Shangri-La Dining and Shopping

Shangri-La Dining

Restaurant in Shangri-La

Shangri-La's population is composed largely of Tibetans together with many ethnic minorities. This provides the opportunity to be immersed in beautiful scenery while tasting local food and drinks Tibetan Cake (sweet and crisp), Zanba, Pipa Meat, Saimi Lamb, Guoben Hot Pot, butter tea, yogurt, and Suolima (a kind of Tibetan Liquor brewed with the highland barley) are amongst the most popular. Zanba is the Tibetans' staple food, made from highland barley flour. Usually, the locals like to eat Zanba with buttered tea. Buttered tea is high in energy providing sustenance from the cold plateau climate. Pipa Meat, a non-greasy preserved form of pork is a delicious food usually kept for entertaining guests.

Where to eat 
Besides going to the restaurants, you can spend some money going to the Tibetans' house to have meal. Hereunder is the information of some local restaurants.

Congben Tibetan Restaurant

In the Tibetan's House

A Tibetan style restaurant.
Location: near the Old Town Plaza

Old Town Plateau Hot Pot
Here the environment is very cozy and the hot pot very tasty. Highly-recommended is the Yak Hot Pot.
Location: near the Old Town Plaza

Tibet Cafe Inn
The Tibetan-style breakfast provided here is good.
Location: The Changzheng Road

Tina's The chicken soup and honey cake provided there are highly recommended.
Location: in the Tiger Leaping Gorge Scenic Area

Teacher Zhang

Street food

The chicken soup, pickles and egg noodles are recommended.
Location: near the Tina's.

Halfway
This location is popular with tourists are the manager has some ability to speak English.
Location: in the Tiger Leaping Gorge Scenic Area

Shangri-La Shopping

What to buy

Shangri-La abounds in various herbs, such as saffron and angelica. Saffron is said to have the ability to promote blood circulation in order to remove blood stasis and beautify the skin; angelica is held in high regard for its curative effect on irregular menstruation, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, and dysfunctional uterine bleeding and blood  deficiency. The unique climate of the Shangri-La plateau is very suitable of the growth of Chinese caterpillar fungus (Dongchong-Xiacao in Chinese), a combination of fungus and dead caterpillar. It's a valuable medicine which is thought to improve human immunity. Moth larva is inflected by the fungus. The fungus absorbs its nutrition from the larva and grows out from the caterpillar's head.

In the old town area

Wooden bowls and boxes, Tibetan silver ornaments, Tibetan knives, Tibetan incense and the meat of yak are popular items of the region. The wooden bowls and boxes are exquisite and very practical. The Tibetan ornaments mainly include various necklaces, rings and bracelets. These items are often purchased by women as a memento of their visit.

Where to buy
Many of the shops are run by local residents. It is recommended that you shop around to ensure that you are paying a reasonable price.

Tip: The Tibetan knife with not be allowed through customs at the airport however it can be taken to the train and sent by post.