Songzanlin Monastery in the morning, before the groups
North of Shangri-La town
Yunnan's largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery climbs a hillside above a small lake. Go early, walk clockwise, and take the long stone stairway to the main halls slowly; you're above 3,200 m.
What locals sayTravelers say the climb is hard on day one at altitude but the monastery is the highlight of Shangri-La.
- Cost
- About ¥115 including the shuttle bus; a little cheaper booked online
- Time
- 2–3 hours · morning
- Effort
- About 150 steep stone steps to the main halls; the lake path below gives the classic view with no climb
- In Chinese
- 松赞林寺
Based on what locals and regular visitors share, checked against current sources · Updated September 2026. Details change — check opening times locally.
