Shangri-La

Overview

About

Shangri-La in north-west Yunnan is the seat of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Formerly called Zhongdian, it took the name Shangri-La in 2001. The town lies on a plateau at about 3,300 m, surrounded by meadows, lakes and snow mountains, with the Jinsha River to the east. The Meili Snow Mountains and the high lakes of the area are part of the World Natural Heritage site of the Three Parallel Rivers.

The name comes from James Hilton’s novel <i>Lost Horizon</i>, about a hidden paradise among snow mountains. After the novel appeared the word became a byword in the West for an earthly paradise; Zhongdian later took it as its name.

Potatso, about 20 km east of the town, centres on two highland lakes, Shudu Lake and Bita Lake, ringed by meadows and old fir forest that turns many colours in autumn. The Bita Lake area is also part of the Three Parallel Rivers World Heritage site. Yunnan made its first trial of a “national park” here, hence the name Potatso National Park; “Shangri-La Potatso” is a National 5A tourist attraction.

Dukezong Old Town, in the south of the town, grew from a Tibetan Empire outpost of the Tang period; its name means “moonlight city” in Tibetan, and it was an important stop on the Tea Horse Road between Yunnan and Tibet. It climbs a hillside with Tibetan timber houses along stone-paved lanes, and a huge prayer wheel stands on Turtle Hill.

Songzanlin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling), north of the town, is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Gelug school in Yunnan, founded with the approval of the Fifth Dalai Lama in the Kangxi reign of the Qing. Its buildings rise up the hillside with golden roofs and white walls, and it is often called the “little Potala Palace”.

Napa Lake, north-west of the town, is a seasonal highland lake and marsh: in the rainy season the water spreads out, in the dry season it shrinks back to meadow. It is a Wetland of International Importance, and black-necked cranes and other birds spend the winter here.

Baishuitai (“White Water Terraces”), at Sanba south-east of the town, is formed by spring water rich in calcium carbonate that leaves layer upon layer of white terraces, like rice fields, as it flows down the slope; it is one of the larger travertine terraces in China. The area is the birthplace of the Dongba culture of the Naxi people and is a holy place of the Dongba religion.

Travel tips

Getting there: Diqing Shangri-La Airport is south of the town, and a railway runs from Lijiang. The road from Lijiang passes Tiger Leaping Gorge in the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain scenic area.

Sightseeing: The town is high, so take it slowly at first to avoid altitude sickness. Dukezong Old Town and Songzanlin Monastery are near the town and take half a day each; Potatso takes a day; Napa Lake can be seen on the way; Baishuitai is farther off and can be combined with Tiger Leaping Gorge. Summer and autumn are the best seasons.

Photo credits: Songzanlin Monastery: Chensiyuan (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Shudu Lake, Potatso: 风二中 (CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Dukezong Old Town: Chensiyuan (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Baishuitai: Chensiyuan (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)

Stamps

China Post issued the set 2010-23 “Shangri-La” in 2010, four stamps: Ancient Monastery in Rosy Clouds, Blue Water and Sky, Green Hills by a Calm Lake, and Ancient Town on the Snowy Plateau.

Ancient Monastery in Rosy Clouds
Blue Water and Sky
Green Hills by a Calm Lake
And Ancient Town on the Snowy Plateau

Nearby

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