Even in the isolated terrain of Xiangri-la, locals not only believe in Buddhism but also Catholicism. Every Saturday and Sunday, adherents from the Li, Tibetan, Naxi and Han villages congregate at Cizhong Cathedral (cizhong tianzhujiao tang) by the Langcan River,to pray in Tibetan dialect.

Cizhong Cathedral was originally built at this site in 1909 by a French missionary. This building is typical of Han and Tibetan folk art. Located among the remote mountain ranges and valleys, the Cathedral is a witness to the unique blend of oriental and occidental cultures existing here.

How to get to Cizhong Cathedral : Take a bus to Wexi county from Zhongdian ( 7:10,RMB31,8 hours), then take the bus from Weixi-Cizhong (7:10, RMB30,10 hours). This is a pretty complicated means of transport. Far more convenient is to hire a car and visit this spot as part of a round trip.