1. Introduction Of Dukezong Old Town
1.1 History Background & Geographical Location
The Dukezong Ancient City is situated in Jiantang Town, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, it is an important post station on the Yunnan-Tibet section of Ancient Tea Horse Road.
This ancient city was established in Tang Dynasty and has a history of over 1,300 years, it covers an area of 1.5 square kilometres approximately with Mount Big Turtle at the center and Sifang Street as the main axis, the terrain resembles a blooming eight-petal lotus. At the center is the Moonlight Square, surrounded by ancient Tibetan wooden houses one after another.
In 2001, the Dukezong Ancient City was approved as "a famous historical and cultural city in Yunnan Province". In the same year, it is entitled to "tourist town in Yunnan Province". But unfortunately, a fire broke out in the Dukezong Ancient City on January 11, 2014, destroying a large number of Tibetan dwellings. After the disaster, the ancient city underwent restoration and reconstruction work and was finally officially reopened to the public on January 1, 2016.
Currently, it is fortunately listed in the first batch of cultural heritage protection lists in Yunnan Province.
1.2 Cultural Implication
“Dukezong”, in Tibetan, is termed “a castle built on stones” and “the city of moonlight”. This name not only depicts the architectural characteristics of the ancient city, but also symbolizes a mysterious and romantic atmosphere. It was once a window for cultural exchanges among ethnic minorities, a bond for regional economic and trade activities, even a hub of Ancient Tea Horse Road, so it witnessed the prosperity of ancient trade.
At present, the Dukezong Ancient City is one of the best-preserved and largest groups of Tibetan dwellings in China. Thus, it has profound historical and cultural connotations and a unique Tibetan architectural style.
Apart from this, it is also regarded as a living historical museum that vividly showcases the vitality and charm of Tibetan culture. There are numerous shops in the ancient city and it is very quiet here with sharp contrast to the clamor of other ancient cities. Walking on the paths of the ancient town, tourists will feel a stronger sense of life.
1.3 Religious Belief
Under the profound influence of Tibetan Buddhism, all the Tibetans in the ancient city believe in religion. Consequently, the social life and family life of the people are basically revolve around religion.
1.4 Local Customs
The Tianma Festival held on the Zhongdian grassland on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and the ceremony of the Tibetan New Year are all important parts of the culture of the Dukezong Ancient City, so it is worth participating in.
2. Highlights(Main Attractions)
2.1 Guishan Park
Guishan Park is located in the central area of Dukezong Ancient City, there is a Baiji Temple on its west side and a Grand Buddha Temple on its top. Grand Buddha Temple is a three layer's temple with Han-style's craftsmanship. In the middle of Guishan Mountain, there is a Dragon King Pavilion with statues of Laozi and Confucius on both sides. The cultures of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism fully reflect the characteristics of the coexistence and integration of diverse cultures in Shangri-La. The Auspicious Ruyi Pillar (prayer wheel) on the north side of Big Guishan Mountain was built in 2002, its base is 10 meters of diameter, its height is 21 meters and its weight is 60 tons. Actually, it is a commemorative landmark building, the surface of the cylinder is copper-plated and it mainly features in relief, a lotus seat is at the bottom and above it are successively statues such as Eight Auspicious Treasures and the great unity of 56 ethnic groups.
2.2 Sifang Street
It is situated in the central area of Dukezong Ancient City. Historically, Sifang Street was its commercial activity center and the trading market for tea-horse barter and now it has been rebuilt into a square. Interestingly, local residents and tourists will gather here to enjoy the Guozhuang dance every evening, thus making it a beautiful scenic line in the ancient city, it also represents that the Dukezong Ancient City is not only a historical building complex, but also a community center full of vitality.
2.3 Guishan Ancient Temple
It is located on the top of mountain in Dukezong Ancient City, as one of the important holy places of Tibetan Buddhism, the murals and Buddha statues in the temple are very unique. The Grand Buddha Temple is not only a cultural symbol of Dukezong Ancient City, but also one of the must-see attractions for tourists. Most importantly, this temple is open 24 hours a day, all year round. There is no need to buy tickets, so you can directly visit it. Entering the gate, you will see a large Buddha statue as high as 21 meters, this is the core of the entire temple.
Walking up along the steps, you will find yourself in a peaceful world without the hustle and bustle of city life. Continuing forward and reaching the top floor of the Grand Buddha Temple, there is a viewing platform where you can overlook the beautiful scenery of the entire city, so amazing.
2.3.1 Prayer Wheel
It is located on the top of Big Guishan Mountain, it is a huge gilded pure copper prayer wheel, 21 meters high and weighing more than 60 tons. It is one of the landmark buildings of the ancient city. In addition, the prayer wheel contains a total of 1.24 million scriptures, mantras, and wordless truths, as well as 16 tons of various Buddhist treasures. It is also known as the "Auspicious Victory Banner" or "the world's largest prayer wheel". It requires combined efforts of many people to turn it. It is not only a well-known tourist attraction in Shangri-La, attracting a large number of tourists to visit, but it also has profound religious and cultural significance for travelers to explore. The upper end of its cylinder wall is embossed and engraved with four great Bodhisattva, and the lower end is engraved with Buddhist pictures. Each turn is equivalent to reciting the Buddha's name for 1.24 million times, thus becoming an important way for tourists to pray for blessings.
2.4 Baiji Temple
It is located on the top of the mountain to the west of the Dukezong Ancient City, you can see the sunrise and sunset of Shangri-La City from Baiji Temple. As a Tibetan Buddhist temple built in Yuan Dynasty, its Tibetan name "Lak", which means "divine fortress", that is, a fortress dedicated to protecting deities. Due to its unique geographical location, it has become the best viewing platform overlooking the whole city. Its natural beauty and historical value attract many tourists and believers to visit and pray.
2.5 Diqing State Museum
It is located on the south side of Moonlight Square in Dukezong Ancient City. It has a construction area of 5,420 square meters and an exhibition hall of 3,576.84 square meters. There are 10,173 pieces of cultural relics in the collection, including stoneware, bone ware, bronze ware, gold and silver ware, various statues, thangkas, religious utensils, ethnic costumes, caravan utensils, folk cultural relics, etc. The time span is long and the types are rich, representing the cultural features of various historical periods in Diqing.
When it refers to its geographical location, you will find that this museum is opposite to Diqing Red Army's Long March Museum and adjacent to the Big Guishan Park in its west side. What's more, it is also a very convenient place for people to take a stroll and enjoy the sightseeing there, because it is adjacent to the parking lot and commercial street in ancient city, waiting for you to explore its enchanting atmosphere there.
Currently, Diqing State Museum receives nearly 600,000 visitors annually and end up with a comprehensive museum integrating cultural relics collection, exhibition and education, academic research and cultural tourism, the tourists can visit it for free.
2.6 The Red Army's Long March Museum
It is located on the north side of Riyue Square in Dukezong Ancient City, it exhibits the historical relics and interactive landscapes related to the Red Army's Long March. it collects, studies, depicts the democratic revolution-related history and cultural relics about the Long March in Diqing. It comprehensively shows the great feat of Red Army climbing snow-capped mountains, crossing grasslands together with overcoming all difficulties and dangers to successfully complete the Long March, all ethnic groups' people in Diqing carry forward the spirit of the Red Army's Long March so as to build a beautiful homeland.
2.7 Dukezong Flower Lane
It is a commercial street full of ethnic customs, tourists can taste various local delicacies and buy exquisite handicrafts.
Walking into Dukezong Flower Lane, traditional craftsmen's Tibetan paintings and Tibetan wood carvings can be seen everywhere. In the intangible cultural heritage experience center, there are beautiful exhibition such as Nixi black pottery, Dongba paper making, mani stone carvings, Songlin Tibetan incense, and Kasa Tibetan knives, they are worth visiting and experiencing for the art lovers among travelers.
2.8 Shambhala Square
Located in the center of the ancient city and surrounded by Tibetan wooden houses, the architectural layout of the ancient city is like an eight-petal lotus. At the center is the Moonlight Square, surrounded by ancient Tibetan wooden houses one after another. The ancient city is built based on the mountain terrain, and the road surface is undulating. Those old stones with a time-honored history are paved according to the natural terrain. Surprisingly, there are some deep horse hoof prints on the stone road, which are the tokens left by the horse caravans in those years. Most importantly, this square has an excellent viewing point and tourists can enjoy the full view of the ancient city and thus feel the beauty of tranquility and peace within the heart, so there is the wonderful place not to be missed. 
3. Useful Travel Tips
3.1 Geographical Location
It belongs to alpine mountainous areas and alpine dam areas.
Altitude: The average altitude is 3300 meters. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides and has a flat terrain in the middle.
Climatic characteristics: Low temperature and large temperature difference between day and night.
3.2 Traffic Routes
Admission to Dukezong Ancient City is free and it is open all day.
High-speed Rail Route: It is about 1.6 kilometres from Shangri-La Station to Dukezong Ancient City.
Airport Route: Start from Diqing Shangri-La Airport and then take a taxi to reach the destination.
Bus Route: Start from Shangri-La Bus Terminal and then take a taxi to reach the destination.
Bus line: Take bus No. 1, No. 3, or No. 12 and get off at Jiantang Police Station, then walk about 70 meters to reach the ancient city.
3.3 What To Pack?
In Dukezong Ancient City, the choice of clothing combinations should take into account the local climatic conditions and seasonal changes. As Shangri-La is located in the northwest of Yunnan and has obvious plateau climate characteristics, therefore, when tourists go to Dukezong Ancient City, they should pay attention to the following clothing combination suggestions:
Keep warm: Due to the large temperature difference in Shangri-La's climate, especially the large temperature difference between morning and evening, tourists are advised to prepare suitable warm clothing. During the day, you can choose a casual jacket with a long-sleeved inner layer, which can both block the wind and keep warm. At night, the temperature will drop sharply, and you may need to wear a thick coat or even a thin down jacket to keep warm.
Sun protection measures: Due to the strong ultraviolet rays in plateau areas, tourists should take sun protection measures and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. It is recommended to wear a hat with a brim and a sun protection clothing to protect the skin in all directions.
Comfortable walking shoes: When visiting the ancient city, it is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes so as to better explore every corner of the ancient city. Comfortable shoes can ensure that tourists feel relaxed and comfortable during the tour.
Respect local customs: Tourists should respect local customs and habits during the visit, follow the regulations of the ancient city and keep the environment clean to protect the historical relics and natural beauty of the ancient city.
4. Food And Accommodation
The food culture of Dukezong Ancient City is rich and diverse, it is mainly characterized by Tibetan cuisine, including various traditional delicacies and snacks.
4.1 Yak Hot Pot
It is a major feature of Dukezong Ancient City. Yak meat is tender and delicious when paired with dipping sauces. It is one of the must-try delicacies for tourists.
4.2 Butter Tea
It is a traditional drink of the Tibetans, it is made from butter, tea, salt, etc., it has a rich taste and is an excellent choice for tasting local flavors.
4.3 Highland Barley Cake
It is a traditional food of the Tibetans, actually, it is made from highland barley flour with a crispy texture and an alluring aroma.
4.4 Yogurt
It is also one of the characteristic drinks in Dukezong Ancient City with a sweet and sour taste and rich nutrition,you can enjoy the unique taste after a meal.
4.5 Roast Meat And Stir-fried Dishes
They are also popular in Dukezong Ancient City. Particularly, barbecued Tibetan fragrant pork belly, potatoes, Shiping tofu, and zucchini are deeply loved by tourists.
5. Attractions Nearby Dukezong Ancient City
There are many attractions worth visiting, including Wufeng Mountain.
Wufeng Mountain: It is located 3 kilometres southeast of Shangri-La City, with an altitude of 3696 meters. It is named after its shape resembling a phoenix. This mountain is regarded as a sacred mountain by Tibetans. The mountain is densely covered with vegetation, and at the foot of the mountain is a traditional horse racing venue. Since the Tang Dynasty, Wufeng Mountain has always been an important place for Tibetans to hold traditional activities such as horse racing.
On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month each year, the horse racing festival will be held there. At that time, there will be activities such as Yi wrestling, Lisu crossbow shooting, and tug-of-war, as well as singing and dancing activities like Tibetan Guozhuang dance, Tibetan Reba dance, Naxi Dongba dance, and the Tibetan opera of Guihua Temple, it is extremely lively.
Nowadays, a horse racing field has been built here, the horse racing festival on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month is held as scheduled every year. Many Chinese and foreign tourists will come here especially to participate in the horse racing festival.
