Xiagei Tibetan Culture Village in Shangri-la, Diqing

Why is Xiagei Tibetan Culture Village So Special?

Xiagei Tibetan Village is the first stop of the Shangri-la Cultural Corridor as well as the must-pass place on the way to the White Terrace (Baishuitai) and Pudacuo National Park. Thanks to its convenient traffic conditions and intoxicating natural sceneries, it’s vividly dubbed as the No. 1 Village of Shangri-la.

Chinese Name: 迪庆州香格里拉县建塘镇红坡村委会霞给村
English Name: Xiagei Village of Jiantang Town in Shangri-la County, Diqing

Where is Xiagei Tibetan Culture Village - Location

Xiagei Tibetan Village is part of Hongpo Community which is 15 kilometers from Dukezong Old Town of Shangri-la County. It is located along the same road that takes you to Pudacuo National Park. If you take a tour of the park or hire a private car, Xiagei is the usual stop on the way back to Shangri-la.

History and Culture

That of course is assuming that you believe that all Tibetan villages are built to be tourist attractions. More than twenty families live in this Tibetan village cum shopping center in traditional style homes. The village is meant to exhibit the colorful Tibetan culture, costumes, foods, music and festivals.  In the village, artisans show people the history and process of making pottery, Tangka embroidery, wooden and yak bone carving and incense.

What to See at Xiagei Tibetan Culture Village?

Tibetan-style Houses
The village is made up of more than 20 Tibetan families whose houses are all well preserved in authentic Tibetan style. Shudugang River winds its way through the village encircled by the forests nearby thus giving birth to picturesque views. Setting foot on Xiagei Village, one can find here and there Marni Stones, Stupas, Sutra Flags, Dorji (Heavenly Guardians) Columns and Praying Wheels etc, all of which are endowed with the mysterious Tibetan cultural connotations.

Art Works
Statues of Sakyamuni and other figure of Tibetan Buddhism dot the landscape. In the village, artisans show people the history and process of making pottery, Tangka embroidery, wooden and yak bone carving and incense.

Xiagei Hot Spring
The Xiagei hot spring is an excellent place to relax after hiking the rigorous trails of Shangri-La. Complete with a large pool, several hot springs and optional accommodations, Xiagei offers travelers an enjoyable retreat away from the city and old town.

Gedan Dejimu Monastery
The monastery is the only one in Tibet area where the statue of sakyamuni and the Buddha of the eight great patriarchs of Tibetan Buddhism. The collection and display of the scripture in the temple including 108 pieces of the book "kangyur", 203 pieces of "danjur", "tanjur collection", "diamond sutra" and the documents of the founders of eight sects, are extremely precious.

How to Get There?

Tourists can take the buses running to Pudacuo National Park from Shangri-La Bus Station or rent a car to.

Attractions Nearby

Dukezong Ancient Town
Dukezong is a Tibetan town in Shangri-la County, Deqin Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan. As the largest and best-preserved Tibetan residence groups in China, it is over thirteen hundred years old, which not only plays an important role in the Old Tea - Horse Road, but also serves as a corridor connecting Chinese and Tibetan language, people, religion and cultures.

Pudacuo National Park
Pudacuo National Park is a 1,300-square-kilometre (500-square-mile) national park located in Shangri-La County, Yunnan. It is notable as the first national park in China to meet International Union for Conservation of Nature standards. As such they are part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas World Heritage Site.

Ganden Songzanlin Monastery
Being the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, Songzanlin Monastery, also known as Guihua Monastery, is one of the famous monasteries in the Kang region. It is located near Shangri -La County, at the foot of Foping Mountain.