China Shangri-La Travel More than half a century ago, British writer James Hilton wrote a novel entitled Lost Horizon. In the book he tells a story: Because of an aviation accident, a plane was forced to land in a valley southwest of the Himalayas. For survival, several young men trekked a long distance. Later, directed by local people, they went to a place called "Shangri-La." It had snow-capped mountains, forests, gorges and lakes, and the beautiful scenery made people linger. What was more fantastic to them was the social conditions there. Many religions co-existed, and people of various ethnic groups got along in harmony. The man-to-man and man-to-nature relations were properly handled. People were well off and friendly, and the entire society was peaceful and tranquil .... Shangri-La has become a synonym of the "Land of Peach Blossoms" a fictious land of peace away from the turmoil of the world - and of an ideal society. For many years since then, looking for "Shangri-La" has become a painstaking pursuit for numerous tourists and adventurers. In the mid-1990s, more and more evidences have shown that Shangri-La is located in northwestern Yunnan. The location, climate and natural sights, and especially the unique folklore, are similar to what was described in James Hilton's novel. We hope that friends both in China and abroad, after reading this booklet, will make a tour of Shangri-La and discover the Shangri-La in their mind.

Deqen-An Ideal Tourist Destination
Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwestern Yunnan Province is on the southwestern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and in the southern section of the Hengduan Mountains. The prefecture is in the center of the area where three great rivers flow side by side, and boasts beautiful sights such as snow-capped mountains, gorges, grasslands, alpine lakes and primeval forests, as well as unique ethnic folklore.

There are many snow-capped mountains in the prefecture. In Zhongdian County alone there are 470 mountains more than 4,000 meters above sea level. Mount Kagebo, at 6,740 meters, is the highest mountain in Yunnan Province.

The prefecture is inhabited by 13 ethnic groups, including Tibetan, Lisu, Han, Naxi, Yi, Bai and Hui. They live in harmony, and have retained their own characteristics in lifestyle, clothing, architecture and wedding rituals. 

Deqen is one of the key tourist areas on the Shangri-La Tour. Zhongdian, the prefectural capital, is located at an altitude of 3,282 meters above sea level, suitable for tourists from countries at low altitudes. Tourists need not worry about mountain sicknesses.

Main tourist attractions in Deqen include Bitahai Lake, Napahai Lake, Hutiao Gorge, Guihua Temple, Baishui Terrace, Baimang Snow Mountain, Dongzhulin Temple, Meili (Taizi) Snow Mountain, Cizhong Church, Lancang River Gorge and Jinsha River Gorge. Horse races are held annually in Zhongdian on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. In addition, the "Three Rivers Flow Side by Side" Scenic Area, mainly located in Deqen and Nujiang prefectures, is an ideal tourist destination.

Kunming-"The City of Perpetual Spring"
Kunming is the capital of Yunnan Province. Located in central Yunnan, it is situated. at an altitude between 1,500 meters and 2,800 meters above sea level. In Kunming, it is not hot in summer and not cold in winter, and plants are green all year round, so Kunming is called the "City of Perpetual Spring."
In the boundary of Kunming the scenery is beautiful and there are many historical sites. Kunming is a famous tourist city, and it has been named a national historical and cultural city.

Kunming is a city inhabited by many ethnic groups. All the 26 ethnic groups in Yunnan Province have their members living in Kunming. Camellia is the city flower of Kunming.

The main tourist attractions in Kunming include Western Hill Forest Park, Dianchi Lake, Grand View Tower, Yunnan Ethnic Village, Qiongzhu Temple, the World Horticulture Expo Park, Cuihu Lake, Gold Hall, Yuantong Temple, Stone Forest, Jiuxiang, and Alu Ancient Cave.

Kunming is a communications hub of Yunnan Province, with well developed air, railway and highway networks. It has nearly 60 domestic and international air routes. Transportation is convenient for tourists to Kunming.

Dali-A Famous Historical City
Dali, an ancient city known as a "state of literature," has a long history and splendid culture. Historically it had produced numerous people of talents. The old town of Dali is one .of the national historical and cultural cities. 

The present-day Dali City was built in 1382 during the Ming Dynasty to the west of the old town. The ancient city is laid out like a chessboard, and parts of the city wall are well preserved. On North and South gates were built with gate towers. In the city there are five east-west streets and eight northsouth streets. The roads were paved with pebbles and stone slabs. Residences were built in the style of the Bai ethnic group, featuring gray-tiled gabled roof, a screen wall facing the gate of the house, and a square courtyard. There are also such ancient buildings as stores, workshops, temples and academies, looking simple and elegant.

Lijiang-A Pearl on the Jinsha River
Lijiang Prefecture is located in northwestern Yunnan Province, in the eastern part of the longitudinal valley of the Hengduan Mountains. To its west is the Yunling Mountains, and to its east is the Lesser Liangshan Mountains. Under its jurisdiction are four counties, and the prefectural seat is at Dayan Town in Lijiang County.

Rivers in the prefecture belong to the Jinsha River system. The Jinsha River zigzags in the prefecture, and the first bend of the Yangtze River is located in its northeastern part. Other famous scenic areas include Yulong Snow Mountain, Dayan Ancient City, and Lugu Lake. The Naxi ethnic minorities in Lijiang have a long history and splendid culture. Their tradition, architecture, clothing and living habits are unique. The pictographic scripts and Dongjing Music of Dongba are special.

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Tibet - The Roof of the World! : Tibet has a long history and beautiful landscape. Its brillint and ancient monasteries and unique local customs attract flocks of tourists. You are welcome to Tibet and to have a look of these rare wonders in the world.

Water Towns : Here, visitors can enjoy the beauty of townships and villages some 1,000 years ago-a fantastic world rivers and bridges. The most attractive scenes can be found in Suzhou and its neighboring areas, such as Tongli Town, Zhouzhuang, and Yongzhi, as well as the areas near Hangzhou, such as Jiaxing, and Nanxun.

Silk Road and Silk Road Travel in China : The 2,000-year-old silk road has demonstrated a lasting charm through the centuries. Today it still attracts thousands of tourists from across the world with its rich historic sites, cultural relics, beautiful scenery and colorful folklore.

Shangri-La : More than half a century ago, British writer James Hilton wrote a novel entitled Lost Horizon. In the book he tells a story: Because of an aviation accident, a plane was forced to land in a valley southwest of the Himalayas. For survival, several young men trekked a long distance.

China's Wild West: This travel guide renders a systematic introduction to the basics of three western most regions of China-Gansu Province, The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is our hope that this travel guide will come handy as a truthful companion to your west China tour.

China Introduction

Chinese Culture

Great Wall Of China

China Map

China Tour

China Travel

Tibet China

Silk Road