Moon Square in Shangri-La, Diqing

Attraction Overview

Shangri-la Moon Square is a small square at the foot of Guishan Park in Shangri-la Dukezong Ancient Town. It is the only way getting into the Dukezhong Ancient Town. Next to the square is the world's largest pray wheel.

Attraction Type: Square

Chinese Name: 香格里拉月光广场

Best Time to Visit: All-year-round

Recommended Visiting Time: 1 hour

Open Hours: All Day Long

Admission Fee: Free

Location: Dukezhong Ancient Town, Shangrila City, Diqing Prefecture of Yunnan Province

More Picture

🌙 Shangri-La Moonlight Square · “The City’s Living Room”

(Where history, faith, and nightlife dance under the same moon)

 📇 Square Profile

• Official Name: Moonlight Square, Shangri-La Old Town (Dukezong)

• Altitude: 3,300 m

• Location: 250 m west of Jinlong St × Xiangbala Ave intersection, Shangri-La City, Diqing Prefecture, Yunnan, China

• Scale: Central plaza of Old Town, backed by Guishan Park and the world’s largest prayer wheel

• Access: 7 km from Diqing Airport (15 min drive), 2 km from bus station

• Best Time: Year-round; nights are most vibrant

📌 Key Moments

• Ancient Era: Meeting point of the Tea–Horse Road caravans

• Modern Revitalization: Redeveloped as public “living room” and cultural stage of Shangri-La

• Daily Ritual: 19:30–22:00 open-air Guozhuang dance, locals + travelers hand-in-hand

 ✨ Cultural Significance

• Tibetan Spirit Center: From daytime pilgrim circuits to nighttime folk dancing

• Faith in Motion: The giant prayer wheel atop Guishan Hill holds 1.24 million mantras—turn it 3 times clockwise for blessings (needs ~10 people)

• Storytelling Hub: Museums, heritage crafts, and the ancient well (“Eye of Dukezong”) tell the tale of a thousand years

 🧭 Travel Tips & Highlights

🏛 Must-See Spots

• World’s Largest Prayer Wheel — 21 m tall, golden at night

• Guozhuang Dance — join in for free, every evening

• Diqing Red Army Long March Museum — only museum with a living Buddha statue

• Diqing Museum — Tibetan history & culture, free entry (Mon closed)

• Ancient Well — drinkable spring water at the plaza center

🍲 Food & Drink

🏨 Where to Stay in Old Town

🎉 Events Calendar

• Tibetan New Year (Feb–Mar): Mask dances, butter lanterns, day–night festivities

• Dragon Boat Horse Racing (5th day of 5th lunar month): Traditional equestrian shows

• Shangri-La Trail Race (Early June): Plaza as start/finish; traffic control in place

💡 Practical Info

• Entry: Free, 24 h

• Prayer Wheel & Guishan Park: Free, 07:30–20:30

• Parking: Underground lot, ¥5/h, cap ¥40/day

• Altitude Caution: 3,300 m — walk slowly; portable O₂ ¥25 nearby

• Best Photo Times:

  • Sunrise 07:00–08:00 (golden prayer wheel)

  • Night 20:00–22:00 (dance + lights)

📝 One-Sentence Takeaway

A single spin of the golden prayer wheel and one circle in the Guozhuang dance will show you—Shangri-La’s romance isn’t somewhere far away; it’s right here, under the moon, in the heart of the old town. 🌙