Shika Snow Mountain

 












Shika Snow Mountain Scenic Area is located 7 kilometers southwest 
Gyanthang Town of Shangri-La County. With its highest altitude being 
4,449 meters above the sea level, this area covers 65 square kilometers;
 and its elevation drop is 1,179 meters. Due to the high attitude and 
vertical climate, we could appreciate various alpine and sub-alpine 
landforms and vegetation. In the cable car we can have a wonderful 
birds-eye view of Gyanthang (the Old Town of Shangri-la), the 
Ganden-Songzanlin Monastery, Napa Lake and Shangri-La Airport.

Shika is a Tibetan word (Shangri-la dialect) meaning a mountain 
abounding in deer. It is said when Sakyamuni began to preach Buddhism
 in the Deer Park, two deer listened to him attentively in knee-down 
posture. Therefore, deer stands for common people and is regarded as
 mascots in Tibetan Buddhism. It is the symbol of longevity and strict 
adherence to dharma. In history, this lofty mountain stood between two
 important cities of Shengchuan Prefecture of Tubo Kingdom: Dukezong
 in the east and Tacheng in the west. Therefore, the mountain was the
 pass connecting Tubo and Nanzhao Kingdom in Dali. It was the first 
Tibetan sacred mountain along the Ancient Tea and Horse Road and 
enjoyed high prestige among Buddhist pilgrims in West Yunnan.

The Mountain is famous for its diversity of geological landforms and 
biological resources. With rich geo-tectonic features, it is an ideal
 place for scientific research and exploration. The impacts of the 
 Quaternary glaciations could be seen everywhere in the mountain. 
Unique valleys and blue alpine lakes shrouded amidst meadows and 
forests are extremely attractive. It’s the best place in Shangri-la 
(Zhongdian) to view some other sacred Buddhist snowcapped mountains 
in Tibetan Area.