Located in Shangri-La, Yunnan, Dukezong Ancient Town or Shangri-La Old Town is one of the best-preserved and largest Tibetan old towns in China, with beautiful residential complexes. With a history of more than 1,300 years, Dukezong Old Town was once a window for cultural exchanges between Tibetans in the snowy region and ethnic groups in Yunnan. It also linked for economic trade in the Sichuan-Tibet-Yunnan region and was a hub of the Tea Horse Road. In the Tang Dynasty between 676-679, the Tubo (ancient Tibet) set up the Shenchuan Governor’s Office in Guishan Hill (Turtle Hill), and established Dokuzong City, also known as “East City of Iron Bridge “.
The Tibetan pronunciation of the name “Dokezong” has two meanings, one is “castle built on stone” and the other is “moonlight city”. A treasure trove of ancient Tibetan architecture, traditional handicrafts, and a local way of life, Dukezong Ancient Town is iconic site in Shangri-La. Make sure you visit it for your Yunnan tours to Shangri-La.
Dukezong Ancient Town Facts
- In Chinese: 独克宗古城 (pinyin: dú kè zōng gǔ chéng)
- Location:in the northwest of Shangri-La County, Diqing Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China.
- Altitude:With an elevation of over 3,200 meters above sea level, it is one of the highest ancient towns in the world.
- Size: about 6 km²
- Highlights: well-preserved Tibetan architecture, including traditional houses, prayer halls, and pagodas; be surrounded by scenic mountains.
- History: Established over 1,300 years ago during the Tang Dynasty.
- Suited to: history buffs, culture enthusiasts, nature lovers
- Opening Hours: full day
- The Entrance Fee: free
- The time needed: half a day
The History of Dukezong Old Town
As the oldest castle on the Tea Horse Road (South Silk Road), Dokuzong Ancient Town has been the thoroughfare for the tea horse trading between Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet since the Tang Dynasty, Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Legend has it that the idea of building the city at that time was because a living Buddha looked at Shangri-La Old Town on the opposite hill and found that the Guishan Hill was like Master Padmasambhava sitting on a lotus flower. Therefore, the layout of the ancient city is shaped like an eight-petal lotus flower, forming a space that changes due to nature.
In the construction of the ancient town, building materials are mostly locally sourced. Craftsmen found that a white clay produced locally could be used as paint for the outer walls of houses, so the outer walls of the old city’s houses were all painted white, a style that has been used until 2021. On moonlit nights, the silver moonlight makes the legendary “Moonlight City” look particularly enchanting.
√Recommend Shangri-La tours with Dukezong Old Town
- 3 DaysHighlights of Shangri-La Tour
- 5 DaysClassic Shangri-La Tour
- 7 Days Shangri-La Hiking Tour: Abuji, Thousand Lakes Mountain
Dukezong Ancient Town: Things to Do
Admire the Tibetan Architectures and Listen to the Tales
When taking a leisurely stroll through the narrow, stone-paved streets of Dukezong Ancient Town, you will find stone and wooden houses built on the mountainous terrain in picturesque order.
For the caravan who crossed the Tea Horse Road, the ancient town of Dukezong was the first stop after they entered Tibet, which gave them comfortable accommodation and good food. By 2021, there are still deep horseshoe marks on the flagstone road.
Today, the ancient streets and quaint alleys are lined with various local souvenir shops, creating a enjoyable and captivating atmosphere. Talk with with the friendly locals to know about authentic Tibetan customs and local way of living. Many of the locals are dressed in traditional Tibetan clothes.
Climb Guishan Hill to View World’s Largest Prayer Wheel and Dukezong Ancient Town
At the end of the Dokuzong Old Town in Shangri-La is the Moonlight Square, and the hill to the east of the square is the famous Turtle Hill Park. The park does not require an entrance fee. At the entrance of the park there is a very large pool of crystal clear water, which is the spring water of an ancient well. Many people in the city used to get their water from here.
Climb up the steep steps and soon you come to the Han Temple. Follow the Han Temple from left to right to turn a circle, you will come to the world’s largest prayer wheel, which is the landmark of Shangri-La Old Town. The prayer wheel is is about 5 storeys high and its body is made of pure copper with gold plating. At the upper end of the cylinder wall, the four bodhisattvas of Manjushri, Puxian, Guanyin and Jizang are engraved in relief, and at the lower end, the Eight Treasures of the Buddha are engraved. Inside the prayer wheel there are 1,240,000 Tibetan Buddhism classic and many other Buddhist treasures, weighing about 16 tonnes in total.
Climb to the top of Guishan Park, you can have a panoramic view of the Dukezong Old Town and the surrounding landscapes.
Watch a Thangka Painting Demonstration
The ancient town of Dukezong preserves a rich and colorful traditional Tibetan culture and art. Watch local artists create intricate thangka paintings, which are traditional Tibetan Buddhist paintings. To further experience this unique Tibetan art form, you are suggested to paint a thangka by yourself, especially if you are taking a family tour to Yunnan, or traveling with kids.
Best Time to Visit Dukezong Ancient Town
The best time to visit Shangri-La and Dukezong Ancient Town is spring, summer and autumn seasons, from May to November.
In spring, the flowers of Shangri-La bloom. In summer, you can escape the heat in Shangri-La, when the average temperature is between 10-25 degrees. Autumn is the most beautiful season in Shangri-La, with golden leaves, harvest fields and colourful grasslands forming a beautiful picture.
Winter in Shangri-La may be cold, but you can see the snow-covered mountains and the magnificent sight of the sun shining over the Golden Mountain.
Related Reading: How to Plan a Shangri-La Tour
How to Get to Dukezong Ancient Town
By air: Fly to Diqing Shangri-La Airport (DIG) from cities like Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Guangzhou, take a taxi or airport shuttle bus to Dukezong Old town. It is 7 kilometers apart and takes approximately 20 minutes.
By bus: Take a bus from Lijiang, Dali, or Kunming to Shangri-La. Then make your way the old town, where there are many boutique hotels, and many travelers prefer to stay overnight here.
By high speed rail: With the opening of Lijiang-Shangri-La high speed rail, now you can embark a bullet train to Shangri-La from Lijiang, Dali, or Kunming.
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