Songzanlin Monastery

Built at the foot of Foping Mountain with a magnificent facade, SongzanlinMonastery is a faithful imitation of the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Hence, it isreputed as the “Little Potala Palace”. Being a collection of Tibetan culture,Songzanlin Monastery is also reputed as “Tibetan Art Museum”. It is 5kilometers from the seat of Shangri-La County, also called Guihua Monastery,is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan province. Constructionbegan in 1679 and was completed in 1681. During the monasteries goldenage over 3,000 monks lived and studied there. Built along the mountains witha magnificent facade, the monastery is a faithful imitation of the Potala Palacein Lhasa, Tibet. Covering an area of 33 hectares (82 acres), the monastery hassolid walls and five gates. Two main lamaseries,  Zhacang and Jikang,command the highest position in the architectural complex. Usually, 2-3 hourswill be suggested to take for visiting this place.