▲ As the Yangtze River flows through the Shasongbi area, its waters widen and turn a serene blue, with green willows lining both banks. This is an excellent spot to witness the sunset over the first bay of the Yangtze River. Climbing the small hill behind Shasongbi Village offers a panoramic view of the breathtaking scene. Under the setting sun, the river glows with dazzling golden light, painting the surrounding mountains in radiant hues and bathing onlookers in its brilliance. Fishing boats glide across the tranquil waters, their nets casting shimmering sprays of golden droplets, creating a uniquely beautiful spectacle.
▲ Tiger Leaping Gorge is located in the southeast of Zhongdian, 105 km from Zhongdian County and 35 km from the First Bay of the Yangtze River. It is divided into three sections—Upper, Middle, and Lower Tiger Leaping—featuring 18 treacherous rapids. At its narrowest point, the river spans just over 30 meters, flanked by the towering Yulong and Haba Snow Mountains with an elevation difference of more than 3,900 meters, making it the deepest gorge in the world. Renowned for its breathtaking grandeur, Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the planet's most famous canyons. The journey into the gorge begins from Tiger Leaping Gorge Town, passing Chongjiang River Cave at the foot of Haba Snow Mountain and following the river downstream. Upper Tiger Leaping, 9 km from the town, is the narrowest section of the gorge, spanning only a few dozen meters. At its heart stands a 13-meter-high boulder—Tiger Leaping Rock—rising like a solitary peak. Here, the roaring river clashes against the massive stone, creating thunderous echoes through the valley, a spectacle of awe-inspiring power!
▲ Dukezong Ancient Town is the largest and best-preserved Tibetan residential complex in China, serving as a hub on the ancient Tea Horse Road. Located in Shangri-La County, Diqing Prefecture, Yunnan Province, this ancient town boasts a history of over 1,300 years. It once served as a cultural exchange window between the Tibetan Plateau and ethnic groups of Yunnan, as well as a vital link for economic trade in the Sichuan-Tibet-Yunnan region. In recent years, with the development of local tourism, Shangri-La County has strengthened the protection and restoration of Dukezong Ancient Town, reviving its historical charm. During the Tang Dynasty's Yifeng and Tiaolu periods (676-679 AD), the Tubo regime established a fortress on the Great Turtle Mountain here, named "Dukezong" – a Tibetan term with dual meanings: "a castle built on stone" and "the Moonlight City." The later ancient town was constructed around this mountaintop fortress.
▲ Napa Lake is located in the northwest of Shangri-La County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, 8 km from the county town. At an altitude of 3,266 meters, the lake covers an area of 660 square kilometers. It is also known as Yila Grassland. In Tibetan, Napa Lake is called "Napa Tso," meaning "the lake behind the forest" in Chinese. It serves as an ideal habitat for the rare black-necked crane, a protected species, and features the county's largest grassland. Napa Lake is a seasonal plateau lake and marshland with grassland views. In late summer and early autumn, the water level rises significantly, while in winter and spring, the lake shrinks, transforming the rippling waters into vast marsh meadows. In autumn, the grassland turns golden, with snow-capped peaks reflected in the lake, creating a paradise-like scenery. Visitors can enjoy horseback riding, lake viewing, and the poetic sight of "wind sweeping across the grass to reveal grazing cattle and sheep" at Napa Lake Yila Grassland. On the eastern hills of Napa Lake lies the ruins of Gunyin Temple, an ancient monastery of Zhongdian.
