Dukezong Ancient Town is China's best-preserved and largest cluster of Tibetan residential buildings, and also a vital hub of the Ancient Tea Horse Road.

Located in Shangri-La County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, this ancient town boasts a history of over 1,300 years. It once served as a gateway for cultural exchanges between the Tibetan lands on the snow plateau and ethnic groups in Yunnan, as well as an important link for economic and trade activities across Sichuan, Xizang and Yunnan.

In recent years, alongside the growth of local tourism, Shangri-La County has stepped up efforts to protect and restore Dukezong Ancient Town, reviving its historic charm.

During the Yifeng and Diaolu reigns of the Tang Dynasty (676–679 AD), the Tubo regime built a fortress on the summit of Big Turtle Hill and named it Dukezong. This Tibetan term carries two meanings: "a fortress built on stones" and "City of Moonlight". The later ancient town gradually took shape surrounding the hilltop fortress.

To complement it, Niwangzong, literally the "City of Sunlight", was erected on a hill beside Naizi River. Its fortress no longer exists, and a white pagoda now stands on the original site.

Constructed along the mountain terrain, Dukezong Ancient Town features undulating pavements paved with age-old flagstones that follow the natural landform. Deep hoof prints can still be seen on the stone roads today, lasting relics left by the ancient caravans.

For caravans traveling the Ancient Tea Horse Road, Dukezong was a major strategic town and the first stop after entering Xizang. It was regarded as a relatively pleasant section of the journey. In 2001, Dukezong Ancient Town was officially designated as a Historic and Cultural City of Yunnan Province.