Songzanlin Monastery, Shangrila
Attraction Overview
Built in 1679, the monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple complex in Yunnan province and one of the famous monasteries in the Kang region, which belongs to the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelukpa order of the Dalai Lama. It is reputed as the Little Potala Palace due to its complex of Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.
Attraction Type: Tibetan Buddhist Temples
Chinese Name: 松赞林寺(Pinyin: Sōngzànlín Sì)
Best Time to Visit: From March to May and September to November
Recommended Visiting Time: 2 Hours
Open Hours: 08:00 - 18: 00
Admission Fee: CNY 90(including Tour Bus and Guide Fee)
Altitude: 3200 m
Location: at the foot of Fopingshan Mountain, about 5 kilometers or 3.1 miles north of Shangri-La
Why is Songzanlin Monastery So Special?
Built in 1679, the monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple complex in Yunnan province and one of the famous monasteries in the Kang region, which belongs to the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelukpa order of the Dalai Lama. It is reputed as the Little Potala Palace due to its complex of Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Located in the capital of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, it is also the most important monastery in southwest China.
Where is Songzanlin Monastery – Location
The Ganden Sumtsenling Monastery, also known as Sungtseling and Guihuasi, is situated 5 kilometres from the city of Shangrila at elevation 3,380 metres (11,090 ft) in Yunnan province, China. The specific location is at the foot of Fopingshan Mountain (佛屏山), Shangrila City.
Distance from other attractions in Shangri-La
About 5.6 km from Duzekong Old Town and Guishan Hill
About 26.2 km from Pudacuo National Park
About 85.6 km from Tiger Leaping Gorge
History and Culture
Construction of the monastery began in 1679 and was completed in 1681. The Fifth Dalai Lama decided the location though divination and gave the name—Gedansongzanlin (噶丹松赞林). “Ganden” has relationship with Ganden Monastery in Tibet which was built by Tsongkhapa of Gelug Sect. It was built during the rule of the Qing dynasty Kangxi Emperor. He fully patronized the development of this monastery. It is also said that the emperor was associated in the reincarnation search for the Seventh Dalai Lama.
In the 1930s, the monastery had provided full support to the Communist general He Long who passed through this area during his campaign. It was extensively damaged in the Cultural Revolution and subsequently rebuilt in 1983; at its peak, the monastery contained accommodation for 2,000 monks; it currently accommodates in its rebuilt structures 700 monks in 200 associated houses.
The monastery is full of treasures. There are a lot of golden figures of Buddha josses, golden lamps, Tibetan lections, silver censers and so on. All of these are wonderful collections accumulated from each dynasty.
Architecture
The architecture of Songzanlin Monastery is a fusion of the Tibetan and Han Chinese. The monastery has two major lamasery buildings – Zhacang and Jikang – apart from several smaller lamaseries. The main monastery structure built in Tibetan style has a gilded copper roof similar to the one at the Potala Monastery in Lhasa. The other buildings in the complex are built in Han Chinese style.
It has six main structures including eight colleges. The entrance gate is at the foot of the hill and provides access to the main hall of the monastery through 146 steps. In the main hall of the monastery, more than 1500 monks congregate to recite the Buddhist scriptures. This hall houses a plethora of scriptures written on palm leaves, a gilded statue of Shakyamuni Buddha which is 8 metres (26 ft) tall at the main altar along with paintings depicting the life of Buddha. The altar has permanent decorated by yak butter lamps.
How to Get to Songzanlin Monastery?
Getting to Songzanlin Monastery is relatively straightforward, as it is located just 5 kilometers (3 miles) north of Shangri-La’s city center at the foot of Foping Mountain. Here’s how you can reach the monastery:
Transportation Options:
- Taxi or Public Bus:
- From Dekezong Ancient Town: You can take a taxi or a public bus from Dekezong Ancient Town, which is just south of Shangri-La’s city center. The journey is short, and taxis are generally affordable, making it a convenient option.
- Bus: Local buses also run to the monastery, but they may not be as frequent or comfortable as a taxi.
- Private Transfer (Highly Recommended):
- Convenience: A private transfer offers more flexibility and comfort, especially if you’re planning to visit multiple attractions on the same day.
- Local Guide Service: By opting for a private transfer, you can also benefit from an English-speaking guide. A local guide can provide deeper insights into the history, culture, and daily life of the lamas at Songzanlin Monastery, enhancing your visit.
- Customized Itinerary: With a private driver, you can easily combine your visit to the monastery with other nearby attractions, such as Pudacuo National Park, making your day trip more efficient and enjoyable.
Day Trip Considerations:
- Combined Visits: Many visitors choose to visit Songzanlin Monastery along with Pudacuo National Park, which is only a 40-minute drive away. A private guide and driver service can help you maximize your time and ensure a hassle-free experience, allowing you to focus on enjoying the sights.
Whether you choose a taxi, public bus, or a private transfer, getting to Songzanlin Monastery is easy, and the journey itself offers scenic views of the surrounding Shangri-La area.
Main Attractions
►Main Scripture Hall
In the main hall of the monastery, more than 1500 monks congregate to recite the Buddhist scriptures. This hall houses a plethora of scriptures written on palm leaves, a gilded statue of Shakyamuni Buddha which is 8 metres (26 ft) tall at the main altar along with paintings depicting the life of Buddha. The altar has permanent decorated by yak butter lamps.
►Dratsang Basilica
Covering an area of 1500 square meters and 39.6 meters tall, it is one of the earliest constructions in Songzanlin Monastery built in 1697 A.D, 18th year in Emperor Kangxi period in Qing dynasty, the period when the 5th genealogy of Dalai was reigned. Dratsang Basilica is the place for monks chanting together in Songzanlin Monastery. And inside the Dratsang Basilica, there are enshrined the 5th genealogy of Dalai Lama Jwasang, Zongkeba Buddha, Jamba Buddha, Sakyamuni Buddha, the 3rd genealogy of Dalai, the 7th genealogy of Dalai, the 10th genealogy of Panchen Jwasang.
►Sakyamuni Basilica
Built in 1697 A.D, 18th year in Emperor Kangxi period in Qing dynasty and covering an area of 556 square meters, it is also known as Wenshu Buddha Basilica. Inside there are enshrined Wenshu Buddha with the height of 13.58 m, and Sakyamuni Buddha with pictures described his life around him.
►Zha Laju Religious Rituals Magic Basilica
Being one of the earliest constructions in Songzanlin Monastery and covering an area 159 square meters, it was also built in 18th year in Emperor Kangxi period in Qing dynasty. Inside, it enshrined custodian of immortals.
►Zong Keba Basilica
Built in 1697A.D and covering an area of 789 square meters, it is 36 m high with 4 exceedingly high posts known as Gold Tile Temple for the flammule-flashing gold tile which could be seen a few miles away. Inside, there is enshrined The First Buddha in Tibetan Areas ZongKeBa master Jwasang with the height of 18 m.
►Lamuyangcuo Lake
Located in front of the Songzanlin Monastery, it is a holy lake dwelled by the soul of Goddess Bandanlamu, a guardian goddess of universe. Lamuyangcuo, means the Soul of Heaven Fairy Lake. The celestial burial platform is standing in its south. In every important Buddhist ritual or the occasion of making major decisions, the monks and believers led by the Rinpoche chant sutras and pray around the lake.
How to Travel Around Songzanlin Monastery
- Sightseeing Bus Service: The entrance ticket to Songzanlin Monastery includes a sightseeing bus service. This bus will take you from the tourist center to the monastery, which is about 3 kilometers away. This service is convenient and helps visitors avoid the steep walk up to the monastery.
- Walking Inside the Scenic Area: Once you arrive at the monastery, walking is the best way to explore. The monastery complex is large and includes various halls, temples, and living quarters for the monks. You can stroll through the prayer halls, circumambulate the main temple, and take in the views of the surrounding landscape.
- Exploration Tips:
- Wear Comfortable Shoes: The paths around the monastery can be steep and uneven, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
- Altitude Awareness: The monastery is located at an altitude of about 3,300 meters, so take your time walking around to avoid altitude sickness.
- Photography: While photography is allowed in most outdoor areas, be mindful of restrictions inside certain temples and prayer halls.
- Respectful Behavior: As an active place of worship, it’s important to be respectful, maintain silence in prayer areas, and follow any posted guidelines.
- Additional Activities: If time allows, consider exploring the surrounding area, including the nearby Lamuyangcuo Lake, which is known for its scenic beauty and reflection of the monastery.
Best Time to Visit Songzanlin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling Monastery)
From March to May and September to November is the best time to visit Songzanlin Monastery when the scenery of Shangri-la is beautiful. From June to September is the rainy season of Shangrila and winter is very cold with snow. So take enough clothes to keep warm if you visit it in the winter times. During every Dec.26 to Dec.29 by Tibetan calendar, the grand Gedong Festival is held to worship and also to witness the religious mask dances – the Cham dance, which is a rare chance in Shangrila to experience the Tibetan Buddhism culture and religion.
- Year-Round Photography: The monastery is picturesque throughout the year, offering excellent opportunities for photography.
- Gedong Festival: A grand religious festival called the Gedong Festival takes place annually from December 26th to 29th (Tibetan calendar). During this festival, you’ll witness a unique cultural experience with masked dances, yak butter oil lamps, and devout pilgrims, providing a rare insight into Tibetan Buddhism.
- Weather Considerations: The climate in Shangri-La can vary significantly with the seasons, so it’s important to check the weather conditions before your visit.
Walking around Lamuyangcuo Lake
Walking around Lamuyangcuo Lake offers a serene and picturesque experience, complementing your visit to Songzanlin Monastery. Here’s what you can expect:
Exploring Lamuyangcuo Lake
- Scenic Beauty: Lamuyangcuo, meaning “Virgin Soul Lake,” is steeped in Tibetan mythology and is considered the “soul lake” of the goddess Badenglamu. The lake is a tranquil spot, surrounded by wildlife, including wild ducks, sparrows, white geese, and farm animals like cattle and sheep. The harmonious coexistence of these animals reflects the Buddhist philosophy of living in harmony with nature.
Walking Experience
- Boardwalk: A lakeside boardwalk allows you to take in the natural beauty of the area while viewing Songzanlin Monastery from different perspectives. The walk is peaceful, offering a meditative experience as you stroll by the water.
- Viewing Platforms:
- Center of the Lake: The first panoramic viewing platform is centrally located, providing a balanced view of the monastery against the lake.
- Conggulong Village: The second platform, near Conggulong Village, is known as the best viewpoint. From here, you can capture stunning photographs of the monastery with the lake in the foreground.
- Duration: It takes about 50 minutes to walk around the lake at a leisurely pace, allowing time to stop and enjoy the views.
Extended Exploration
- Dongqusheng Hill: If you’re up for more adventure, you can climb Dongqusheng Hill for a more distant and elevated view of the monastery. This vantage point offers a unique perspective, with the monastery framed by the surrounding landscape, making it an ideal spot for photography.
Walking around Lamuyangcuo Lake is a must-do activity that enhances your visit to Songzanlin Monastery, offering both natural beauty and cultural insights.
Admission Fee & Opening Hours
| Admission Fee | CNY 115 |
|---|---|
| Sightseeing Bus | CNY 20 |
| Opening Hours | 8:00 – 18:00 |
| Recommended Time for a Visit | 2-3hr |
Nearby Attractions
Pudacuo National Park in Shangri-la, Diqing
Being one of the most bio-diverse regions in China’s Yunnan Province, Pudacuo National Park is the first national park in Chinese mainland which was announced on June 25, 2007. With its crystal-clear lakes, undulating mountains and gurgling streams, Pudacuo National Park is definitely a wonderful natural wonderland. Among China’s 2,500 nature reserves, Pudacuo is the only one meets the standards for national parks established by The World Conservation Union. In addition to its rare vegetation and mammal species, the stunning natural beauty of landscape is unmissable for visitors as well.
As one of the largest and best-preserved Tibetan residence groups in China, the 1300-year-old Dukezong Ancient Town, situated at Shangri-la County, Deqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, 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. Until the fire disaster damaged the most of Tibetan dwellings in 2014, it still remains the traditional Tibetan architectural style.
Recommended Visiting Route
The whole time of visiting Songzanlin Monastery is about 2 hours. The entrance gate is at the foot of the hill and provides access to the main hall of the monastery through 146 steps. Tourists should pay attention to visit by clockwise. Besides, the Lamuyangcuo Lake is also a good spot to explore more Tibetan Buddhist culture which needs another 2 hours. Take it into consideration if you have enough time.
Useful Songzanlin Monastery Travel Tips
1. Manners & Taboos
- Dress Modestly: As a religious site, visitors should dress conservatively, covering shoulders and knees.
- Behavior: Maintain respectful behavior—talk quietly, avoid smoking, and follow a clockwise route when visiting temples.
- Photography Etiquette: Always ask for permission before photographing monks or pilgrims, and remember that photography is prohibited in the chapels.
2. Walking Tips
- Climbing the Stairs: To reach the main halls and temples, you’ll need to climb 146 steep stairs. Given the 3,300-meter altitude, it can be physically demanding, so pace yourself.
- Lamuyangcuo Lake Walk: The ring road around Lamuyangcuo Lake is 2,110 meters long, taking about 40 minutes to walk. It’s a scenic but energy-demanding walk.
3. Photography Tips
- Best Viewpoint: The CongGulong Village Viewing Deck offers the best panoramic views of the monastery. It’s located on the road to Lamuyangcuo Lake.
- Timing: Sunrise is around 07:00, and sunset is around 20:00. For the best sunset shots, arrive early and prepare to wait for the perfect moment.
- Inside the Monastery: Capture unique elements like Thangka paintings, palm-leaf scriptures, censers, and the light in the temples. Be mindful of capturing images of lamas and pilgrims respectfully.
How to Plan a Songzanlin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling Monastery) Tour
When planning a tour that includes Songzanlin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling Monastery), it’s essential to consider how much time you have and what other attractions you want to visit in the Shangri-La area. Here’s how you can organize your visit:
Exploring Songzanlin Monastery
- Duration: About half a day.
- Experience: Start your visit at the Songzanlin Monastery, exploring its rich Tibetan Buddhist culture, impressive architecture, and the surrounding scenic views. The monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, offering a deep dive into the region’s spiritual heritage.
Combine with Pudacuo National Park
- Location: About 40 minutes east of Songzanlin Monastery.
- Experience: Many visitors choose to visit Pudacuo National Park on the same day. This park is a natural haven, featuring beautiful lakes, lush meadows, and diverse wildlife, making it a perfect complement to the cultural experience at the monastery.
Extend Your Stay in Shangri-La
- Additional Attractions: For those with more time, consider exploring Dukezong Ancient Town, Tortoise Hill & Golden Prayer Wheel, and Xiagei Tibetan Culture Village. These sites provide a mix of history, culture, and stunning views.
- Meili Snow Mountain & Yubeng Village: If you’re interested in trekking and nature, you can extend your stay by 2-4 days to hike around Meili Snow Mountain and Yubeng Village, known for their breathtaking landscapes and spiritual significance.
Shangri-La and Beyond
- Shangri-La & Lijiang: Many visitors prefer to combine their Shangri-La trip with a visit to Lijiang, another popular destination in Yunnan. The two cities are connected by the stunning Tiger Leaping Gorge, making the journey between them an adventure in itself.
- Starting in Kunming: For a broader Yunnan experience, you can start your journey in Kunming, visiting the Stone Forest before heading to Shangri-La. This approach allows you to experience the diversity of Yunnan’s landscapes and cultures.
Extended Yunnan Tours
- Exploring More Destinations: If you want to see more of Yunnan, consider extending your tour to include Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and even Yuanyang’s rice terraces or Xishuangbanna’s tropical landscapes. These extended tours can range from 6 to 15 days, depending on your interest and time.
By mixing cultural exploration with natural beauty, and possibly extending your journey to other parts of Yunnan, you can create a well-rounded and memorable travel experience.
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We want to hire a driver in Shangrila and make a day trip visiting as many places as possible knowing that we will have to sacrifice others. We are thinking of making a route that is sensible and coherent in a route that does not make us move from one point to another pointless. For example we want to go to the Songzanlin Monastery which we know is not far and from there we believe that the following places are not too far away: Pudacao National Park, en route by road maybe “Three Parallel Rivers Natural Reserve” and short visit to old town of Dukezong. Do you think I’d have time from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon?
Planning a day trip from 8 AM to 5 PM in Shangri-La with the goal of visiting multiple attractions, including Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park, Three Parallel Rivers Natural Reserve, and Dukezong Ancient Town, is ambitious but feasible if you manage your time well. Here’s a suggested itinerary to make the most of your day:
Proposed Itinerary:
Start at Songzanlin Monastery (8:00 AM – 10:00 AM)
Distance: About 5 kilometers north of Shangri-La city center.
Visit Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours.
Highlights: Explore the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, admire the architecture, visit the prayer halls, and enjoy the serene atmosphere of Lamuyangcuo Lake.
Travel to Pudacuo National Park (10:00 AM – 12:30 PM)
Distance: Approximately 40 minutes (25 km) from Songzanlin Monastery.
Visit Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours.
Highlights: Discover the stunning landscapes of the park, including Shudu Lake and Bita Lake. The park offers beautiful walking trails, diverse flora and fauna, and breathtaking views of the Tibetan Plateau.
Three Parallel Rivers Natural Reserve (12:30 PM – 2:00 PM)
Travel Time: The reserve is within the region, but visiting specific viewpoints or areas could require some driving. You can choose a nearby area to explore briefly.
Visit Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours.
Highlights: The reserve is vast, so focus on easily accessible viewpoints or short trails that offer views of the rivers and surrounding mountains. This may be more of a scenic drive with a few stops.
Lunch Break (2:00 PM – 2:30 PM)
Location: You can find a local restaurant en route or in Pudacuo National Park or Dukezong Ancient Town for a quick meal.
Dukezong Ancient Town (3:00 PM – 4:30 PM)
Distance: About 10 minutes from the city center.
Visit Duration: 1.5 hours.
Highlights: Stroll through the ancient streets, visit the Golden Prayer Wheel on Tortoise Hill, and explore the charming Tibetan culture and architecture.
Return to Hotel or Additional Stops (4:30 PM – 5:00 PM)
Wrap Up: Depending on your pace and interest, you can either head back to your accommodation or explore more of Shangri-La if time allows.
Considerations:
Pacing: This itinerary assumes a moderate pace. If you prefer a more relaxed visit to each site, you might need to shorten time at certain places or skip one to fully enjoy the others.
Three Parallel Rivers Natural Reserve: This area is vast and may require more time if you want to explore in-depth. Consider it a brief scenic stop rather than a full exploration.
Traffic and Travel Time: Allow some flexibility for travel time between locations, as road conditions and traffic can vary.
With careful time management, this route offers a coherent and enjoyable day trip, allowing you to experience some of Shangri-La’s top attractions within your available time.