Shangrila is a purpose built tourist park built on a natural waterway next to a very old village. It gives visitors a glimpse into the lives of several of China's ethnic minorities. The entrance to the park has beautiful gardens and all structures are built using the old building methods. At the gate visitors are met by one of the guides who unfortunately don't speak English. Visitors are ushered into a boat and the guide gives a running commentary interspersed with a few songs. Visitors can join in or sing their own songs making the trip quite lively as the boats passes by the beautiful scenery.

After a 30 minute boat ride visitors are let off to walk through buildings that house the different ethnic minorities showing their crafts. This showcases a large variety of good quality handcrafts making it a great place to buy mementos. The hand stitched silk ties are magnificent.