Shangri-La Transportation: Flight, Train & Bus to Shangri-La

Flights to Shangri-La

Shangri-La Airport, or called Zhongdian Shangri-La Airport (IATA:DIG; 迪庆香格里拉机场), is the only airport in Shangri-La (Zhongdian). It offers flights to domestic cities like Kunming, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Lhasa.

Diqing Shangri-La Airport

Shangri-La Airport is about 12km southwest of Shangri-La downtown. You can catch a taxi or private car to get there in about half an hour.

Address: Shenying Road, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan (迪庆藏族自治州香格里拉市神鹰路，迪庆香格里拉机场)

Trains to Shangri-La

Situated at the most northwest part of Yunnan Province, Shangri-La (Zhongdian) is now cannot be reached by train. However, the railway is under construction and it is said that the railway and high speed train station will be put into use in the late 2020!

Long Distance Coaches or Buses to Shangri-La

For independent travelers, you may want to take a bus or long-distance coach to get to Shangri-La, which is the most time-consuming but the cheapest way. You can find long-distance coach or bus to Shangri-La from Lijiang (about 3.5~4 hours), Dali (5 hours around), Kunming (9 hours around), Jianchuan (3.5 hours around), etc.

Shangri-La Coach Station

Shangri-La Coach Station is about 5km east of Shangri-La downtown and 4km from Songzanlin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling Monastery).

Address: No.195, Gongrenxin Village, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan (迪庆藏族自治州香格里拉市工人新村195号，香格里拉客运站)

Shangri-La is about 635km northwest of Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province with frequent high speed train and domestic/international flights. Considering the driving distance between Shangri-La and Kunming is relative far, seldom of visitors choose to travel between them by direct car or bus. If you want to get from Shangri-La to Kunming or from Kunming to Shangri-La directly, flights are the best choices. However, the more popular way to travel the two cities in a trip is making a stop at Lijiang or Dali in the middle way. And then, you can get almost all the highlights of Yunnan Province in one go! Both Kunming and Dali can be reached from Kunming by high speed train!

Popular Shangri-La Kunming Tour:

>> 6 Days Best of Yunnan Tour (Lijiang / Shangri-La / Kunming)

>> 8 Days Classic Yunnan Tour (Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La)

Diqing neighbors Sichuan on its northeast. Therefore, Shangri-La is close to the Western Sichuan, especially Daocheng Yading Nature Reserve Scenic Area. The distance between Shangri-La and Daocheng is about 308km, takes about 9 to 12 hours by car. There is no scheduled flight between them. So travelers usually go by private car or coach. From every April to December, you can find a morning coach at Shangri-La Coach Station directly, which will take you to Daocheng in 9~11 hours. However, the coach will be canceled during the rest months of that year, because the road might be cut by landslide. And the coach will detour the way via Derong County (得荣县). Certainly a lot faster and less complicated if you go with private car.

Learn more about: Transportation between Daocheng Yading and Shangri-La

How to Travel Around Shangri-La (Zhongdian)

By Private Car – Travel with China Discovery

On this vast land of Shangri-La, the best way to travel around is by licensed private car, especially when you have plans to Tiger Leaping gorge and Meili Snow Mountain in the remote area.

We China Discovery also offer private car service that will let you get rid of hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation. If you travel with us, our experienced local driver will escort you from your hotel/airport or any other places to attractions in Shangri-La (Zhongdian) in speed, convenience and safety, and take care of all the details. Please feel free to let us know if you need such a service!

By Shangri-La City Bus

Shangri-La nowadays has about 10 city bus lines. These bus lines allow you to get around the downtown area of Shangri-La. Since it is not an easy job for visitors to find the right bus and right bus station to change a bus, these buses are little chosen by visitors.

By Shangri-La Taxi

Taxis can be found everywhere in downtown Shangri-La. And you can also ask a taxi to Songzanlin Monastery and Pudacuo National Park that relatively far from downtown area. It charges about CNY 30~50 to get from Zhongdian Shangri-La Airport to the city center area.

Shangri-La to Pudacuo National Park

Pudacuo National Park is situated in the east of Shangri-La, about 23km from Shangri-La City. It takes half an hour or so by car. For independent travelers, you will find several cheap buses to get there from Shangri-La Coach Station (香格里拉客运站) or Dukezong Ancient Town Tourist Center. While the more hassle-free and recommended way to Pudacuo National Park is by private car.

Popular Shangri-La Tour with Visit to Pudacuo National Park:

>> 3 Days Best Shangri-La Tour

Shangri-La to Meili Snow Mountain

Meili Snow Mountain located in Deqin County (德钦县) of Diqing has the highest snow mountain in whole Yunnan Province! It is about 176km and 4 hours from Shangri-La (Zhongdian). Shangri-La Coach Station offer about 4 morning coaches to Deqin County, from where you need to change to another bus to Meili Snow Mountain. The coach ride needs about 6 hours and the bus ride takes about 20 minutes. If you are travel in group, traveling with the help of private car is more recommended to get to Mieli Snow Mountain, because you can travel in an easier and more convenient way.

Popular Shangri-La Tour with Visit to Meili Snow Mountain:

>> 5 Days Shangri-La & Meili Snow Mountain Pilgrimage Tour

>> 7 Days Shangri-La Tour with Meili Snow Mountain & Yubeng Village Hiking