Scenic spot introduction:
Shangri-La Gaden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan. It is known as the "Little Potala Palace". It is also a collection of Tibetan plastic arts, so it is known as the "Tibetan Art Museum". Songzanlin Monastery plays an important role in the entire Tibetan area. It was personally named by the fifth Dalai Lama, the only person in Tibetan history who has made extraordinary achievements in politics, religion, academic and other fields. The temple is a group of ancient castles on the scale of an ancient town. It is extremely magnificent under the unique sky of the plateau. There are many treasures and classics in the temple, all of which are of extremely high value. Every year, no matter in spring, summer, autumn or winter, a large number of pilgrims come here. It is also the most important sight on the Shangri-La tourist circuit.Attractions distribution:
Gaden Songzanlin Monastery is located at No. 3 Niwang Road, Jiantang Town, Shangri-La, only 3 kilometers away from the county seat. The main temple covers an area of 33 hectares and faces south. The three main halls of Zhacang, Jikang and Zhukang stand in the center. The eight major kangshen are arranged on both sides, enshrining the statues of the fifth Dalai Lama and the seventh Dalai Lama, as well as Beiye scriptures and Tang Dynasty scriptures. Cards, handed down instruments, etc. Directly south of the Buddhist hall is the towering Bell and Drum Tower. The drums are played in the morning, noon and dusk to tell the time, and the sound can be heard for ten miles.Scenic spot qualifications:
National 4A-level scenic spotScenic spot features:
Pilgrimage, hiking, religion, architectureScenic spot map:
travelling guideline:
1. Visit clockwise and don’t dress too revealingly.
2. Important Buddhist Activities
1. Buddha Festival: On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month in the Tibetan calendar, a grand "Prayer Ceremony" is held. The monks in the temple begin chanting sutras at 4 o'clock in the morning that day. At 9 o'clock, the Qiangba Buddha was welcomed from the main hall to the temple square, and then circled the temple. The Tibetan people dedicated their hadas to the future Buddha and prayed for good luck, peace and happiness in the new year.
2. Gedong Festival: December 26th to 29th in the Tibetan calendar. The 26th is the God Dance rehearsal, held in the temple; the 27th and 28th is the chanting ceremony; the 29th is the God Dance Mask Dance with many masks. There are various species, including horses, deer, monkeys, yaks, dogs, crows, pigs, tigers, etc. The dances are accompanied by instrumental music such as suona, drums, and postscripts. The atmosphere is very mysterious and lasts for one day.
Best time to visit:
All seasons
Shopping recommendations:
Buddha statues, beads, Tibetan medicine, etc.
Scenic spot map:
Scenic spot location:
China>Yunnan Province>Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture>Shangri-La City
How to get there:
Bus route: Take Route 3 from Shangri-La County to Songzanlin Temple; the starting price of a taxi is 7 yuan. Generally speaking, the starting price is only 15 yuan if you don’t have a meter in the county. If you go out of the city, it is usually about 15 yuan.
Self-driving route: County seat → Changzheng Avenue → Niwang Road → Scenic spots, take G214 in the direction of Lijiang, Dali, etc. → West View Line to Shangri-La.
Scenic area map:
Click to expand the scenic area map
Songzanlin Temple ticket price:
115 yuan
A. Ticket-free policy: children ≤1.2 meters tall; seniors over 70 years old (with resident ID card and elderly preferential treatment certificate); military disabled with military disability card and ID card.
B. Preferential policy: students under 24 years old (inclusive) hold student ID cards and ID cards; active military personnel hold military officer ID cards and ID cards; c. More than 1.2 meters (excluding 1.2 meters), less than 1.4 meters (Inclusive of 1.4 meters) children; d. Elderly people over 60 years old (inclusive) (with resident ID card and elderly preferential treatment certificate)
Scenic area opening hours:
08:00-18:00
