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Baimang Snow Mountain
The perennial snow-capped Baimang Snow Mountain (Baimang Xueshan) is located in the midst of the Hengdgun Mountain range between deep canyons carved by the Jinsha and Lancang Rivers.
Baimang Mountain spreads over 187,977 hectares with the main peak rising 5,640 meters above sea level. As the name implies, the mountain is topped by snow all year around.
Surrounding the mountain is Yunnan's largest and highest national reservation area with forests, lakes, canyons, plants and wildlife and in summer the mountain is carpeted with azaleas.
The area is also the main habitat of Yunnan golden monkeys, a rare animal under national protection.
About 82 kilometers northward along the Yunnan-Tibet Highway is Benzilan, the ancient gorge leading into Tibet. Further up the highway are the Gedandong Bamboo Forest Temple and the Botanic Park.
Cizhong Cathedral
French missionaries began the decade-long contruction of Cizhong Cathedral (Cizhong Tianzhu Jiaotang) in 1909 next to the Langcan River. Christianity arrived in the area with these same missionaries at the end of the 19th century.
Some Tibetans converted to Christianity from Buddhism and passed down the tradition to the present. Every Saturday and Sunday, Catholics from Tibetan, Naxi, Han and Li villages pray here in the Tibetan dialect. In Cizhong alone, there are over 400 believers out of the 1000 or so people who live here.
The cathedral's architecture is influenced by typical Han and Tibetan folk art. Located among the remote mountain ranges and valleys, the Cathedral is a witness to the blend of the cultures and traditions existing here.
Napa Lake
Napa Lake is located eight kilometers (4.97 miles) northwest of Shangri-La. Several rivers flow into the lake, including the Naizi and Naqu Rivers. The lake is seasonal in that it is dry in the fall and winter seasons, naturally becoming part of the Yila Prairie. During this time, visitors can see many sheep and cows grazing in the lake bed.
Songzanlin Monastery
Songzanlin Monastery is five kilometers (3.11 miles) north of Shangri-La. First constructed in 1679 during the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it embodies the essence of the Tibetan Buddhist culture, and its architecture exemplifies the features of the Tibetan style. It's the greatest monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in Yunnan Province. The city bus No.3 can take you there.
Shangri-La Gorge Group
The Shangri-La Gorge Group is located in the northern part of Shangri-La County. Comprised of a series of gorges, the Birang Gorge is certainly worth a visit. The Birang River flows through the steep gorge and the splashing water from the strong current immerses the entire gorge in mist. There are many rock paintings on the cliffs of the gorge. Much research was done on the paintings and it was determined that they were drawn by migrating ethnic groups in the ancient times. The gorge is on the way from Shangri-La to Xiangcheng County (in Sichuan), about 103 kilometers (64 miles) from Shangri-La. In the morning, there are buses to Xiangcheng that will let you off at the mouth of Shangri-La Gorge.
Shudu Lake and Bitahai Lake
Shudu Lake and Bitahai Lake are two of the more accessible lakes in northeast Shangi-la. Located within 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of each other, legend says these "pearls of the land" are pieces of a mirror broken and scattered by a fairy while she was fixing her makeup.
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