Sights in Shangri La (Zhōngdiàn)
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Ganden Sumtseling Gompa
About an hour's walk north of town is this 300-year-old Tibetan monastery complex with around 600 monks. Extensive rebuilding (and a 150% jump in the ticket price in the last two years alone) has robbed the monastery of some of its charm, but it remains the most important in southwest China and is definitely worth the visit. Bus 3 runs here from anywhere along Changzheng Lu (Y1). You can sometimes avoid paying by coming after 5pm.
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Tiny Temple
Further south of Shangri-la, just outside of and overlooking the old town from an eyrie, is another tiny temple presided over by two exceedingly friendly monks. Walk south to the end of Changzheng Lu. Bear left, then an immediate right. Paths run up across gardens and along a hill, bypassing a pavilion.
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Scripture Chamber
Hidden within the old town is the Scripture Chamber , formerly a memorial hall to the Red Army's Long March. Definitely not much to see here but its one room is worth a poke around.
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Chörten
Further north of Shangri-la, atop a hill to the west of Changzheng Lu is a chörten with good views of the town.
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Guishan Park
Guishan Park is nearby and has a temple at the top with commanding views of the area.
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Old Town
After checking out the monastery, everyone just wanders about the old town, specifically Square Street (Sifang Jie); from this branches a spider web of cobbled lanes and renovated buildings (some say tacky, others say cool). You'll also see white stupas everywhere. Hidden within the old town is the Scripture Chamber (古城藏经堂; Gǔchéng Cángjīng Táng), a reconstructed temple that was previously used as a memorial to the Red Army. Guīshān Park (Guīshān Gōngyuán) is also nearby and has a temple at the top with some commanding views of the area.
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Bǎijī Sì
For even better views, head to this delightfully named and little-visited temple. To get there, walk along Dawa Lu past Kevin's Trekker Inn and turn left at the big white stupa.
Just south of town and also overlooking the old town district is another monastery.
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