!

The temple is very spectacular and very Tibetan in style, but we didn't find the free guide, so we just looked around vaguely! I just felt it was magnificent!

Songzanlin Temple is known as the Little Potala Palace. You must listen to the explanation of the tour guide to find it interesting and gain a deeper understanding of Tibetan culture.

Songzanlin Temple originally had free guided tours, but when we went there it coincided with the Gedong Festival, which only happens once a year for Tibetans. The temple was holding a ritual, and without a guide, we didn't understand anything. People said we were lucky, but why do I feel like I'm unlucky? Hahaha

When we went there, we took bus No. 3 instead of a taxi, and arrived at the foot of Songzanlin Temple with the highest respect for the temple. The altitude was over 3,500 meters, which was another big challenge. From afar, we could see the three halls of the Buddhist temple and the monks in Songzanlin Temple, which were magnificent. The golden bricks, green tiles, blue sky and warm sun made everything look so sacred. There were about 270 steps, and it was particularly difficult to climb them. We climbed up the steps, stopped and walked, put our hands together and raised them above our heads, paying the highest respect to religious beliefs.

After a trip to Shangri-La, the thing that left the deepest impression on me was not Pudacuo Park or Dukezong Ancient Town, but Songzanlin Temple. Maybe it was because I had never seen a building of this style before. Overall, I highly recommend a visit.

Cats and dogs all have feelings in the temple. Small animals also love to come here. I remember there was a Buddha statue inside that was so huge that you had to look up to see it in its entirety. I was instantly shocked at that time.

If you have time, it is also very convenient to take the bus. 1 yuan/person. Bus No. 3 and Bus No. 16 go from the ancient city. It is quite fast.

It was the off-season so there were very few tourists. Watching, chanting, worshipping and praying was extremely sacred and pure.

At 3:20 pm, we arrived at an inn in Shangri-La, Dukezong Ancient Town, Shangri-La County. In the next ten hours, I felt an irresistible confusion about the beautiful name of Shangri-La. I couldn't remember how beautiful the beautiful female boss was. I remember the inn owner who stayed at Yuanyang Terraces. He was a real gentleman.

After dinner, I walked around the ancient city. The so-called ancient city did not arouse my interest at all. The commercial development was the same, and Dukezong Ancient City did not break this cliché. I went back to the inn to rest early. Maybe tomorrow would be better.

Saturday, May 19th. The only place I visited today was Songzanlin Temple. During the tour, I saw many kind men and women prostrating themselves before the Buddha. I sincerely hope that kindness will always be in their hearts. I resolutely deleted the name of the inn here.

The ticket is 90 yuan, you can take bus No. 3 to the terminal, and it only costs about 10 yuan to take a taxi from the ancient city. Songzanlin Temple looks quite similar to the Potala Palace in Lhasa from a distance, and is known as the "Little Potala Palace". At dusk, the calm Lhamoyangcuo Lake reflects the reflection of Songzanlin Temple, which is very beautiful.

When I woke up in the morning and opened the curtains, Songzanlin Temple was right in front of me. I was really shocked. I had never been to the Potala Palace, but I saw the Little Potala Palace here. This is the holy place of the souls of the locals. They believe that there are all kinds of unpredictable powers here. There were small snowflakes floating in the sky. The snowflakes were very small, but they matched the Songzanlin Temple very well. This was also the first snow we saw this year. I didn't expect it to be in Shangri-La and Songzanlin Temple.

The guide Tashi in the temple introduced Tibetan Buddhism and his own understanding, which impressed me. Far away from the city and the hustle and bustle, when you walk into here, you will feel more inner peace and purify your soul.

The bus to Songzanlin Temple will take tourists to the ticket hall, and then take the locals to continue to Songzanlin Temple. Tourists who bought tickets will take the scenic bus to Songzanlin Temple. At the main gate, I followed the handsome guide and listened to many stories. I learned the difference between the Yellow Sect and the Red Sect... You must listen to the explanation when visiting the temple, otherwise it will be a waste of time.

Songzanlin Temple is known as the "Little Potala Palace". It is filled with exquisite Buddha statues, murals, and thangkas. It is called a temple, but it is more like a castle built on the mountain. Against the backdrop of blue sky, white clouds and green mountains, the colorful Songzanlin Temple sparkles in the sun. A group of vultures are circling above the golden roof. It is indeed a pure land of Buddhism full of spiritual energy.

The scenic area provides buses to and from the mountain. I personally think that unless you have strong religious beliefs or a clear purpose of worship, it is enough to spend one or two hours to visit Songzanlin Temple. The altitude of the scenic area is relatively high, and you have to climb very high steps to get up, which is more likely to cause altitude sickness. Friends who are prone to altitude sickness will feel uncomfortable if they stay for a long time.

The "Little Potala Palace" has few tourists. I went there in the morning and it was very quiet, with only the sound of monks chanting scriptures during the morning service.

The closest attraction to the airport is Songzanlin Temple, which is more than enough for two hours. Let me first talk about this photo spot. I have seen many pictures of this spot online before, but I couldn’t find it on site. I asked the people in the scenic area and found out that it was on the hillside opposite Songzanlin Temple.

Ganden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province and one of the famous large monasteries in Kang region. It plays a vital role in the entire Tibetan area and is known as the "Little Potala Palace".

The Tibetan Buddhist architecture has the same style. The two residence halls of Songzanlin Temple, Zhacang and Jikang, stand tall in the center, surrounded by the eight major Kangcan and monks' quarters. The guide is explaining to the tourists. The whole journey takes about 70 minutes.

Before entering, there will be a guide to greet tourists to go in together. The guide just finished saying that you can't step on the threshold when entering. When I walked to the second door, I stepped on it habitually. When I reacted, I jumped down in a hurry, which startled the tourists behind me. Halfway up the stairs, you can see a yellow forest on the top of the mountain opposite. That is the sky burial platform of the Tibetans.

After four days in Shangri-La, I found that as long as it was sunny, I could still wear a long skirt even if the temperature was only around 10 degrees Celsius. The weather forecast said it would be minus 1 or 2 degrees Celsius, but I didn't feel cold at all.

Songzanlin Temple, the ticket price is 115 yuan, but the actual fee is 90 yuan. It should be among the state-owned scenic spots that have reduced prices. The ticket is free with the tour guide certificate, but you still need to buy 20 yuan for the car fare and 15 yuan for the explanation fee, a total of 35 yuan. Note: The fee notice only indicates the fee standard, and these fees must be purchased.

Shangri-La

Everyone wants to be Shangri-La, just like everyone wants to be Chibi, but to be honest, if you have not encountered Shangri-La full of wild flowers in early June, just the name change and the scenery of Pudacuo alone would make it difficult to equate you with "Lost Horizon".

The Moonlight Ancient Town in Dukezong has its own unique flavor. When we went there, the tour guide especially told us to go back to the hotel early, otherwise we might run into drunk Tibetan compatriots, but I was so fascinated by the Guozhuang in Sifang Street. If Guozhuang is also a square dance, it must be a breath of fresh air in square dance. As shy as I am, it is hard to imagine myself dancing with strangers at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters. This place is different from the Sifang Street in Lijiang. The poems of the Ancient Tea Horse Road are hidden in those uneven stones.

Finally, a drunken fire in winter burned Shangri-La into Chibi.

Fates come and go, but Shangri-La is only in our hearts.

Before leaving, I applied for a student ID card online, which cost 35 yuan per card, which was a great deal. The student ID card can be used at half price, 75 yuan per person.

The ticket includes a free tour guide, which takes about 15-30 minutes to guide a group of people. One guide will guide about 20 people. We went in first and walked around. When we came out, we followed the guide who had just set out for a short distance and listened to him. It is recommended to follow the guide to get a deeper understanding of Songzanlin Temple.

The overall style is great, with a strong exotic flavor.

It's worth coming, very beautiful, the sky is super blue. The ticket is worth it

The online guide needs to be updated because the scenic spot has been circled. The lake that was originally said to be free to take photos has also been included in the scenic area. You can't drive in by yourself. You have to buy tickets and drive in by electric car. I was wearing a wedding dress and pleaded with the security guard at the door. Fortunately, he was reasonable and let us drive in. I had to go into the temple to visit even though I didn't plan to buy a ticket to see it. The lake is not as much as before. The guide of the temple introduced it very humorously. I learned a lot about Tibetan Buddhism. Thank you very much! It is highly recommended that you follow the guide to listen to the explanation at the beginning. The rules and etiquette of worship that we need to abide by will be emphasized at the first time. After all, the lamas live in the temple and cannot disturb their practice.

Tickets are 105 yuan, including shuttle bus. It is divided into the main hall and the outer ring of Lhamoyangcuo Lake. There are guides in the temple, and you can experience the culture of Tibetan Buddhism and its characteristics. For example, the Bodhi pagoda that can be seen everywhere in Shangri-La or the unique symbol of the temple, the picture of two deer listening to the Dharma, are very representative of the culture.

When you arrive in Shangri-La, it is still worth visiting here! It is nice to walk along the lake, with beautiful scenery!

The ticket price used to be 115 yuan: 80 yuan for the ticket, 20 yuan for the sightseeing bus, and 15 yuan for the explanation. Due to the cost-effectiveness issue, many tourists have complained about this place. Now the ticket price has been reduced to 55 yuan, and the total price has been reduced to 90 yuan, which is slightly better in cost-effectiveness.

You can enter the temple directly to visit, or you can wait for a while at the door and then be led in by a guide. If you want to visit more clearly, it is best to follow the guide. This way you can learn more about Tibetan Buddhism and some local customs.

When you walk into the gate, you can see tall and long steps. Only by walking up can you reach the main halls of the temple. I counted the steps when I climbed them, and there were 143 steps in total. Since it is located on a plateau, don't climb too fast to avoid altitude sickness. After visiting the temple, walk along the Lhamoyangcuo Lake in front of the temple. It takes about 2 kilometers to circle the lake and it takes 40 minutes. Only by looking at and taking pictures of Songzanlin Temple from the opposite bank can you truly appreciate its majestic momentum.

Climbing up the 143 steps was very difficult for me who already had a little altitude sickness. The scenery up there was really beautiful. The weather today was also very good. The Songzanlin Temple under the blue sky and white clouds was really very beautiful, so beautiful that I don’t know how to describe it.

Built at an altitude of more than 3,800 meters, the Songzanlin Monastery is magnificent, solemn and majestic, and inspires respect just from a distance.