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In old movies and books, Shangri-La is a mystical paradise in Tibet, hidden from the outside world. In 2001, the Chinese authorities had choosen Zhongdian County, in the province Yunnan, as the official 'Shangri-La'. So we were curious to see how this place would be in reality.
In August 2007, we were in Lijiang in Yunnan province for 5 nights. We came from Chengdu where we had stayed 2 weeks for a family visit. In Lijiang we booked a 2-day trip to the Tiger Leaping Gorge and Shangri-La. After our visit to the gorge, we went to Zhongdian where we stayed in the Shiner Hotel.
The next day we drove about 20km into Shangri-la county. We stopped at Pu Dacuo National Park (that was the name on our tickets). I guess it is the same park as the Potatso National Park. This park is China's first national park with solar-energy powered public toilets and eco-shuttle buses. It officially opened in 2007. The altitude of the Militang grassland in the park is 3700m. Because i had some mountain-sickness in Huanglong i was a bit worried if this would happen again. But i didn't feel one moment dizzy or tired. I guess i was allready acclimated in Lijiang (2400m).
After we got out our own tour bus, we walked to a parking lot with the park buses. Because we were group 41, we had to wait quite a while before we could enter one of the park buses. Temperature in the morning was cold but not freezing. In Zhongdian we had hired thick coats for 20 Yuan. In the afternoon, the temperature became warmer and all visitors took of their heavy coats.
The park bus took us to the first stop where everybody got out. From here the visitors walk to the next stop(s). The wooden path along the lake was the longest with 4.2 km. It is possible to make a boat ride on the lake. The hike is then only 1.2km. Total length of the foot paths in the park seems to be only 10 km. So if you are not with a tour group, best time to visit the park is around noon. The temperature (in summer) is then warmer, there are no crowds waiting for the bus and there is time enough to see the scenic sites.
We enjoyed Potatso National Park but compared with Jiuzhaigou nature park in Sichuan, it was less interesting and beautiful. We visited only this national park and didn't see the whole Shangri-La county but my wife heard that more Chinese tourists from Sichuan were afterwards disappointed. Travelers with enough time can visit other interesting places such as the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery Ganden Sumtseling, the Napha Nature Reserve and the Blue Moon Valley. The entrance fee of Pu Dacuo National Park is 190 Yuan p.p.
waiting for the internal park buses
Shangri-La
Shangri-La
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