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Shangri La does not really exist.
It's an imaginary place described in a novel written by James Hilton.This does not automatically makes Zhongdian, today told to be the real Shangri La, a tourist trap, I myself came here in a certain way, with the aim of following the myth.
Problems come if you want to build a real Shangri La for tourists destroying the original Zhongdian and this has been my first impression when we entered the town in the night.
The dark of the nearby landscapes substituted by the coloured lights of this modern temple with a sort of huge cylinder tower moving around itself.
Unique Suggestions: Walk around the small streets of the old town, taste some local food, take a bike and go out of the centre.
Fun Alternatives: Just come before it's too late.
Written Oct 6, 2007
at 168RMB per person, we took a banana-boat/inflatable raft ride.
it was not worth it, plus we got sun burned. not much to see, and experience so-so. would never do it again.
Written Apr 16, 2009
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Tibetian Casino ! Wow..lolThis is a Tibetian Buddhist Temple, Lamas of course. You can join them. Money has not much of power in this village, they are extremely religious.
Written Sep 6, 2002
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Reviews and photos of Zhongdian attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Zhongdian sightseeing.
Tibetian Casino ! Wow..lolThis is a Tibetian Buddhist Temple, Lamas of course. You can join them. Money has not much of power in this village, they are...
1 member lives in Zhongdian
Q: seems to be a must place to see and go. so how do we get here? from zhongdian or deqing?
A: Definitely from Zhongdian. I think there're 2 or 3 buses daily. If you come from Deqin you'll still need to change buses at Zhongdian.
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ZhongDian - Blend in with the Nature!
The name "Shangri-La" became popular after World War II and was used to christen many songs, hotels and restaurants because it represents a "heaven away from the turmoil of the mundane world.”...
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Two years ago I read in a newspaper about Yunnan, the writer described it as one of the last original area of China and warned the reader to go as soon as possible because the progress was already...
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Yunnan Travel 2004 - ZhongDian
ZhongDian is the captital area of DiQing, which was named Shangri-La by the Yunnan Government in 1997. I guess all you might have already known, "Shangri-La" first appeared in James Hilton's novel...
4
The Holy Birds of Peace in Shangri-La
I've got some interesting experiences in Zhongdian. I'd love to share with you the 9 tips I've written, the 11 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created.
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Zhong Dian changed the name to Shangri-la in 1997, I believe it must be the Shangri-la in James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizons. I love the life in here not only for the marvelous spot , but the most...
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