Town in Yunnan, China
Shangri-La for solo travelers
Is Shangri-La good for solo travel?
A Tibetan-culture town at about 3,300 m in northwest Yunnan, with a rebuilt old town, large monasteries and big grassland and lake scenery. Altitude, cold nights and long mountain roads are the trade-offs.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 3/5 · Good, with some effort |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Rare |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Locals are reserved and respectful; dress warmly and modestly in monasteries. |
How to meet people in Shangri-La
Old Town hostels and cafés, shared car trips to Pudacuo and the monastery, and the nightly square dancing in Dukezong.
Good things to do alone
- Visit Ganden Sumtseling Monastery early
- Turn the giant prayer wheel in Dukezong
- Join the evening square dance
- Hike or take a shuttle around Pudacuo National Park
- Day trip to Napa Lake grassland
Where to stay in Shangri-La
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Dukezong Old Town | Guesthouses, cafés, prayer wheel and night square dancing |
| New town (Jiantang) | Cheaper hotels, buses and shops; less atmosphere |
Solo travel across China
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | 5/5 | Limited |
| Beijing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Shanghai | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Xi'an | 4/5 | Limited |
| Chongqing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hangzhou | 4/5 | Limited |
| Yangshuo | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lijiang | 4/5 | Limited |
| Xiamen | 4/5 | Limited |
| Dali | 4/5 | Limited |
| Huangshan | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kunming | 4/5 | Limited |
| Qingdao | 4/5 | Limited |
| Nanjing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Changsha | 4/5 | Limited |
| Pingyao | 4/5 | Rare |
| Dunhuang | 4/5 | Rare |
| Guilin | 3/5 | Limited |
| Shenzhen | 3/5 | Limited |
| Guangzhou | 3/5 | Limited |
| Zhangjiajie | 3/5 | Rare |
| Suzhou | 3/5 | Limited |
| Harbin | 3/5 | Limited |
| Sanya | 3/5 | Limited |
| Lhasa | 3/5 | Rare |
| Shangri-La | 3/5 | Rare |
| Jiuzhaigou | 3/5 | Rare |
| Kashgar | 3/5 | Rare |
| Wuhan | 3/5 | Limited |
| Tianjin | 3/5 | Limited |
Quick answers
Is Shangri-La good for solo travelers?
Good, with some effort (3/5). A Tibetan-culture town at about 3,300 m in northwest Yunnan, with a rebuilt old town, large monasteries and big grassland and lake scenery.
How do you meet people in Shangri-La?
Old Town hostels and cafés, shared car trips to Pudacuo and the monastery, and the nightly square dancing in Dukezong. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Shangri-La?
Rare.
Is Shangri-La safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Locals are reserved and respectful; dress warmly and modestly in monasteries.
More about Shangri-La
Going to Shangri-La solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Shangri-La meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.