Shangri-La

Peregrine Travel is pleased to offer Shangri-La, China

4Nights 5 Days
(Tour Code: PGSHA1 Available March 16 to November 14 )

This is a packaged tour that is designed as an extension to your existing tour to China. For example, if you have a tour to visit Beijing, Xian and Shanghai, you can add this Eco Tour to your current itinerary. We will also gladly design a customized tour that will fit your need. Please contact us or your travel agent.

Brief Introduction: For many years the debate went on to determine where is the Shangri-La as described in James Hiltons Book Lost Horizon. It was not until few years ago that the international debate ended and confirmed that Diqing of Yunan Province was indeed what James Hilton was writing about. As a result, Diqing is now officially named Shangri-La and has been designed a UNESCO destination.

This is an Eco-Tour focused on proving the clients the opportunity to:

Appreciate the beauty of Shangri-La, breathe the fresh air, be part of nature, and enjoy one of the last pristine heavens on planet earth.

Learn and experience the culture, religion and daily lives of the local ethnic Tibetan tribes.

Experience a mental spa from having private time away from the daily busy schedule. This is the Patagonia of China.

Peregrine Travel Group is pleased to work with the local government to assist in introducing tourism into Shangri-La in a way that:

Protects the beauty of the environment

Respects and maintain the local culture

Improves the quality of life of the local people.

We have committed that for every client that we bring to Shangri-La, Peregrine Travel Group will make a specific donation to the Shangri-La Institute, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to improve the quality of life of the local people by teaching them handy craft skills and welfare planning. As a result, it is important for the clients to note that they are directly benefiting the local people, not just from their local spending, but also through the donation from their payment for the tour.

The Tour Schedule includes:

Day1	Arrive at Shangri-La. Transfer to hotel. Rest and get acclimated to the high altitude of over 11,000 feet.
Day2	Visit Pudacuo National Park, Shudu Lake, Militangya Alpine Pastures, and Bitta Hai National Park for a hike. (B,L)
Day3	Visit Songzanlin Monastery, Old Town, Sanjia Village (to work on Wood Crafts) and then to Tangdui to work on Pottery. (B,L)
Day4	Spend a day with the local family and experience what it's like to live like a Local, including learning how to make Handicrafts at the Shangri-La Institute.(B,L)
Day5	Depart from Shangri-La and back to the real world.

For clients who want to spend ONLY half a day with the local family on Day 4. They can buy the extra excursion (Tour PGSHA2) to:

Visit Tianshengqiao Hotspring (1.5 hours by car from hotel)

Visit Tea-Horse Caravan Route on the way

Bath in Hot Spring (1.5 hours)

Enjoy Physiotherapy (30 minutes)

All tour will depart hotel at 8.30 am and be back to hotel between 5pm - 6.00pm

Shangri-La CS

Pudacuo National Park

The Nature Conservancy has helped China achieve a conservation landmark: the establishment of that country's first national park , which will also serve as a model for a new Chinese national park system. The new park — Pudacuo National Park in China 's Southwest Yunnan Province — is located in one of the most biodiversity regions of the world. While the region comprises only 0.7 percent of China 's land area, it contains more than 20 percent of the country's plant species, about one-third of its mammal and bird species and almost 100 endangered species. By any standard, Pudacuo qualifies as a natural wonderland. It contains endemic species of fish found no where else in the world, rare and beautiful orchids, black-necked cranes and a yew whose extracts are indispensable to the creation of many cancer drugs. While there are more than 2,300 nature reserves in China , only a fraction are in areas of critical biological importance, and an even smaller number are well-managed. Pudacuo will meet the standards for national parks established by The World Conservation Union (IUCN) — and also advance both protection and sustainable development of this ecologically significant section of Yunnan Province.

Shudu Lake

Shudu Lake lies in the east of Shangri-la county, 35 kilometers away from the county. Its average temperature is 35 degrees; rainfall is 5800 millimeters a year, with rainy season from June to October. I t is the biggest lake in the county and the water is so crystal clear

Bitta Lake

Bitta Lake is 3000 meters long, 700 meters wide and 3504 meters high. The water is 40 meters depth. There are thousands of azaleas around the lake. Bitta Hai National Park is included in the natural reserve in the province

Militangya Alpine Pastures

IOn the Militangya Alpine Pastures there are many kinds of animals and plants which are unique in the pastures. You will feel the freedom of the pastures as you appreciate the openness of the environment

Tiansheng Bridge Hot spring

Tianshenbridge Hot spring is in the southeast part of the city. The bridge is 60 meters height, 10 meters width and 200 meters in length. Under the bridge there is a hot spring from south to north, in the southeast of Tiansheng Bridge, the water is running all year round, and the hottest temperature is 69C .

Songzanlin Monastery

Being the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan near Shangri -La County, Songzanlin Monastery, also known as Guihua Monastery, is situated in the high altitude region over 3,300 meters (about 10,827 feet) high. The monastery is located, at the foot of Foping Mountain . Construction began in 1679 and was completed in 1681. It is said that the Fifth Dalai Lama chose the site of the monastery through divination and named it "Gedan Songzanlin Monastery."

During its time of greatest prosperity, there were more than 3,000 monks in the temple. Built along the mountains with a magnificent facade, the present monastery is a faithful imitation of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet . Two main lamaseries, Zhacang and Jikang, command the highest position in the architectural complex. They are both Tibetan-style watchtowers and are surrounded by eight sub-lamaseries and the dormitories or the lamas.

A five-story Tibetan-style building serves as the main hall in this monastery. Seen from the distance, the gilded copper stupa at the top of the structure and the gilded copper tiles seem to shine eternally in the plateau sunlight. Brightened with numerous butter-oil lamps, the hall can hold 1,600 lamas sitting in meditation or chanting the Buddhist scriptures. The monastery has many treasures. The most famous are the eight gold-covered sculptures of Sakyamuni, fashioned between the time of the Fifth and Seventh Dalai Lamas.

The Old town

The Old town of Shangri-la is made up of traditional wooden Tibetan homes, religious buildings alleys and squares. It is distinct from the newly developed town that has grown alongside it. You will be able to see the old versus the new architecture and appreciate the difference in time and history.

Women's Handicraft Center

Shangri-La Women's Handicraft Center is located in the heart of the old town which is supported by Yunnan Mountain Heritage Foundation, a non-profit community based organization. Summer is the busiest time for women in rural areas around Shangri-la with the harvest of mushrooms in full swing, yaks out to pasture, fields to be tended. At the Women's Handicraft Center , visitors can see weaving demonstrations of carpets and other handicrafts done on looms.

Sanjia Village

Sanjia village is a natural village in the Yongchun country. It lies in the east of Weixi city, 6 kilometers far away from the hotel. It is famous for its orwejuso in Shangri-la. Our local guide and the local residents will guide you to do the orwejuso so that you can experience it by yourself.

Tangdui Village

Tang Raector in Shangri-La is famous for their pottery. Pottery is part of the Diqing culture .You will learn from the local residents how to make these beautiful pottery. You may need an additional suitcase to bring some home.

Spend a day with the local family and experience what it's like to live like a local Tibetan, including earning how to make handicrafts at the Shangri-La Institute.

Hotel Information

Paradise Hotel ( T ian Jie Shen Chuan Hotel ),Shangri-La
Changzheng Middle Road, Shangri-La County, Zhongdian, Yunnan ,Chi

The Five-Star Paradise Hotel, completed in 2004, is, at the time of writing the biggest hotel in town. An amalgamation of about six or seven different interior design styles, it features rooms overlooking a courtyard with a (cold) pool, a sauna, and other greenery. The beauty of nature is, literally, right in front of you. The rooms are spacious and bright and are decorated with a soothing palette of colors and warm lighting. There's also an oxygen at the hotel's nurse station.

Hotel Amenities

Business Center
Laundry
Beauty Salon
Restaurants in hotel
Parking
Health Club
Chess Room
Karaoke
Billiards Club
Massage
Tennis
Sauna

Hotel Description

Guest Room: This 2 00 superbly appointed guest rooms and suites offer fine quality furnishings and a contemporary feel. Generously proportioned glass windows allow natural light. Hotel is located in downtown area, with beautiful environment and comfortable rooms.

Location: 15 minutes from the Zhongdian Airport. 7km's far from Zhongdain airport.

Restaurants: The hotel has Chinese Restaurants, Western Restaurants, Tea Restaurants, Tibet-Style Wine Bar, Tibet-Style Flavor Restaurant and 12 private rooms with different minority features.