Chengdu to Shangrila Overland Trip

Chengdu to Shangri-la overland trip is one of the best overland routes in China. The route can be done in a short amount of time like 1 week only stops at important places or can also be lengthened in 2 weeks for stopping most of the places of eastern Tibetan plateau. This trip discovers the small kingdoms of Tibetan Khampa highland, nestled into the valleys of glaciated peaks with crystal clear river, ever green forest and ancient monasteries.

Chengdu

Visit the Chengdu Panda breeding base, the base is located in the northeast suburb of Chengdu, about 13km from downtown. It is regarded as the most important panda sanctuary in the world and is dedicated to the protection of the giant pandas and other endangered species.

Danba or Rongdrak

Rongdrak Tibetan Villages are known as the most beautiful villages all over China. famed for unique architectures. In Rongdrak, You can see the watchtowers established for more than a thousand of years ago during the kings of Tibet. The the whole region called Gyalmo Zawarong in Tibetan.

Lhagong

Visit Lhagang Gonpa or Minyak Pel Lhagang Monastery is a Sakya monastery located in Lhagang village, in the Minyak region in Kham. Lhagang Monastery is regarded as one of the most famous monasteries in the region, mainly due to the Jowo statue kept there, which many believe is of equal importance to the Jowo statue in Lhasa. You can also see the Zhara Lhatse, the mountain is the highest mountain in Minyak region of Kham. And It has an elevation of 5820m. And the unique sharp pointed shape made the Mt Zhara Lhatse itself more beautiful and holy. This mountain is also strongly connected with the stories of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava).

Ganzi

You will be seeing the breathtaking view from the Ganzi northern mountain range Nelhu pass with elevation of almost 4600m and also see Mt Kawa Lhori and its stunning range. Once arrive in Garzi visit De Gompa. Which is located at the center of the town, and you will see lots pilgrims are taking kora around the temple and offering pujas.

Derge

Visit Dege Parkhang or Dege Sutra Printing House is independent from the monastery and is the first substantial building you’ll encounter walking south from the town’s center along the stream. The Printing House is in a beautiful traditional temple which was restored in 1991. It is constantly circambulated by townspeople and pilgrims. though you can take pictures of the printing process. The institution was founded in 1729 by Chogyal (dharma king) Denba Tsering. There are more than 140,000 printing blocks, a large collection of national cultural relics and a library comprising 830 books consisting of 10000 volumes. The last surviving copy of an old history of Indian Buddhism is amongst them.

Dzongsar

Dzongsar Monastery was founded in 746 by a Bönpo lama. Located on a promontory overlooking the great Khamje Valley in Derge, the monastery is the birthplace of the Khyentse lineage. Today it is a vibrant Tibetan community that includes a large monastery, a shedra (monastic college), a clinic, retreat centers, and a school. Dzongsar is home to both lay and monastic practitioners, who are dedicated to the study and practice of Dharma. And also visit Dopuk valley. And also the valley is famous for its Tibetan traditional artifacts like bronze making and black pottery.

Palyul

visit the Palyul Monastery. It was built by Lhachen Jampa Phuntsog, the first Dharma King of Dege. It was constructed on a site which possesses all the essential auspicious signs and had been blessed by the presence of many great Mahasiddhas. 

Litang

Here you will visit Litang Gonchen. Litang Gonchen or Litang Chokhor Ling is a major Geluk monastery that was founded in 1580 by the Third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso on his return to Tibet from Mongolia.

Nyiding (Yading)

It is a mountain sanctuary and major Tibetan pilgrimage site comprising three peaks sanctified by the 5th Dalai Lama. The peaks are seen as emanations of the three boddhisatvas Chenrezig (Avalokiteśvara), Jampayang (Manjushri) and Chanadorje (Vajrapani), with Chenrezig being the highest peak at 6032 meters above sea level.

Dechen (Diqing)

Kawa Garbo or Khawa Karpo, as it is known by local residents and pilgrims, or Kawagebo Peak, is the highest mountain in the Chinese province of Yunnan. It is located on the border between Dechen County, Yunnan, and the counties of Zogang and Zayül of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Shangri-la or Zhongdian

The city of Shangri La (formerly called Zhongdian or Gyalthang in Tibetan) is located in the center of the sacred region of the 3 rivers: Yangtze, Mekong and Salween.

Map of Chengdu to Shangri-la Overland Trip

Here is the itinerary for this route.

Day 1: Arrival in Chengdu [500m]

Day 2: Chengdu [500m]

Day 3: Chengdu – Danba [1860m] 350km 5-6 hours

Day 4: Danba – Lhagong [3730m] 150km 2.5 hours

Day 5: Lhagong – Ganzi [3390m] 270km 4 hours

Day 6: Ganzi – Derge [3240m] 190km 4 hours

Day 7: Derge – Dzongsar [3600m] 120km 3 hours

Day 8:Dzongsar – Palyul [3050m] 150km 3 hours

Day 9: Palyul – Litang [4014m] 300km 5-6 hours  

Day 10: Litang – Daocheng – Yading [3300m] 230km 4 hours

Day 11: Yading [3300m] (hiking)

Day 12: Yading – Dechen [3400m] 320km 6-7 hours

Day 13:Dechen – Shangri–la [3276m] 170km 3 hours

Day 14: Depart from Shangri–la [3276m]

If you have any questions for this trip, you can send us an email: tibetworldtravel@yahoo.com