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Shangri-La: Tibetan Culture & Landscapes

RoadTrip to Tibet | EP3: Kham Tibetan in Shangri-La

Destination:ChinaProvince:TibetCity:ShangriLa
RoadTrip to Tibet | EP3: Kham Tibetan in Shangri-La
Honglin Li30 min

RoadTrip to Tibet | EP3: Kham Tibetan in. This was filmed by Honglin Li. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

In the past month, I've been staying in Shangri-La, exploring the stunning landscapes and experiencing the Tibetan lifestyle. In this video, I visited some amazing spots: A Tibetan village where I camped in my van. Songzanlin Monastery, known as the 'Little Potala Palace,' the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. Napa Lake, a seasonal lake known for its beautiful wetlands, grasslands, and diverse wildlife such as horses, yaks, sheep, and birds. Dukezong Ancient Town, where I filmed the large prayer wheel.

--- Honglin Li
July 18, 2024, Summer in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Honglin Li continues his “RoadTrip to Tibet” in Shangri-La, visiting a Kham Tibetan village and Songzanlin Monastery. He stays at an RV campsite, sees traditional homes and prayer flags, and learns to make zanba with a local aunt. Uncle Chucheng explains how the village stupa serves as a gathering place where residents pray and talk. At the monastery, Li meets Kaidu Lama, who has lived there for more than 30 years and discusses his childhood, monastic routines and Buddhist aspirations. The trip moves between everyday village life and religious practice. The video also follows a family gathering and a conversation about daily life in the village. Li then visits the monastery, where Kaidu Lama reflects on his childhood and the changes he has observed over three decades.

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RoadTrip to Tibet | EP3: Kham Tibetan in Shangri-La

Village life and Tibetan food

Honglin Li continues his RoadTrip to Tibet in Shangri-La, on the southeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. He stays at an RV campsite in a village and spends time with local families. Traditional houses have rough, natural exterior walls that blend with the grasslands and prayer flags. Yaks graze nearby, and the landscape provides a setting for daily routines. Li joins a local aunt in making zanba, a staple made from baked barley flour mixed with milk tea and yak butter.

Uncle Chucheng explains that the village prayer stupa is a social center where people gather twice a day to spin prayer wheels, burn incense and talk. The stupa's location carries meaning, and local Buddhist practices are part of everyday life. Li observes how residents participate in these rituals and asks about the role of Buddhism in the community. Their conversations help connect the landscape and architecture with local beliefs.

Songzanlin Monastery and a monk's life

The trip continues to Songzanlin Monastery, an important Tibetan Buddhist monastery. There Li meets Kaidu Lama, Uncle Chucheng's younger brother, who has lived as a monk at the monastery for more than 30 years. Kaidu Lama talks about his childhood, the changes he has seen and the daily structure of monastic life. He describes studying Buddhism and his hope to spend the rest of his life learning, with the spiritual goal of following Sakyamuni Buddha.

The visit gives Li a closer look at monastery routines and relationships between monks and visitors. The episode combines village architecture, prayer flags, food preparation, a family gathering and the monastery. It presents Shangri-La not only through mountain views and grasslands, but through the people who explain their homes, food and beliefs. Li's conversations with Uncle Chucheng and Kaidu Lama make the trip an intimate account of Kham Tibetan culture and spiritual life.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: What is zanba?
A: Zanba is a staple food made from roasted barley flour mixed with milk tea and yak butter. It becomes a paste and is common in the plateau region.
Q: What's the significance of the prayer stupas?
A: Each village has a stupa that serves as a social gathering place for rituals and conversation. Locals spin prayer wheels and burn incense there, and its location is considered meaningful.
Q: What was it like making zanba?
A: Li describes rubbing the mixture like dough and adding yak butter at the end. The preparation is quick.
Q: What did the monks' daily life look like?
A: The monks wake around six in the morning and rest around ten or eleven at night. Their daily routine includes studying, sometimes arguing or being scolded by a teacher, and talking with travelers to practice Chinese.
Q: What's the most important thing for the monk?
A: Kaidu Lama hopes to spend the rest of his life learning Buddhism and to follow Sakyamuni Buddha, reaching the Elysium fields after death.

Previous travel video:

Shangri-La: Tibetan Culture & Landscapes

In the past month, I've been staying in Shangri-La, exploring the stunning landscapes and experiencing the Tibetan lifestyle. In this video, I visited some amazing spots: - A Tibetan village where I camped in my van. - Songzanlin Monastery, known as the 'Little Potala Palace,' the largest Tibetan...

Shangri-La: Kham Tibetan Culture & Songzanlin Monastery

Embark on a breathtaking journey through Shangri-La, Yunnan, in this captivating travelogue. Witness the serene beauty of Napa Lake, teeming with wildlife, and immerse yourself in the rich culture of a traditional Tibetan village. Explore the grandeur of Songzanlin Monastery, marvel at ancient stupas, and delve into the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Discover the captivating stories of the local people and uncover the profound wisdom of the monks. This is an unforgettable adventure into the soul of Tibet.

Attractions in this video: Songzanlin Monastery, Prayer Stupa, Napa Lake