Dukezong Ancient Town

Dukezong Ancient Town

Dukezong Ancient Town is a cultural tourism attraction.

Dukezong Ancient Town: The Soft Moments of the City of Moonlight, where the greens last all year round / where birds sing and flowers bloom / where there is no pain / where there is no sorrow / legend says it is a place where immortals dwell...

Dukezong Ancient Town: The Soft Moments of the City of Moonlight

“Where the greens last all year round / where birds sing and flowers bloom / where there is no pain / where there is no sorrow / legend says it is a place where immortals dwell...”

That is the dreamlike Shangri-La. When visiting Yunnan, you can’t miss Lijiang and Dali, and you certainly can’t miss this place. The romance of Lijiang can be felt through your eyes and heart, but the romance of Shangri-La strikes deep into your soul. Time in Lijiang is soft, full of charm and mood—you need to be ready to be soothed as soon as you arrive. But the ancient town of Shangri-La is the kind that makes you lose your way. Once you’re there, you somehow find yourself disoriented, both psychologically and geographically. The horse hoof prints on the stone-paved streets

In Shangri-La, there is an ancient town called “Dukezong,” which was built according to the ideal kingdom of Shambhala described in Buddhist scriptures.

The ancient town is built along the mountain terrain, with uneven roads made from ancient stones laid naturally along the slopes. To this day, the stone paths still bear deep hoof prints left by caravans—tokens left by those horse teams in time’s long passage.

The stone-paved streets of Dukezong Ancient Town are like a long, lingering ballad sung from over a thousand years ago, destined to continue singing into the infinite future. The Ancient Tea Horse Road route stretched from Pu'er in Yunnan through Dali, Lijiang, Zhongdian (now Shangri-La), Deqen, Zayü, Zuogong, Lhasa, Yadong, Shigatse, and the Bum La Pass, leading respectively to Myanmar, Nepal, and India. Along the way, it crossed the Jinsha River, Lancang River, Nujiang River, Lhasa River, and Yarlung Tsangpo River, and also required crossing five snow-capped mountains over 5,000 meters high. A single round trip for the caravan often took a whole year. For those traversing the Tea Horse Road, Dukezong Ancient Town was a key stronghold and the first stop after entering Tibet, making it one of the more comfortable legs of the journey.

Here, the hooves on the stone streets were at ease, and so were the people. The caravan men could stay in warm wooden cabins, stable their horses in cowsheds, sip a bowl of rich, steaming butter tea, and even banter playfully with the women they fancied.

Dukezong: The City of Moonlight

The original name of Shangri-La Ancient Town was “Dukezong,” located in the southeast corner of Shangri-La County. During the Tang Dynasty's Yifeng and Tiaolu eras (676–679 AD), the Tubo people established a fortress atop Daguishan Mountain, naming it “Dukezong.” This Tibetan name carries two meanings: “castle built on stone” and “city of moonlight.” The later ancient town was built around the fortress on the mountaintop. Correspondingly, on a hill by the 0 River, there was another fortress called “Niwangzong,” meaning “city of sunlight.” Though the fortress no longer exists, its site is now marked by a white pagoda.

In Tibetan texts, Shambhala is a hidden, mystical kingdom within the snowy mountains. Its inhabitants are free from attachment, delusion, and desire. Successive sacred kings have preserved conscience and the vitality of civilization for the future world.

But Shambhala is not a place ordinary people can reach casually. To enter Shambhala, one must undertake spiritual practice. Once inside, you will see double layers of snow-capped mountains surrounding the realm, like an eight-petaled lotus. The residents of Shambhala live in abundance and harmony, delighting in living by wisdom.

In 2001, Dukezong Ancient Town was designated as a Yunnan Provincial Historical and Cultural City. Today, strolling through the ancient town, you’ll notice a touch more fashion and vibrancy. Over ten distinctive bars and guesthouses have quietly sprung up.

At the Hazelnut Bar, the plateau sunlight streams through the glass windows, instantly brightening your mood like the weather. Traditional Tibetan houses mostly have small windows due to reliance on stove heating. The lattice windows of the Hazelnut Bar, placed closely together, stand out a bit in the ancient town. The owners, a couple from Xi’an, fell in love with the place during a trip two years ago and decided to stay. Here, both humans and dogs are leisurely, basking in the sun together, feeling the traces of time passing—a deeply satisfying experience.

Another recommended spot is the Cowshed Bar, which is literally built in an old cowshed. Traditional houses in the ancient town usually have two stories, with the upper floor higher than the lower. The upper level is for living, while the lower serves as the cowshed. Back then, there were no chemical products in daily life, and household waste was swept through reserved holes directly into the cowshed downstairs, where it was trampled by cows into fertilizer. People would carry thorny oak leaves down from the mountains to mask the odor rising from the shed. Thus, the cowshed is closely tied to Tibetan residential culture and the cultural significance of animals.

The cowshed has now been transformed into a trendy bar, reportedly owned by an overseas artist.

As night falls in the ancient town, soft music plays. Some are drunk, some laugh, some whisper, some stare blankly. Even if you're alone, you won't feel lonely. Because on such a peaceful night, you can finally find yourself.

Address: No. 127, Dalalang, Shangri-La County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture

Type: Historic Site / Ancient Town / Ancient Village

Recommended Visit Duration: 2–3 hours

Phone: 0887-8223310

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Ticket Information:

Free admission.

Transportation

Both walking and taking a vehicle are available to reach Shangri-La County town.