1-Day Songzanlin Monastery, Nixi Pottery & Dukezong Tour
Overview
A private Nixi pottery day tour connects Tibetan religious heritage, working craft traditions and Shangri-La’s old town. Visit Songzanlin Monastery, travel to Nixi Tangdui village and finish with a walk through Dukezong. This route is a good fit for visitors interested in how objects are made and used. Meeting a potter adds context to the black cookware seen around the region; a hands-on pottery session can be discussed separately.
Your Route Map

Photo and illustration credits
- Nixi village and its surrounding valley: Photograph by Aaron Zhu; available on Wikimedia Commons; under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for web use.
- Village and lake below Songzanlin Monastery: Photograph by Colin W; available on Wikimedia Commons; under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for web use.
- Painted religious artwork at Songzanlin Monastery: Photograph by Colin W; available on Wikimedia Commons; under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for web use.
- Tibetan black pottery butter kettle displayed at the Yunnan Nationalities Museum: Photograph by Daderot; available on Wikimedia Commons; under Public domain. Cropped and resized for web use.
- Songzanlin Monastery architectural detail: Photograph by Colin W; available on Wikimedia Commons; under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for web use.
- Dukezong rooftops and surrounding hills: Photograph by Zhu Yugui; available on Wikimedia Commons; under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for web use.
Daily Itinerary

Visit Songzanlin Monastery before driving to Nixi Tangdui village, known for its black earthenware. Meet a local potter when the workshop is open and look at the hand-shaped cooking pots and firing traditions. A workshop visit is part of the route; making and firing your own piece needs a separate arrangement. Return to Dukezong for a walk among its lanes and Tibetan-style houses, then continue to your Shangri-La hotel.