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Shangri-La Transportation
Shangri-La is known as the “big garden in mountains “or” kingdom of animals and plants "or "non-ferrous metal kingdom". As long as you think of the name Shangri-La, you can always associate it with the transparent of air which makes you feel relaxed after living in the metropolis for a long time. The best entertainment here is to breathe the fresh air and feel the tranquility of the nature. In short, Shangri-La is the dream of many people and is the associated to the thought of "utopia" and "fairy tale".
By air
Diqing Airport was officially opened in 1999 and is one of the largest airports in northwest Yunnan. It is approximately 4 km away from the Shangri-La County and has flights from Shangri-La to Kunming, Chengdu, and Lhasa. There are two flights per day from Kunming to Shangri-La which respectively depart at 6:50 and 7:15, the flight time is approximately 55 minutes. Correspondingly, there are two flights which fly back to Kunming from Shangri-La at 8:20 and 8:40 every day. In addition, flights from Shangri-La to Chengdu are also available at 2:55 PM every Thursday and Sunday as well as to Lhasa at 10:20 every Thursday. There is no shuttle bus from the airport to the Shangri-La County, so taking a taxi is the wise choice. Tourists are often advised to fly to Kunming first and then transfer the flight to Shangri-La because flights to Kunming direct to major cities are a lot more in price in comparison.
By train
There is no railway traffic from Shangri-La County to Diqing Region currently but in the years of 2015-2018 the railway is expected to be in operation as the preparation of construction is ongoing now. However, there are railways in nearby cities; they are in Kunming and Dali. So you can take a train to Kunming or Dali first and then either take a plane or a car to the Shangri-La.
Transportation to attractions
1. Shangri-La to Songzanlin Lamasery, there is a coach bus available.
2. Shangri-La to Napa Lake, you can either take a coach bus or hire a car.
3. Shangri-La to Baishuitai, you can take the coach bus which heads to Daba Town every morning or alternatively take a taxi.
4. The distance from Shangri-La to Thakin is approximately 184 kilometres and the coach bus also goes through many attractions such as Benzilan, East Zhulin Temple, Napa Lake, Jinsha River Grand Canyon, and Baimang Snow Mountain. The last bus from Thakin back to Shangri-La is at 15:00.
5. The distance from Shangri-La to the Tiger Leaping Gorge is approximately 96 kilometres and there are coach buses which go back and forth every day.
6. Shangri-La to Bitahai, you can get off the bus at Shuangqiao stop and then walk or ride a horse to Bitahai as an option.
7. Shangri-La to Shangri-la Grand Canyon, you can take the bus which is heading to Xiangcheng of Sichuan province every morning and get off at Xiagukou halfway to get there.
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