Located on a small hilltop, the temple is incredibly peaceful. Countless colorful sutra flags hang from the trees. Visitors can buy their own flags, write the names of their loved ones and make a wish.

Song Zan Lin Lamasery (Gadan Suntsanling) is the most famous temple in Shangri-La. It's located on a hilltop in the county's center, and is said to be the first place the morning sun shines upon.

I am not a Buddhist, but watching the golden roofs and shining red walls against the pure blue sky made me feel peace, simplicity and unity.

On our way to the lamasery, we met an old monk. Although I didn't understand what he said, his smiling eyes gave me comfort.

The ancient town of Jiantang is nearby, and you can take a bus to the gate of the temple.

During the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), the town was an important point on the trade passages between India and Myanmar, and China's Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet.

After so many years, the ancient passage is fading. The oldest building in town is a house named Abu's Old House, at No 66 Beimen Street. If you go inside, the 74-year-old owner, Abu, will show you an old frame with a sculpture in the back of "Ming Dynasty Chongzhen 7th Year" (1634). This is the record of when the house was first built.

Reshi Tibetan Music, sounding on a quiet corner of Jinlong Street, was a local musician and singer named Cering.

The owner was working on his new album in Germany, but his tender voice could still be heard throughout the room, where a girl lit a fire for us. With a pot of hot tea and a book, I spent a most pleasant afternoon.

by Xu Xiaomin

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