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Snow falls in the “Lost Horizon” Shangri-La (Yunnan, China)
For me, Shangri-La is the image of the "lost horizon" reminiscent of James Hilton's novel, *Lost Horizon*. A mystical valley, holding a secret to happiness and embracing the virtues of this world. Shangri-La is a city in the Yiqing Tibetan Autonomous Region, located in northwestern Yunnan Province, China. The city borders three regions: Yunnan Province, Sichuan Province, and the Tibet Autonomous Region. Shangri-La serves as the only gateway to Tibet and is famous for its three parallel rivers, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Monks at Songzanlin Monastery explore Tibetan Buddhism.
Shangri-La in Tibetan means "sun and moon in the heart." There are two Shangri-Las in the world. One is in Yunnan, and the other is in Sichuan, also known as Yading. The place we chose to visit was the Shangri-La in the far south of Yunnan, the same Shangri-La with the Songzanlin Monastery, the first place known as the "land of happiness."
I came to Shangri-La with a promise shared by every traveler: to go to the very end, to seek a feeling called happiness, when, perhaps, nothing else matters in life anymore… The snowfall in Shangri-La, along with the days embracing this land of happiness, were also days spent gazing up at the vast, clear, and endlessly blue sky, where the sun and moon reigned together, a truly magical and wondrous sight.
Songzanlin, the Tibetan Buddhist monastery that is the origin of the “lost horizon”.
Amazed by the grandeur and sacredness of Songzanlin Monastery.
That year, Conway in the novel Lost Horizon wandered into a mysterious, isolated Tibetan Buddhist monastery—the Songzanlin Monastery. One crisp morning, we arrived at Songzanlin, climbed the 146 towering steps, and stood before the monastery gate, mesmerized by the moon and sun appearing together in a clear blue sky.
Songzanlin Monastery, also known as "Songzanlin," is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province, China. Situated on a plateau at an altitude of 3,200 meters, Songzanlin is one of the iconic structures of Tibetan Buddhism, designed in the style of the Potala Palace and once home to over 2,000 monks.
What's unique is that the monastery's oil lamps are made from yak butter, giving off a gentle, refreshing aroma. Outside, the lamas are truly relaxed and peaceful, despite the hustle and bustle of numerous tourist groups coming and going, which could disrupt the monastery at any time.
On the opposite side of the monastery, the vast lake reflected the sacred image of the monastery. Our gentle strolls around the lake, away from the crowds of tourists, turned out to be moments of unexpected inner peace and simple happiness.
"Moonlight Ancient City" — the surreal Dukezong ancient town
The gate leading to the "Moonlight Ancient City"
The old town is enchanting and magical.
From its beautiful name, "Moonlight Ancient City," one can already sense the mystical allure of an unreal city, with ancient features preserved in the Tibetan architecture of the houses on the pristine white walls, subtly accented with rustic wooden pillars, or on the sturdy stone paths that wind through every large and small alleyway underfoot.
In the evenings, we would leisurely stroll around, never forgetting to stop by a steaming hot yak beef hotpot restaurant with generous portions of tender, flavorful meat, enjoying a delicious meal at a round table. We also couldn't miss the yak milk tea shop, ordering a warm cup or, on another day, a cold iced one, savoring the rich, creamy flavor of yak milk… a taste not easily found elsewhere.
Yak beef hot pot: "Delicious from the meat, sweet from the bone."
We stayed in an old homestay in the city, snuggled in a heated mattress in a stone room, gazing out at a corner of the city through a picturesque window. Despite the comfortable conditions, the moment I stepped barefoot on the floor, I was instantly frozen by the cold, the chill penetrating every toe. On some nights, the temperature dropped to -4 degrees Celsius, and I slept in altitude sickness.
A dazzling shop in the old town.
The Great Buddha Temple on the hilltop, spinning the prayer wheel in prayer for blessings and peace.
Located in the center of the square, the majestic Great Buddha Temple, perched on a hilltop, shines brilliantly as night falls. Hundreds of brightly colored lights illuminate the temple, creating a magical atmosphere. Visitors here have the opportunity to admire the unique architecture of Tibetan Buddhism – a distinctive feature that sets it apart from the solemnity of the Songzanlin Monastery.
A gigantic prayer wheel stands between heaven and earth.
As we approached the enormous prayer wheel, we suddenly… felt tiny. It takes 6-8 people to turn it clockwise to operate the heavy wheel, and whether day or night, there's always a stream of devout people here. We blended in with the crowd, murmuring prayers for peace and good fortune while trying our best to turn the wheel. Only when the group united as one did the wheel truly begin to spin. It is said that the inside of the Great Prayer Wheel contains countless secret mantras and mysterious texts.
Napa Lake experiences all four seasons and snow-covered winter days.
What if we went to Shangri-La in winter and rode motorbikes along the snow-covered Lake Napa in the biting cold? We would "freeze".
Yes, we shivered on the electric tram as we traversed snow-covered roads, gritting our teeth and saying, "Winter is almost over, spring will come," because legend says that Lake Napa is so vast that a single trip around it can encompass all four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. However, no one mentioned that winter was rather long, the snow was rather thick, and spring would come, but… at the very end of the journey.
The electric train sped along the freezing cold Lake Napa.
In Tibetan, Napa Lake means "lake behind the forest," located 8 km from Shangrila at an altitude of over 3,200 m and as vast as the entire city of Hoi An. Napa Lake connects with the Yila grasslands, creating a peaceful scenic area with flat terrain, surrounded by mountains on three sides and scattered small villages.
In spring, the lake is a vibrant green, in summer a sea of undulating grasses full of life, in autumn abounds with gentle golden hues, and in winter it is covered in a blanket of pristine white snow. In the distance, snow-capped mountains stand tall, silent and proud. The scenery at Lake Napa is always present with rare birds, herds of cattle and sheep grazing peacefully, vast meadows, and majestic mountains – a timeless and beautiful natural landscape.
Relax peacefully before Lake Napa
Our 8-day journey concluded with an experience like Conway in Lost Horizon, who accidentally drifted to Shangri-La in a plane crash. From our first steps of exploration to peaceful days in the heart of the Blue Moon Valley, our souls were healed by music, poetry, and profound conversations about life with the Abbot. It opened a new chapter in our lives, allowing us to see the world through a deeper and more peaceful lens.
