Set on a hillside directly overlooking the Songtsam Monastery, the Songtsam Retreat offers a taste of Tibet to the traveler in China. The collection of buildings are built in the style of Tibetan stone houses, and despite its grandeur, the quietly unassuming Retreat blends nicely with its surrounds. Heavy blankets cover thick doorways (which are locked with wooden bolts) to trap heat inside, and every room has a wood stove, all of which manages to infuse a bit of rustic and give it a "lodge" feel.
Gadling visited the Songtsam Retreat in November on a tour with WildChina. Here are our impressions.
The Check-In
The lobby of the Retreat is filled with Tibetan antiques and artifacts, as well as the requisite wood stove. Roomy chairs and couches sit in front of low tables lit with candles, and the ambiance manages to be both grand and cozy. Staff serve you a warming cup of ginger tea, and then you're lead cross the stone walkways to your room. There you'll find a warm fire already glowing.
Gallery: Songtsam Retreat, Shangri-laContinue reading South of the Clouds: Songtsam Retreat, Shangri-laSouth of the Clouds: Songtsam Retreat, Shangri-la originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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