The world-class 5 star hotel, Shangri-la, was named after the area that this town resides, which should give you some hint as to the extent of relaxation and calm that lies over the region. Dukezong is an ancient Tibetan town is the largest and best preserved Tibetan town of all, creating an overwhelmingly authentic experience of travelling back to the life and times of the 7th century.

The town is laid out in the shape of an eight-petal lotus flower according to Buddhist theory, with 1,084 houses beaming out from the central focal point that is Turtle Hill. A spot of major significance on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road, it earned its fame as a trading hub, a channel through which the culture and people of China and Tibet flowed and mingled. White stone was worshipped by the ancient Qiang forefathers, which is attested to by the white painted walls of all the dwellings. When the sky is clear, the houses gleam with the pearly moonshine, giving rise to the nickname “moonlight city”.

As you walk the curvy paved roads, the imprints of horseshoes from horses long gone can still be faintly seen in the dirt, a reminder of the community that once lived here. However, their way of life has not been left, as it is clearly seen in the Tibetan chess being plaued on the streets, and the horse bells tinkling that fills the air. Nightly bonfires set the town alight with festivity as the locals get out their traditional stringed instruments and play long into the night. Cast off your self-consciousness and join the merry-making, letting loose and dancing to the lively tunes with the locals.