Diqing Administrative Divisions

Diqing administrative divisions are relatively simple. Diqing Tibetan autonomous prefecture has jurisdiction over 3 county-level administrative regions, including 1 county-level city, 1 county and 1 autonomous county, namely, Shangri-la city, Deqin county and Weixi Lisu autonomous county. The people's government of Diqing prefecture is stationed in Changzheng Avenue of Shangri-la city.

Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is located in northwestern Yunnan at the meeting point of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet. It lies within the southern extension of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Hengduan Mountains, and forms an important part of the Three Parallel Rivers World Natural Heritage region. The prefecture is widely associated with the name Shangri-La and is one of the most important high-altitude destinations for mountain scenery, Tibetan culture, ethnic villages, ecological tourism and trekking in southwest China.

Diqing covers approximately 23,185.67 square kilometers. At the end of 2025, the prefecture had a permanent population of about 395,000 and was administratively composed of one county-level city and two counties, with a total of 29 towns and townships. These include nine towns and twenty townships, three of which are ethnic townships. There are also 197 village-level self-governing units, consisting of 16 residents' committees and 181 villagers' committees.

The prefecture government is located in Shangri-La City. Geographically, Diqing is surrounded by dramatic mountain systems and major river valleys, with the Jinsha River and Lancang River running through the region. Its landscape changes rapidly from deep river valleys and dry-hot valleys to alpine meadows, forests, glaciers and snow-covered peaks. This exceptional elevation range is one of the main reasons that Diqing travel can combine sightseeing, cultural exploration, wildlife observation, photography and high-altitude trekking within one destination.

Diqing is also one of Yunnan's most important destinations for ethnic and cultural tourism. Tibetan, Lisu, Naxi and other communities have developed distinctive architecture, food traditions, religious practices, festivals, handicrafts and village cultures. For travelers, the region offers much more than famous scenic spots: traditional settlements, local markets, monasteries, agricultural landscapes and mountain trails provide opportunities for slower and more immersive experiences.

Diqing Administrative Map

More Detailed Administrative Divisions

Administrative Structure of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture

The current administrative structure consists of Shangri-La City, Deqin County, and Weixi Lisu Autonomous County. The official 2025 administrative division list remains the basis of the current 2026 administrative structure.

Shangri-La City

Shangri-La City is the political, economic, cultural and tourism center of Diqing and the location of the prefecture government. It has 11 towns and townships, including four towns and seven townships. The city is the main gateway for travelers arriving in Diqing and provides access to some of the region's best-known cultural and ecological attractions.

The historic center is Dukezong Ancient Town（独克宗古城）, where traditional Tibetan architecture, stone-paved lanes and cultural landmarks provide an introduction to local history. Nearby, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery（噶丹松赞林寺） is one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Yunnan and is often described as a landmark of Tibetan religious architecture in the region.

The surrounding landscape includes Napa Lake（纳帕海）, Yila Grassland（依拉草原）, Pudacuo National Park（普达措国家公园）, Tiger Leaping Gorge（虎跳峡）, Baishuitai（白水台）, Niru Village（尼汝村）, Haba Snow Mountain（哈巴雪山） and several high-altitude lakes and mountain valleys. These resources allow Shangri-La to support sightseeing tours as well as hiking, photography, ecological observation and cultural travel.

Deqin County

Deqin County is the high-mountain destination at the northern end of Diqing and is closely associated with Meili Snow Mountain（梅里雪山）, one of the best-known mountain landscapes in Yunnan. The county has 10 towns and townships, including three towns and seven townships.

The county's most important tourism themes are snow mountains, glaciers, sacred mountain culture, canyon landscapes, Tibetan villages and long-distance trekking. Kawagarbo（卡瓦格博）, the main peak of Meili Snow Mountain, rises to 6,740 meters and is regarded as a sacred mountain by local Tibetan communities. The mountain is culturally protected and is not open for climbing.

Major destinations include Feilaisi Viewpoint（飞来寺观景台）, Wunongding Viewpoint（雾浓顶观景台）, Yubeng Village（雨崩村）, Mingyong Glacier（明永冰川）, Cizhong Church（茨中天主教堂）, Dongzhulin Monastery（东竹林寺）, the Jinsha River Great Bend（月亮湾）, and sections of the Lancang River Grand Canyon（澜沧江大峡谷）. The county has also developed trekking and ecological routes around Meili Snow Mountain, Baima Snow Mountain and the Three Parallel Rivers region.

Weixi Lisu Autonomous County

Weixi Lisu Autonomous County occupies the southern part of Diqing and is characterized by deep river valleys, forested mountains, agricultural terraces and Lisu cultural landscapes. It has eight towns and townships, including two towns and six townships.

Weixi is particularly suitable for travelers interested in ethnic culture, biodiversity, village tourism, mountain trekking and less-developed highland landscapes. Tacheng Town（塔城镇） is known for ecological tourism and wildlife experiences, while other parts of the county offer access to high mountain lakes, traditional villages and the Lancang River valley.

The county is also associated with Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkey National Park（滇金丝猴国家公园）, traditional Lisu settlements, alpine agricultural landscapes and Nanjiluo（南极洛）, a spectacular high-altitude lake region that has become one of the most sought-after trekking destinations in the wider Shangri-La area.

Shangri-La City Townships and Their Travel Resources

The 11 township-level divisions of Shangri-La City form a broad travel area extending from the highland city center to the Jinsha River valleys, Naxi cultural settlements, alpine pasturelands and remote trekking regions.

Shangri-La City is particularly suitable for travelers who want to combine classic sightseeing with outdoor activities. The government has identified a broad range of trekking resources, including routes around Tiger Leaping Gorge, Haba Snow Mountain, Niru, Wudihu, Abujicuo and other mountain areas. The region is therefore increasingly suitable for visitors who want to move beyond conventional sightseeing and spend several days exploring the highlands on foot.

Deqin County Townships and Their Travel Resources

Deqin is the part of Diqing most closely associated with snow mountains, glaciers and sacred-mountain culture. Its tourism resources extend from the Jinsha River valleys around Benzilan to the high mountains and glacier valleys around Meili Snow Mountain.

The current administrative arrangement is important for travelers and travel planners because Yezhi Town and Badi Township were transferred from Weixi Lisu Autonomous County to Deqin County in 2024 with approval from the central government. In addition, the 2025 administrative adjustment moved the government seat of Yanmen Township to Cizhong Village and the government seat of Baijixun Township in Weixi to Gongle Village.

For mountain travelers, Deqin offers some of the most distinctive Yunnan trekking experiences. Yubeng, Meili North Slope, Mingyong Glacier and other routes connect high-altitude villages, forests, glaciers, sacred mountains and river valleys. These routes are better suited to travelers with appropriate preparation and experience than ordinary sightseeing tours.

Weixi Lisu Autonomous County Townships and Their Travel Resources

Weixi provides a different side of the Diqing experience. Instead of concentrating mainly on famous snow-mountain viewpoints, the county is better known for its Lisu culture, biodiversity, agricultural landscapes, traditional villages and deep river valleys.

Weixi is especially attractive for travelers who prefer slow travel and cultural immersion. The county's combination of forests, mountain agriculture, traditional villages and ethnic culture makes it suitable for multi-day rural tourism, photography, ecological observation and community-based cultural experiences.

Major Travel Resources Across Diqing

Diqing's tourism geography can be understood through several interconnected themes rather than as a collection of isolated attractions.

Snow Mountains, Glaciers and High-Altitude Landscapes

Meili Snow Mountain（梅里雪山） is one of the defining landscapes of Diqing, while Haba Snow Mountain（哈巴雪山） provides another major high-altitude mountain experience. Mingyong Glacier（明永冰川） is among the prefecture's best-known glacier landscapes. Together with Baima Snow Mountain, Abujicuo and the highland lake regions, these mountains form a major destination for photography, hiking, mountaineering training and ecological exploration.

River Valleys and the Three Parallel Rivers Region

The Jinsha River, Lancang River and Nujiang River form one of the most important geographical features of northwestern Yunnan. Their deep valleys create dramatic contrasts with the surrounding snow mountains and alpine plateaus. The region's canyon landscapes can be experienced around Tiger Leaping Gorge, Benzilan, Deqin, Weixi and the Lancang River valley.

Alpine Lakes and Wetlands

Diqing has a large number of high-altitude lakes, wetlands and mountain meadows. Napa Lake（纳帕海） is one of the best-known wetland landscapes near Shangri-La, while Niru, Wudihu, Nanjiluo and other remote highland areas offer more secluded experiences. Seasonal changes are particularly important: spring and early summer can bring extensive flowering meadows, while autumn often provides clearer mountain views and strong contrasts between forests, grasslands and snow peaks.

Tibetan, Naxi and Lisu Cultural Landscapes

The cultural diversity of Diqing is one of its strongest travel assets. Tibetan culture is particularly visible around Shangri-La and Deqin through monasteries, religious architecture, traditional settlements, festivals, music and handicrafts. Naxi culture is strongly associated with Baishuitai and the Dongba tradition, while Lisu culture is especially prominent in Weixi and parts of Deqin.

Visitors can encounter traditional wood architecture, village celebrations, religious sites, local handicrafts and agricultural traditions. These experiences provide a useful cultural dimension to mountain and nature travel.

Local Food and Traditional Cuisine

Diqing cuisine reflects its high-altitude environment and the traditions of its ethnic communities. Local specialties include butter tea（酥油茶）, dried cheese（奶渣）, tsampa（糌粑）, buckwheat cakes（荞粑粑）, barley wine（青稞酒）, yak meat（牦牛肉） and pipa cured pork（琵琶肉）.

Yak meat is widely associated with the highland pastoral culture of Diqing. Pipa cured pork is a traditional preserved-meat preparation whose distinctive shape resembles a Chinese pipa musical instrument. Local black pottery from Nixi and traditional wooden bowls from Benzilan also provide cultural connections between food and handicraft traditions.

Diqing Administrative Division and Travel Resource Table

The following table brings together the complete township-level administrative structure currently used for travel planning. The administrative data reflects the 2025 official division list and the adjustments confirmed through 2026.

The Three Major Travel Zones of Diqing

From a travel-planning perspective, the entire prefecture can be divided into three complementary destination zones: Shangri-La highland ecology and culture, Deqin snow mountains and glacier trekking, and Weixi ethnic villages and ecological landscapes.

Shangri-La City works best as the main arrival and acclimatization base. Travelers can combine Dukezong Ancient Town, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, Napa Lake, Pudacuo, Baishuitai and Tiger Leaping Gorge with short hikes and cultural visits. The city also has the widest range of transportation and accommodation options in the prefecture.

Deqin County is the natural choice for travelers whose priority is Meili Snow Mountain, Yubeng trekking, glacier scenery and high-altitude mountain culture. The route from Shangri-La toward Deqin follows one of the most spectacular mountain corridors in northwestern Yunnan, connecting highland plateaus, deep river valleys and snow-covered peaks.

Weixi Lisu Autonomous County offers a quieter alternative centered on biodiversity, Lisu culture, traditional villages, agricultural landscapes and remote mountain areas. It is particularly suitable for travelers who want to spend more time in villages and nature rather than moving quickly between major tourist attractions.

Trekking and Outdoor Travel in Diqing

Diqing is increasingly developing into a major destination for high-altitude trekking in Yunnan. Official tourism planning identifies routes around Tiger Leaping Gorge, Haba Snow Mountain, Niru, Wudihu, Abujicuo, Yubeng, Meili North Slope, Nanjiluo and other mountain areas as important outdoor resources. The range of routes covers different elevations, distances and levels of difficulty.

For international visitors, trekking in Diqing should be planned according to altitude, season, weather, trail conditions and physical ability. Some remote routes have limited services, and conditions can change quickly in the mountains. Travelers planning multi-day hikes should arrange appropriate transportation, accommodation, local guiding support where necessary, weather protection and high-altitude preparation.

A Practical Travel Framework for Exploring Diqing

A first-time visitor can use Shangri-La City as the starting point for cultural and ecological sightseeing, then continue north toward Deqin County for Meili Snow Mountain and Yubeng. Travelers with additional time can extend the journey southward into Weixi Lisu Autonomous County for wildlife, traditional villages and ethnic cultural experiences.

For outdoor-focused travelers, a longer route can combine Tiger Leaping Gorge, Haba Snow Mountain, Shangri-La, Meili Snow Mountain, Yubeng and Nanjiluo. This creates a journey centered on hiking and highland landscapes rather than conventional sightseeing.

For cultural travelers, a route combining Dukezong Ancient Town, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, Baishuitai, Nixi, Benzilan, Dongzhulin Monastery, Yezhi and Weixi provides a broader view of Tibetan, Naxi and Lisu traditions.

For photographers, the strongest themes include Meili Snow Mountain sunrise, Napa Lake wetlands, alpine flower meadows, Tibetan villages, Lisu architecture, Jinsha River and Lancang River valleys, glaciers and high-altitude lakes.

Planning a Diqing Travel Route

The administrative structure of Diqing is closely connected with its tourism geography. The three county-level destinations are not simply administrative units; each represents a different travel experience. Shangri-La offers the most accessible combination of culture and highland scenery, Deqin is dominated by sacred mountains, glaciers and trekking, while Weixi provides deeper ecological and ethnic-cultural experiences.

The prefecture's combination of snow mountains, glaciers, alpine lakes, grasslands, forests, deep river valleys, Tibetan Buddhist heritage, Naxi traditions and Lisu village culture makes it particularly suitable for travelers looking for a multi-dimensional Yunnan journey. Rather than visiting only the best-known attractions, visitors who allow more time can follow the administrative geography of Diqing and gradually move from the urban gateway into increasingly remote mountain and village landscapes.

As of 2026, the official administrative framework remains one county-level city and two counties, with 29 towns and townships. The 2024 transfer of Yezhi Town and Badi Township from Weixi to Deqin should be reflected in all current travel planning and geographic descriptions, while the 2025 changes to government-seat locations should also be taken into account when preparing detailed local itineraries.

For travelers planning a larger Shangri-La region journey, Diqing can be developed into a multi-day route linking highland culture, snow mountains, glaciers, canyon landscapes, ethnic villages and trekking trails, with the three administrative areas forming the main geographic framework of the journey.