Songtsam Retreat at Shangri-La (Xianggelila Songzan Linka Meijingge Jiudian) is a Tibetan style hotel situated just north of the Womachuka Tibetan Culture Center, the Tibet Tianzhu Exhibition Hall and Longtan Park. A 5-minute drive will take you to the Songzanlin Temple, which is the most popular Tibetan Buddhism temple in Yunnan.This Shangri-La hotel is also just 8 km (5 mi)from the Diqing Shangri-La Airport.Built and decorated in a true Tibetan Buddhist style, complete with Tibetan antiques, carpets and mandalas, the hotel offers spacious, comfortable rooms with spectacular views of the surrounding temple. Rooms are equipped with cable and satellite television, broadband and wireless Internet connection, international and domestic direct-dial phones and an in-room safe.Guests can enjoy a Western breakfast, a variety of international cuisine that has been fused with local flavors, such as pizza with Tibetan cheese and authentic Tibetan cuisine as well. The rooftop is also available for cocktail parties and cook-outs. Tibetan style meeting rooms are also available along with a conference package, which includes group luncheons and tea breaks.
"This time I was traveling solo, and a friend had previously recommended that if I ever went to Shangri-La or on the way to Tibet, I absolutely had to check out the Songtsam series of hotels. So, I took the opportunity to visit Shangri-La and unhesitatingly chose the Songtsam Linka Hotel. My overall impression was exceptionally good, exceeding my expectations, mainly in terms of the facilities. From the hotel's overall design to the in-room amenities, everything was spot-on. The rooms have diffused oxygen, heated floors which made them very warm, and all the furniture is solid wood, giving it a very substantial, rustic feel. It's a pure ******* style. The bathroom vanity, sink, and faucets are all made of brass, and I was told by the hotel staff that these are crafted by their own copper artisans. The hotel also has an Arcteryx store and a Norlha store. In the evenings, an astronomy teacher can even guide you in stargazing. Every night, the hotel thoughtfully delivers a cup of tremella soup in a thermos, placed in your room – a truly considerate touch. Because the hotel is very close to Songtsam Linka Monastery, a very professional butler leads guests from the back entrance of the monastery every morning at 8:55 for a comprehensive tour, and their explanations are excellent. These were all aspects that left me feeling particularly impressed and offered a unique experience. The hotel also sells its own local products, such as their ceramic ware, brass items, thangkas, and even some art pieces collected by Master Baima himself, all displayed and sold in different shops. It's well worth a visit to learn about ******* culture. The only minor drawback is that the service awareness of the hotel staff, when compared to international chain hotels, still has some room for improvement, but overall, it's definitely worth recommending."