Shangri-La | Dukezong-Songzanlin Monastery-Napa Lake Cycling Guide

| Dukezong-Songzanlin Monastery-Napa Lake Cycling Guide.
Car rental:
• Shangri-La Hotel: Giant mountain bike, including helmet ⛑️, CNY 50/6 hours, CNY 100/day. Non-guests are also welcome, but a deposit is required.

Day 1: Dukezong Ancient City - Songzanlin Monastery - Dukezong Ancient City
🌞On the first day, arrive in Shangri-La and get used to the high-altitude environment. Take a brief tour of the ancient city. Dukezong Ancient City is the best-preserved and largest Tibetan residential cluster in China, with a history of more than 1,300 years. You can go to Guishan Park to turn the world's largest prayer wheel.

Afternoon: Ride from the ancient city to Songzanlin Monastery, which is about 5 km away. Songzanlin Monastery is a large Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, known as the "Little Potala Palace". You can buy tickets to enter and visit, feel the religious atmosphere and Tibetan culture.

👅Catering: It is recommended to go to Songzanlinka for dinner. It serves local cuisine and also offers great views. The restaurant is beautiful.

🌙Evening: Return to the ancient city and participate in the Guozhuang dance in Sifang Square to experience the local atmosphere.

Day 2: Dukezong Ancient City - Napa Lake Loop - Dukezong Ancient City
• Full route:
❗Start clockwise in the morning (counterclockwise in the afternoon to avoid glare)

Navigate to "Hamu Valley" to start the lake tour.
The whole journey is about 40–45 km. Ride along the Napa Lake Ring Road, and you will shuttle through forests, meadows, lakes, and high mountains. You can also see cattle, sheep, prayer flags, and Mani piles, and finally return to the city along National Highway 214.

• Best section: Ride about 15 km from Shangri-La city to Hamu Valley, gradually riding from the town section into the meadow and high mountains. The 16 km section from Hamu Valley to Napa Lake Viewing Platform is the best section of the entire Napa Lake loop, with stunning scenery.

🚲Cycling time
• It is recommended to start early, around 10am, so that you have enough time to enjoy the scenery along the way. If you are in good physical condition and ride non-stop, it will take about 2–3 hours to go around the lake. However, it is usually recommended to ride, play, and take pictures, which takes about 4–5 hours.
• Food preparation: At least two bottles of water, as there are few shops along the way.
• Note: Some of the grassland in Napa Lake is swampy, so don't step on the grassland at will to avoid getting stuck or causing disputes with herdsmen.