Shangri-la, Yunnan province, China, 云南省，香格里拉, 中国.
I spent my first 10 months in China studying Mandarin and Chinese geography and history. Over the 2014 winter break I went on my first backpacking trip. I wanted to plan as much as possible, while still leaving room for improvisation. After researching, I chose to base my trip around Yunnan province, which I compare with Utah or California in the US (pertaining to geological diversity and beauty, not climate). I traveled almost exclusively by train and bus and spent six weeks on the road.
After five days overland commute from Qingdao I arrived in Shangri-la 香格里拉. This is the first morning.
As of 2003, this was the largest prayer wheel on earth, standing 21 meters high and containing over 100,000 smaller prayer wheels. It is called Zhuangjing Tong.
Guishan Temple 龟山寺 sitting in the heart of Shangri-la old town.
This was my favorite hole-in-the-wall breakfast joint and one of my favorite photos. She served filled steamed buns 包子 (you can see steaming middle-left) and hot noodles 面汤.
I climbed a small hill looking out over Napa Lake 哪怕海 which freezes over in winter but still hosts wildlife. This fresh, clean area reminded me a lot of the beautiful Gunnison valley in Colorado.
These endangered and rather large black-necked cranes 黑颈鹤 stay here year-round. The cranes feast through open patches of the icy lake.
Travelers donning khatas 哈达 and trying to keep warm. The owner of the inn is next to me in the red coat. A khata is a white silk cloth given to new friends or guests. A Tibetan 西藏人 gentleman came down south and stayed in the same inn. He brought us all khatas that evening and shared his opinions regarding the government. Photo taken by another guest.
Hotpot 火锅 is served all throughout SE Asia, with slight variations here and there. Typically, one starts with a hot red pepper 'soup' on medium-high heat and while gradually adding raw meat and vegetables. Once cooked, eat up and add more.
I'm under the assumption these folks are Tibetan, simply by their dress and our location. This was common attire throughout much of the northern part of Yunnan province.
A view of Ganden Sumtseling Gompa monastery 忪赞林寺 from across the lake. It is a short and enjoyable bike ride from Shangri-la.
The monastery was modeled after the Potala Palace 布达拉宫 in Lhasa, Tibet 西藏拉萨.
This is looking back towards Shangri-la in the distance.
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