Shangri-la is a fictional place described in the famous novel "Lost Horizon" by James Hilton in 1933.
In 2001 the Chinese government renamed the county of Zhongdian as Shangri-la, stating that it was just what the place described in the book by Hilton.
It's a publicity stunt attracts tourists or the truth, I do not know this, the fact is that Zhongdian, that I will call Shangri-la, is really a very impressive place.
Situated at 3300 meters, Shangri-la is a kind of Tibet in miniature.
To get there we took a bus from Lijiang (read my post on Lijiang) and in about 5 hours we arrived at our destination.
Five-time coaches are tantine, and more full of twists and turns, but the landscape that can be enjoyed during the trip is truly spectacular (you pass near the tiger jump Gorge, for instance).
However, arrived at our destination, we immediately enter in the old town and once again we struggle not just to find our accommodation.
Once in the room, however, for my partner comes the altitude sickness, that will KO for 2 full days.
Do be careful if you go to Shangri-la, as well as cover you well for the cold (even in summer), this may cause problems for the altitude ... but still in the city you will find several shops selling some sort of canister d ' oxygen to help those who are not feeling well.
The program Shangri-la, however, is very simple: turn to the old town and the new one.
Since entering Tibet is a bit 'complicated and particularly expensive, we say that Shangri-la is, for those who are content, the right compromise to get a taste of Tibet.
With its colorful flags, Buddhist monks, the buildings of TIMETABLES, Shangri-la is indeed a gem for the eyes, although some things, like the dancing in the square, seem a bit 'too tight (read: find for tourists).
Usually in these places, there is the old town which is beautiful and proof of tourists, and the new town, which is chaotic, dirty, polluted and so on, so forth.
In this case, however, the new city is defended well.
It 'true that there is more than 3000 meters above sea level, but the area is in a flat valley and everything is very impressive.
The views when you climb a bit ', are breathtaking, and the air we breathe has something peaceful and relaxing as being really in a kind of limbo out of touch.
I do not know if I get the idea, cmq here's a video playlist :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLeSLEu2BXY&list=PLCBrso9WwkFZGdimtJbU5i5T-wtHMAYjL
Well, that's all.
Next stop Kunming (read my post on Kunming).
Finally we descend in altitude, so also disappears sickness height (or as it's called) and we are all happier :)
Below are the usual link to photo ... nǐ hǎo!