Day 6 of Yunnan Trip

At 8:00 in the morning, we took a taxi to the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery. If you stay in the old town, you can take the No. 3 bus directly to the entrance of the monastery. We took a taxi, which only goes as far as the ticket office. There, you have to buy not only the entrance ticket but also a bus ticket from the ticket office to the monastery entrance. On the way back, we took the No. 3 bus directly to the east gate of Dukezong Ancient Town. Sumtseling Monastery is definitely worth a visit. Whether you believe or not, praying for your family and expressing good wishes is always nice. You might also consider donating some money for incense to the monks, as such a large monastery supports many people. Tibetan Buddhism does not require fulfilling vows, so you can share any thoughts or wishes with the Buddhas. Sumtseling Monastery has its unique practices; you should walk along the left side and follow a clockwise direction when entering and exiting, and when worshipping, you should visit the left hall, the central hall, and then the right hall. The same etiquette applies here: remove your hat, sunglasses, and do not step on the thresholds. From the old town to Sumtseling Monastery, you'll see groups of young men and women dressed in Tibetan attire and wearing plateau-red makeup, which is quite beautiful. However, the weather in March is a bit cold, and it can be a bit troublesome to put on and take off clothes when taking photos. The prices for travel photography are quite transparent, and it's still something enjoyable to do. Plus, Yunnan's blue skies and white clouds are especially photogenic; with a bit of skill, you're guaranteed beautiful photos. Overall, the atmosphere in Shangri-La is nice, and although it's quite commercial, it feels much better than my visit to Lijiang a few years ago. In the afternoon, we took a train for over four hours to Kunming! Accommodation: We chose the convenient Peony Hotel again for its easy access to food and shopping.