Photoshoot at Shangri-La Wearing Tibetan Costume

I recently had an incredible experience doing a photoshoot in Shangri-La City , wearing traditional Tibetan costume. We spent some time exploring the ancient city of Dukezong, visiting various Tibetan clothing shops before finally choosing one near our inn. If you’re planning a similar shoot, I recommend wandering around the ancient city to find a store you like and discussing your preferences directly with them.
We selected our costumes a day before the shoot and made a deposit. Initially, the shop owner mentioned we could only try two costumes, but eventually, she allowed us to try three. The total cost for the costume, including makeup and accessories, was a very reasonable 70 yuan, with no additional charges. We paid half the deposit and scheduled our makeup and hair appointment for 9 AM the next day. 
On the day of the shoot, after breakfast, we headed to the shop. The makeup and hair process took about 1 to 1.5 hours. I chose a colorful costume, and the Tibetan lady dressed me layer by layer, tightened my belt like a corset, applied red blush to my cheeks and nose, added some glitter, braided my hair, and finished with a beautiful hairpiece. They also had costumes for men, making it perfect for couples' photoshoots, often used for pre-wedding pictures. The shop offered the option to hire a professional photographer for 300-500 yuan, but we opted to take our own photos. Here are some of the fantastic locations we visited for our photoshoot: 
📍Songzanlin Temple
The largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province, with its stunning yellow walls providing a perfect backdrop. Early morning or dusk is the best time to shoot here due to the soft sunlight. 
📍Dukezong Ancient City
This is the best-preserved and largest Tibetan residential group in China, offering numerous picturesque spots. 
📍The Napa Sea (Tears of Shangri-La)
Also known as Yila Grassland, this seasonal lake transforms dramatically between the rainy and dry seasons. Unfortunately, during our visit, the grass was dry, so we skipped it.
Overall, the experience was eye-opening. Everywhere I looked, there were beautiful spots to capture—blue skies, clouds, and blossoming peach and cherry trees made me feel like a princess from a Chinese drama. 
Tips for Your Photoshoot:
⚠️ In the ancient city or temple, many photographers will follow you around, trying to sell you photos or take pictures of you without permission, which can be annoying for some.
⚠️ Avoid drinking too much water, as finding a toilet while in costume can be challenging.
⚠️ Choose a day with good weather. Shangri-La can be very cold, especially in the morning and evening, and drizzle can make it even colder.
⚠️ Shangri-la is at 3,160 meters above sea level, some people might experience altitude sickness. To adapt the altitude, suggest to stay in lower-altitude cities such as Dali, Lijiang first. If needed, buy oxygen bottles from authorized pharmacies and carry them with you.
 #shangrilayunnan #chinatrip #tibetcostum