Day 46, 50km: (by Amy)

We had a peaceful night apart from a visiting cow that licked our bowls and pan left out in the rain. 

We got soaked eating breakfast in our coats then set off winding slowly up the valley. We stopped at a small stream to filter some water as we had run out and were reluctant to filter the river water where we had camped having seen where most of the local toilets emptied. 

The weather cheered up a bit as we left the river and climbed a final smaller pass before a long descent to Shangri-La city. We passed through grassland spotted with red and gold bushes amongst which yaks and miniature Tibetan pigs grazed.

 Unfortunately there was also a lot of pylons and an ever increasing amount of trucks thanks to a nearby quarry. 

We entered Shangri-La old town around 15:30 to find beautiful little cobbled streets packed with gift shops, restaurants and guesthouses. We found a place to stay described in our guidebook and checked in. We met an elderly Chinese cycle tourist who had been touring the surrounding mountains for 5 months using Shangri-La as a base and wild camping in the area.

We urgently needed a shower then enthusiastically sort out some serious quantities of food. It was a national holiday week for the Chinese so very busy. We found a little family run Tibetan place and ate whilst watching traditional dancing in the main square below in which everyone was getting themselves involved.