Meet the sun and moon in your heart in Shangri-La!

Shangri-La 2 Days 1 Night Travel Guide (Budget 2000 RMB)
Suitable for: Plateau scenery lovers, cultural experiencers, photography enthusiasts
Theme: Tibetan secret realm + Songzanlin Monastery + Napa Lake circuit

📅 Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Arrive in Shangri-La → Dukezong Ancient Town → Songzanlin Monastery → Stay at Tibetan-style guesthouse
Day 2: Napa Lake circuit → Pudacuo National Park (optional) → Return trip

💰 Budget Allocation (2 people traveling together, 1000 RMB per person)

Item
Cost (2 people)
Notes

Transportation
800-1000 RMB
Airfare/bus + local car rental

Accommodation
300-500 RMB
Tibetan-style guesthouse/comfortable hotel

Tickets
300 RMB
Songzanlin Monastery + horseback riding at Napa Lake

Meals
300 RMB
Yak meat hotpot + Tibetan cuisine

Others
200 RMB
Oxygen tank/souvenirs

✈️ Day 1: Tibetan Culture and Ancient Town Pilgrimage
Morning:

Transportation:

Flight: Direct flight from Kunming/Chengdu to Shangri-La (book special tickets in advance, round trip about 800-1200 RMB per person).
Bus: Lijiang → Shangri-La (4 hours, ticket 80 RMB per person), enjoy the Jinsha River Gorge along the way.

After arrival: Taxi to Dukezong Ancient Town (about 20 RMB).

Noon:

Lunch: Quiet Mani Stone Tibetan restaurant inside the ancient town (recommended yak meat buns, butter tea, about 50 RMB per person).

Afternoon:

Songzanlin Monastery (ticket 90 RMB per person, including guide):

Experience: The largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan; to capture the full view of the "Little Potala Palace," go to the opposite viewing platform.
Note: Circumambulate clockwise; photography inside the halls is prohibited.

Evening:

Dukezong Ancient Town (free):

Must-do: Spin the world's largest prayer wheel (requires multiple people), browse handmade Tibetan silver jewelry at Pijiang Slope.

Night:

Dinner: Kham pastoral Tibetan meal (yak meat hotpot + highland barley cake, about 80 RMB per person).
Accommodation: Tibetan-style guesthouse inside the ancient town (recommend one with floor heating, about 200-300 RMB/night).

🌊 Day 2: Napa Lake Cycling and Plateau Lakes
Morning:

Napa Lake circuit (free, horseback riding about 100 RMB per person):

Experience: Rent an electric bike to circle the lake (60 RMB per bike); during rainy season it's a lake, dry season it's grassland, with Tibetan villages and cattle and sheep along the way—super healing.

Noon:

Lunch: Tibetan family restaurant by the lakeside road (recommended yogurt, tsampa, about 40 RMB per person).

Afternoon:

Option A: Pudacuo National Park (ticket 138 RMB per person, 40-minute drive): hike the Shudu Lake boardwalk (3 hours).
Option B: Before returning, visit Tancheng Square to buy dried matsutake mushrooms (50 RMB/bag) or Tibetan incense.

Return:

Bus/flight back, allow time to adjust to altitude sickness.

💡 Money-saving Tips

Transportation: Carpooling from Lijiang to Shangri-La is cheaper (60 RMB per person).
Tickets: Buy Songzanlin Monastery tickets on site to avoid overpriced online packages.
Meals: Restaurants outside the ancient town are 30% cheaper than inside.

📌 Notes

Altitude sickness: Avoid bathing and drinking alcohol on the first day; bring oxygen tanks (20 RMB/can).
Weather: Large temperature difference between day and night; bring a windbreaker + sunscreen.
Culture: Do not step on door thresholds inside temples; do not point at Buddha statues with your finger.

✨ Flexible adjustment: If time allows, add Balagezong Grand Canyon (ticket + transport 220 RMB per person), but budget needs to increase.

May you meet the sun and moon in your heart in Shangri-La! 🌄📿