This is the third time Songtsam Hotels, Resorts & Tours has been on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List China edition.
Songtsam Linka Retreat Shangri-La, one of 16 properties of the award-winning luxury boutique hotel collection and Destination Management Company, Songtsam Hotels, Resorts & Tours, in the Tibet and Yunnan Provinces of China, made the coveted Condé Nast Traveler China’s Gold List as one of the ”Top 10 Hotels in China.” The timing of this recognition comes just as China announced the reopening of international borders and Songtsam will once again be able to welcome American travelers.
Songtsam Linka Shangri-La, Songtsam’s first property, is located in Xiaojiezi village, adjacent to the famous Songzanlin Monastery, also known as “Little Potala.” It is 3280 meters (approx. 10,761 ft.) above sea level, with open terrain and idyllic scenery. All 92 rooms are traditional Tibetan-style integrated into modern aesthetics with wooden floors, fireplaces, Tibetan carpet, and hand-made copperware that create a cozy and pleasant atmosphere.
Songtsam Linka Retreat Shangri-La is home to Songtsam’s Linka Spa/Spa de La Mer which includes four therapy rooms featuring handmade bronze bathtubs, a Zen-style lounge, and is elaborately designed for traditional Kum Nye Tibetan massages. There are two restaurants, a Tibetan restaurant with local specialties such as yak meat hotpot and Yunnan cuisine, and a Western restaurant, which offers a breakfast buffet, à la carte, a selection of handpicked wines, and a spectacular view of the Songzanlin Monastery. The Songtsam Linka Retreat Shangri-La also houses the recently opened Songtsam Tibetan Art Museum, inaugurated in the summer of 2022.
Shangri-La, a city in the Northwestern region of the Yunnan province of China, is thought to be the physical manifestation of the kingdom of Shambhala. Legend has it that in an unknown place on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, there is a mysterious kingdom called Shambhala. Here, people transcend their troubles and pains, and finally realize the true source of happiness. Songtsam’s founder, Baima Duoji, made this path to discover happiness a reality as part of the guest experience for those who stay at the Songtsam boutique hotels and participate in Songtsam Tours’ curated travel experiences. Thus enabling Songtsam guests to find and open The Hidden Door to Shambhala.
Songtsam Founder & Chairman, Baima Duoji, noted “as a hotel brand deeply rooted in Tibet and Yunnan, we are grateful for the Gold List 2023 recognition from such an iconic luxury brand as Condé Nast Traveler. The timing of this award recognition could not be better, since China has just reopened its international borders and Songtsam can once again welcome our American guests.”
Baima also emphasized:
“It is important to note that the entire Songtsam brand has a strong commitment to sustainability with our careful selection of hotel locations and ensuring that the property fits into the local environment.”
Baima added, “but it is our Songtsam team who we are the most proud of, and who are the backbone of the Songtsam success story. Over 92% of Songtsam employees, including the craftsmen used to construct a new property, are drawn from the local villages where the hotels are located, and we are pleased that this is a key contributing factor in the economic development of the surrounding communities.”
About Condé Nast Traveler Gold List
Gold List was founded in 1995. The magazine invites travel experts who pursue quality of life, understand and enjoy high-end travel methods, and have unique insights, to work with the “Condé Nast Traveler” editorial department to select the most favorite hotels, airlines, cruises, and destinations. In this way, the “Gold List” produced by multiple opinions and select results represents a truly objective quality choice and is regarded as the “gold standard” by global travel consumers.
About Songtsam
Songtsam (“Paradise”) is an award-winning luxury collection of hotels, resorts and tours located in Tibet and Yunnan Province, China. Founded in 2000 by Mr. Baima Duoji, a former Tibetan Documentary filmmaker, Songtsam is the only collection of luxury Tibetan-style retreats within the wellness space focusing on the concept of Tibetan meditation by combining physical and spiritual healing together. The 16 unique properties can be found across the Tibetan Plateau, offering guests authenticity, within the context of refined design, modern amenities, and unobtrusive service in places of untouched natural beauty and cultural interest. Songtsam is a Virtuoso Preferred Partner. Songstam welcomes all travelers including families with children, travelers with disabilities and is LGBTQ+ friendly.
About Songtsam Tours
Songtsam Tours provides guests an opportunity to curate their own experiences by combining stays at its different hotels and lodges designed to discover the region’s diverse culture, rich biodiversity, incredible scenic landscapes, and unique living heritage.
About Songtsam Mission
Songtsam’s mission is to inspire their guests with the diverse ethnic groups and cultures of the region and to understand how the local people pursue and understand happiness, bringing Songtsam guests closer to discovering their own Shangri-La. At the same time, Songtsam has a strong commitment to sustainability and the preservation of the essence of Tibetan culture by supporting the economic development of the local communities and the environmental conservation within Tibet and Yunnan. Songtsam was on the 2018, 2019 & 2022 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List.
For more information about Songtsam visit songtsam/en/about.
