Located near Shangri-la County, at the foot of Foping Mountain, the Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhism monastery in Yunnan Province. Because of the alike appearance to the Potala Palace in Tibet, Songzanlin Monastery also gains the fame of "Little Potala Palace" and becomes the top attraction during the tour in Shangri-la.

Songzanlin Monastery was began to built in 1679 and finished in 1681. The whole monastery just like a group of ancient castles including two lamaseries, Zhacang and Jikang. The lamaseries are five-story Tibetan style watchtowers with gilded copper roof, five gates and hundreds of rooms. While the 108 columns downstairs make Tibet lamaseries combine the characteristics of Han nationality.

The main scripture hall located in the center of Songzanlin Monastery is the highlight visit. During the prayer time in the morning, especially during the auspicious festivals, thousands of devotees will come to take part in the festivities. Located 3,300 meters above sea level, walking up the 146 steps to get to the main prayer hall is really a tiring exercise. But for the generations of devout Buddhists living on the plateau, they take on their knees and foreheads to complete the whole pilgrimage route every year. The hall can accommodate about 1,600 lamas sitting in meditation or chanting Buddhist scriptures at the same time. The main halls in the Songzanlin Monastery are magnificent with wonderful frescoes drawn on both sides of the wall, which describe the tales and legends about the Buddhist. The inside-halls looks very exquisite with the cloisters running through and the cloisters are all decorated with beautiful sculptures.

Boasting as the "museum of Tibetan arts", the Songzanlin Monastery is full of treasures as well. In the monastery, visitors will see a large number of ancient historic Buddhist treasures such as the gilded statues of Sakyamuni, Thangka and Buddhist classics. Besides, the colorful murals painted by famous lamas will impressive to you, which show guardian deities and the scenes from the Lord Buddha's life. On 29th of eleventh lunar month every year, the local Tibetans always celebrate the Gedong Festival at the monastery by dancing with masks.

As the most important Tibetan monastery in southern China, Songzanlin Monastery is one of the best outside of Tibet. So during the tour to Shangri-la, if time allows, never miss this holy place.