To many people today,
Shangri-la is simply the name of a hotel chain.
But the mystical name also conjures an image of paradise for others enchanted by the prospect of stumbling across a magical land.
It was British writer James Hilton's novel, The Lost Horizon that sparked a legend and brought fame to an unknown and almost untouched place called
Shangri-la (or Sem-tsi-ni-da in Tibetan.)
The novel describes in great detail the stunning scenery in the area, the azure sky, the breathtaking beauty of the landscape and the hospitality of the honest and unsophisticated people who welcomed weary travelers to their homeland.
Even over the past 50 years, the place described in James' novel remained relatively unknown.
And then in 1997 some people claimed to have discovered that the real
Shangri-la was in fact Diqing Tibet Autonomous Prefecture.
The government of Yunnan Province finally declared the discovery of
Shangri-la at Diqing. In 2001, a local county in the prefecture was officially named
Shangri-la County to mark the origin of James' description in his novel.
In the Tibetan language, Shangri- La means a place of good fortune and luck or literally "the sun and moon in your heart."
It is located at the center of three rivers: the torrential Jinsha, Langcang and Nujiang.
Shangri-la is a sacred scenic region with distinctive features.
Snow-capped mountains, vast areas of grassland, forest, mountains of wild flowers, deep valleys, rivers, waterfalls and religious culture all jostle for the attention of the slack-jawed visitor.
Snow mountains
There are numerous snow-capped mountains between Yunnan and Tibet. These include Everest, the highest mountain in the world and Qiaogeli, the second highest. Meili Snow Mountain is the most scared Tibetan mountain in the world, shrouded in mist, cloud and mystery.
Meili Snow Mountain, towering like a pyramid, is located about 10 km west of Diqing City in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. As the sun rises in the east, the snow-mountain looks like gold. It has been speculated that this holy scene inspired James to name his book The Lost Horizon.
Under Kawageber Peak, Mingyuchia glacier and Sichia glacier stretch down to the forest at an elevation of 2,700 meters. This area is accessible. However, the highest peak, Kawageber, some 6,740 meters above sea level, is still a virgin peak, untouched till now. Mountaineers from China, Great Britain, the United States and Japan have failed to conquer the peak over the years. In 1991, 17 climbers from China and Japan lost their lives trying.
And according to one government official, there will be no further possibility for mountaineers to conquer the peak in future. The local government is to formulate regulations forbidding climbers on religious grounds.
Baimang Snow Mountain
Baimang Snow Mountain is a good alternative for frustrated climbers. This is a national natural reserve with fantastic views.
Located in the mid-section of the Hengdgun Mountain range in Diqing County, all of the peaks here are above 4,000 meters, with the highest topping 5,430 meters.
The nature reserve consists of vast virgin forests, animals, plants and geographical wonders.
As a result of this,
Shangri-la has become something of a Mecca for botanists and zoologists. The area also exerts a strong magnetic force on ordinary travellers, who swarm here in late summer and autumn to appreciate the natural beauty of the region.
The attraction is not accessible between December and April when the roads are closed due to heavy snow.
How to get there: The highway between Zhongdian and Deqing cuts through the Baimang Nature Reserve, and most of the scenic spots are located on either side of the highway. If you take the bus from Zhongdian to Diqing, the natural beauty can be seen from the bus. But the best way to really appreciate this spot is to hire a car from Zhongdian and stop at the reserve en route to Meili Mountain.
Bitahai Nature Reserve
Bitahai Nature Reserve is an intact natural attraction with outstanding flora and fauna and picturesque landscapes.
In the reserve itself, century-old pines and cypresses grow around Bitahai Lake, in which the water is crystal clear.
In the lake there is an islet covered by cedars and azaleas. In spring, when the withered azalea flowers fall to the lake and are eaten by fish, the fish seem to be unconscious and almost drunk. They float on the surface with their abdomen facing the sky.
Around the lake are virgin forests-the ideal habitat for rare animals including red-footed pheasant, silver pheasant, wild bull, leopard and lynx.
How to get there: The nature reserve is located 35 km east of Zhongdian county town. Many travel agencies offer one day tours which include Bitahai, Songzanling Monastery, and Napahai. The whole trip costs 130 yuan (US$15) including all the admission fees and a lunch.
It is also possible to hire a taxi for a round trip to the nature reserve. This costs around 150 yuan (US$18).
Yila Prairie
Yila Prairie is the best place to experience the life of Tibetan herdsmen in Yunnan. In summer and autumn, numerous little flowers bloom while flocks of cattle and sheep graze on the grass. After wandering on the grassland, there is a great barbecue area here where fresh and authentic food is cooked up.
How to get there: You can take a bus from Zhongdian directly to Yila Prairie. The drive takes about half an hour. A bus is available every hour.
Cost: The general admission fee is 10 yuan (US$1.2) per person. There are horses available for rental which will take you to Napahai. A horse costs about 30 yuan (US$4).
Special culture and religions
Over the years, many different cultures have prospered in this beautiful Garden of Eden. The Han, Tibetan, Naxi and Christians have contributed to its cultural prosperity. As symbols of various cultures, the Baishuitai (White Water Terraces), Little Potala Palace, and Cizhong Roman Catholic Church have borne testimony to the evolution of the area.
How to get Diqing: Located in Zhongdian,
Shangri-la Airport offers flights to Kunming,
Chengdu and Lhasa. It takes one hour from
Kunming to Zhongdian
Shangri-la Airport, 2.5 hours from
Chengdu to the airport and costs 560 yuan (US$67) and 780 yuan (US$94) one-way from
Kunming and
Chengdu respectively. Bus routes from Zhongdian to Diqing and other destinations in
Shangri-la can be found near the airport.
