Shangri-La

Founded in 1679 and rebuilt after 1959 damage, Songzanlin is the largest Tibetan-Buddhist Gelug monastery in Yunnan, housing around 700 monks. The five-story main hall is gilded in copper and gold and sits at the foot of Foping Mountain, modeled loosely on Lhasa's Potala Palace. Visitors typically spend 2-3 hours: the front temple (open to tourists), the upper meditation halls (closed to visitors), and the surrounding lake that reflects the monastery in still weather.

Opened in 2007 as China's first national park at the mainland level, Pudacuo protects 1,300 km² of alpine wetlands, fir forests, and three lakes (Bita Hai, Shudu Hai, and Duocuo) at 3,500-4,000m elevation. The park's Shudu Lake and Bita Lake host rare species including the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, black-necked cranes (winter migrants), and the endangered Yunnan green pea. Most visitors ride the park's mandatory sightseeing bus between three viewing areas and walk the 4 km boardwalk at Shudu Lake.

Built over 1,300 years ago as a stop on the ancient Tea-Horse Road, Dukezong means 'Moonlight City' in Tibetan. The old town covers 3 square km of cobblestone alleys, whitewashed Tibetan houses, and a central square dominated by the Guishan Park giant prayer wheel — 21 meters tall, weighing 60 tons, requiring multiple monks to rotate. A 2014 fire destroyed much of the original quarter; the reconstruction was completed in 2016 and rebuilt with concrete fireproofing but preserved the street plan.

One of the deepest gorges on Earth: the Jinsha River (upper Yangtze) drops 3,900 meters between Haba Snow Mountain (5,396m) and Yulong Snow Mountain (5,596m) over a 16-km stretch. The gorge is named after a legend of a tiger leaping across at its narrowest point (about 30m wide at the river level). The classic 2-day trek runs the 28-km high trail along the north side with basic guesthouses at Halfway and Tina's Guesthouse; the lower road is now paved and accessible by minibus for a same-day view from the river.

Napa Hai (literally 'Napa Sea') is a seasonal lake and wetland 8 km north of Shangri-La Old Town. From June to September it floods into a 30 km² lake; from October to May it becomes a high-altitude grassland grazed by yaks, horses, and the endangered black-necked cranes (which migrate here from Tibet for winter). The wetland is officially protected and a popular spot for horse riding — most guesthouses in town can arrange a half-day ride for ¥150-300.