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Step into James Hilton’s mythical Shangri-La! The gilded Songzanlin Monastery (“Little Potala”) crowns a prayer-flag-draped hill, its chanted sutras mingling with butter lamp smoke. Nearby, Pudacuo National Park’s primordial forests shelter rare black-necked cranes, while mirror-still lakes reflect emerald peaks. In Dukezong Ancient Town, join pilgrims spinning the world’s largest prayer wheel, then warm your hands with butter tea in a Tibetan home. Visit May-June when rhododendrons blaze across valleys, or October when meadows ignite in crimson “wolf poison” flowers. *Note: At 3,300m, embrace slow pacing—altitude rewards patience with soul-stirring vistas.