The place closest to heaven! Shangri-La, a must-visit in a lifetime!

Just back from Shangri-La, the ancient town after the snow is as beautiful as pearls left by the gods. The pitfalls I encountered and the stunning scenery I saw on this trip have all turned into this warm travel guide. --- 🚌 Transportation update • For the Lijiang → Shangri-La high-speed train, choose the left side for the best view; the snowy mountains accompany you all the way. • For the bus to Meili Snow Mountain, it’s recommended to take motion sickness medicine in advance; the 3-hour mountain road is like a roller coaster. • The ancient town’s stone slab roads are very unfriendly to suitcases; it’s better to carry a backpack that holds everything. --- ❄️ Three-day slow travel itinerary Day 1: Be a half-day Tibetan in Dukezong Ancient Town In the morning, follow the crowd of prayer wheel spinners to circle Guishan Park three times, and under the huge prayer wheel, meet the sunlight in the wrinkles of the elderly pilgrims. In the evening, a Tibetan sister pulls me into a dance group at Sifang Street; my clumsy dance steps make the watching children giggle. Day 2: A dialogue between faith and coffee When buying tickets at Songzanlin Monastery, be sure to tell the ticket seller "no explanation"—the 45 yuan saved is enough to exchange for a yak milk latte at the Black Bean Coffee House. The little lambs there will nuzzle your palm for food, and rainbow water droplets hang on the eyelashes of the white horse. Day 3: The hundredth gaze at Meili Snow Mountain At dawn, wrapped in a down jacket and shivering at the Feilai Temple viewing platform, when the first ray of golden light ignites the peak of Kawagebo, a choked wish is heard behind me. On the way back, viewing Napa Lake from afar, the winter grassland fades to light gold, and flocks of migratory birds fly by like scattered barley in the sky. --- 💣 Complete list of pitfalls to avoid • For Napa Lake navigation, be sure to choose "Huanhu Road"; the ends of roadsides with signs saying "free photos" are all paid horse ranches. • The sightseeing bus at Songzanlin Monastery is worth taking; the half-hour walk at high altitude is a sour experience only those who try will know. • For Tibetan costume photos, ask clearly if false eyelashes and stickers cost extra; my bill increased by 80 yuan because of this. • The baked potatoes with spicy sauce at Moonlight Square are a magic weapon against the cold, more comforting to the stomach than the scenic area restaurants. --- 🌪️ High-altitude sickness survival guide The small oxygen bottle bought for 25 yuan at the ancient town pharmacy is half the price of those in the scenic area. Butter tea is a natural remedy against altitude sickness; after drinking it for three days, climbing stairs no longer leaves me gasping like a bellows. Remember not to wash your hair on the first night; our guesthouse’s Guangdong girl ended up with a 600 yuan oxygen night package because of this. --- Right now, my phone album still holds the black shadows of crows flying over Songzanlin Monastery, the silly alpaca at Black Bean Coffee House nibbling my scarf, and our selfies with white breath under Meili Snow Mountain. The most touching thing about Shangri-La is always the unexpected scenery and the kindness you meet by chance.