Shangrila Train Station (Xianggelila) in Diqing Yunnan

Shangrila Railway Station (Xianggelila in Chinese pinyin) is located in Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. It is under administration of the Kunming Railway Bureau of China Railway Corporation and serving as the terminal station of the Lijiang-Shangri-la Railway.
The station has a yard with a capacity of 2 platforms and 4 tracks, covering an area of over 9500 square meters. After completion, it will connect Yunnan’s tourist destinations Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La together.

Lijiang - lashihai - xiaozhongdian - shangri la Railway
Lijiang – lashihai – xiaozhongdian – shangri la Railway

Lijiang – Shangri-la Railway

The Lijiang-Shangrila Railway is a national  electrified railway located in Yunnan Province. It connects the city of Lijiang with the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture’s Shangri-La City. The railway has a total length of 139.7 kilometers and construction began on October 28, 2014. It is expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2023 with a design speed of 140 kilometers per hour.

Main stations along the route include Lijiang Station, Lashihai Station, Xiaozhongdian Station, and Shangri-La Railway Station. Once completed, the travel time from Kunming to Shangri-La is expected to be within 5 hours.

Lijiang to Shangri La train, Kunming to Shangri La train, Dali to Shangri La train
368 hotels in Dukezong Ancient Town, 60 Hotels near Tiger Leaping Gorge, Hotels in Lijiang Ancient Town
Attractions to visit: Tiger Leaping Gorge (attraction ticket), Sumtseling Monestery, Dukezong Ancient Town, Putatso National Park
Flights - Diqing Shangri La Airport (DIG)

Train Schedule for Shangri La Railway Station

Train Type Departure City Destination City Duration Frequency Price
For a live schedule & ticket availability & refer to www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/
Conventional train Kunming Shangri La (Xianggelila)      
Conventional train Dali Shangri La (Xianggelila)      
Conventional train Lijiang Shangri La (Xianggelila)      
For a live schedule & ticket availability & refer to www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/

How to Buy Tickets Online

There are several ways to book your train tickets online. Just remember that booking herizon for train tickets opens 15 days before your travel date. It is recommended to book you tickets as soon as possible in advance to secure your seat at your desired departure time.

1. Book with China Highlights

www.chinahighlights.com is a trusted online ticket agent who get possitive reviews & is  often recommended on Trip Advisor forum. They offer real-time train schedule online, English-language support, They can also provide assistance in case of any issues with your tickets or travel or when you’re running into trouble. Even they can deliver tickets to your hotel in advance. You can place orders with them any time. They are helpful, especially when you’re not familiar with the China’s transportation system or do not speak Chinese.

2. Book with 12306 China Railway

www.12306.cn is the offcial website of China Railway, which now has supported English. It also provides an offcial ticketing (English version) App – Tielu 12306 for both iOS and Android.

Jack’s friendly reminder: In the official site www.12306.cn, you can enter “Xianggelila” as Shangri-La Railway Station.

When to Buy Tickets

Tickets can be booked up to 15 days on the official 12306 China Railway website. It is always advisable to buy tickets in advance to secure ticket availability or seat assignment. Ticets tend to sell out quickly especially during the bussy travel peak period, such as the public National Days (Gold Week), Labour’s Days, Chinese Moon Festival or Qingming Festival. But if you use an online ticket agent www.chinahighlights.com, you can order tickets any time with them and they will book it for you once the tickets are released online.

Trusted Online Ticket Agents:

Option 1: China Highlights is a reliable online agency  for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee.

Option 2: Trip.com  is an internatioal brand owned by Ctrip Group, China's largest online travel booking platform. Trip.com offers booking service for flight, train, hotel, activities, etc