Avoid Pitfalls on a Family Trip to Shangri-La! Just Visit Songzanlin Monastery

Who knew! I did a ton of research before bringing the kids to Shangri-La, and it turns out that among the spots mentioned in the books and the ones Li Xian visited in "Now, Meet the Mountain and Sea," only Songzanlin Monastery is worth spending time at! 🙌

Here’s a summary of the real experiences at the traditional attractions:
✅ Dukezong Ancient Town: Don’t plan a special trip here! Just take a quick stroll while eating with the kids and save your time for more worthwhile places~
✅ Napa Lake: The small lake, meadows, and prayer flags look nice, but riding horses in circles with kids is a bit exhausting for moms. Just take a couple of photos at the viewing platform; no need to go if you’re not taking professional photos!
🌟 Songzanlin Monastery: A must-visit! A photo hotspot certified by “Xian’s husband,” and you can get great shots even with kids~
💡 Ticket Tips: The mini program only sells combo tickets with shuttle bus for 90 RMB/person. If you drive yourself, you can buy single tickets for 55 RMB/person at the visitor center window, but the lines are very long! We ended up buying online to avoid hassle with kids~
💡 Route Guide: Navigate to “Taixiang Called a Fried Chicken,” then drive forward to near “Qunika Coffee & Sweet Tea House,” and find parking along Lamangcuo Road. After parking, either climb the stairs with kids (about 10 minutes) or pay 10 RMB/person to take a local’s car to the side back gate (get off at the Baden Rongbakang entrance). Taking the car is easier with kids!
📌 Visiting Tips: Walk clockwise, have the kids remove hats and sunglasses, and keep quiet~
🌿 Must-Do: After visiting, take the kids for a walk around the Lamangcuo Lake trail! Although the winter morning fog is stunning, in summer you don’t have to get up early to easily capture the same Songzanlin Monastery reflection as “Xian’s husband” from the boardwalk on the opposite shore—perfect for stress-free beautiful photos with kids (p1-3)~
🍽️ Next Stop: After leaving, navigate to Songzanlin Card Hotel, take the kids to the highest altitude Arc'teryx store (p13), BA Bakery (p14), and the % pop-up store (p15)! You must try the limited edition honey latte, though the ice cream is only dark chocolate flavor. Both the Chinese and Western restaurants (p16-17) taste great, so no worries about feeding the kids!

❌ Pudacuo National Park: Honestly, I advise families with kids to skip it! As the first national park in mainland China, the experience is disappointing… You can only travel between spots by shuttle bus, which involves long waits and lines. After getting off, you have to follow staff around, like taking kids on a “primary school field trip”! Shudu Lake and Bitahai boardwalks are crowded, and you can only walk in line (p8). The scenery is just lakes and meadows, enough to see once. The worst part! You pay to visit the park but have to follow their schedule, so families can’t freely explore. Life isn’t supposed to be like a wilderness prison~

Post by Coco Playful Paws | Sep 22, 2025