Black-necked cranes

Monks at Songzanlin, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, hold several days of prayers that end with cham, a day of masked dances in the monastery courtyard. Dancers in deity and animal masks act out the defeat of harmful forces before the new year, to the sound of long horns, drums and cymbals.

How to join: Visitors can watch the dances at Songzanlin 松赞林寺, about 5 km north of Shangri-La. Arrive early for a spot near the courtyard, and dress for freezing mornings well above 3,000 m.

Etiquette: Walk clockwise around halls and stupas, never step into the dance space, and skip flash. Ask monks before taking close-up photos.

Tibetan families in Shangri-La and Deqin clean their homes, make offerings and hang new prayer flags, then spend the first days of the year visiting relatives, monasteries and sacred sites. Many Diqing households also keep the Chinese Spring Festival, so the holiday mood lasts for weeks.

How to join: Walk the pilgrim circuit around Songzanlin Monastery 松赞林寺, or join the evening circle dancing on the square in Dukezong Old Town 独克宗古城 when it's on. Some family guesthouses close, so book ahead.

Etiquette: Go clockwise around monasteries, stupas and prayer wheels. Don't touch offerings, and ask before photographing anyone at prayer.

Yunnan has hundreds of rhododendron species, and in spring whole hillsides turn pink, red and white. The bloom climbs with altitude: Zixi Mountain 紫溪山 near Chuxiong flowers from April, the upper slopes of Cangshan above Dali follow, and the meadows and forests around Shangri-La, including Pudacuo National Park 普达措, peak from late May into June.

How to join: Walk rather than just stopping at a viewpoint: the Cangshan cable car takes you up to the high slopes, and the Pudacuo boardwalks pass through rhododendron forest. Bring rain gear, as the rainy season starts in June.

Etiquette: Don't pick flowers or break branches.