Destination China

Shangri-La

It was the British writer James Hilton’s novel, The Lost Horizon, some 50 years ago, that brought fame to an unknown and uncontaminated place – Shangri-La – a household name. The novel described in great detail the stunning scenery in the area: the azure sky, the breathtaking beauty and the hospitality of unsophisticated people. In Tibetan, Shangri-La means a place of good fortune and luck.

Located in the midst of three rivers, Shangri-La is a sacred scenic region blessed with majestic mountains. Although a romantic name, Shangri-la does not actually refer to any specific place. The official name of Shangri-La is Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, which includes Zhongdian County as its capital and tourist base, Deqing County and Weixi County.