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Shangri-La
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Could
British writer James Hilton’s imaginary paradise really exist?
According to people of Zhongdian, Yuannan Province, the answer is YES.
Shangri-La, a land of eternal youth in Hilton’s 1933 novel Lost
Horizon, has fascinated people around the world with its picturesque
natural scenery and harmonious living environment. It is a place
surrounded by snow-capped mountains, forests, gorges, and lakes. It is a
place where many religions co-exist, and people of various ethnic
backgrounds get along in harmony. It is a paradise sought by men of all
colors and beliefs, a paradise that doesn’t really exist, or so have
people believed.
However,
since the mid-1990’s, more and more people have come to believe that
there is indeed a place that resembles Shangri-La. Zhongdian County, a
small township in Yunnan Province, looks so much like Shangri-La that in
the summer of 2002, the Chinese government approved its request for a
name change, from Zhongdian to Shangri-La.
Our
Shangri-La Hiking tour will take you to places that resemble in many
details James Hilton’s exotic Utopia. You will experience snow-capped
mountains, green lakes, flowers and friendly local residents.
Shangri-La’s many attractions include Bita Lake Nature Preserve, Napa
Lake Baishui Terrace, Haba Snow Mountain, and Meli Snow Mountain.
China's First National Park Unveiled
in Shangri-La
Shangri-La, famed as one of China's most
naturally beautiful areas, now has the added honor of holding China's
first national park, the 2,000-square-km Potatso National Park which was
inaugurated on Thursday in Yunnan Province.
The national park takes up 17 percent of
Diqing, an autonomous prefecture of Yunnan principally inhabited by
Tibetans. Its diverse sceneries include crystal-clear lakes, undulating
mountains and gurgling streams, making it a clear choice to become the
country's first national park.
Local government efforts to map the park
began in early 2006 since which time over 200 million yuan (US$26.3
million) have been spent on strengthening the park's preservation and
eco-tourism appeal.
"By establishing the Potatso national park,
China has taken the first step towards blending tourism development with
natural protection," said Song Yinxiu, head of the park's administrative
bureau.
Currently, around 69 km of roads have been
constructed around two of Potatso's major scenic spots, the Shudu and
Bita Lakes. The lakesides have also been protected by the laying down of
10km plank roads along their edges. The focus on environmental
protection stretches all the way to the park's facilities with
solar-powered public toilets and buses using clean energy used to
minimize pollution.
During the park's ten-month trial operation
run, it received 600,000 visitors with half the revenues from ticket
sales being reconverted to environmental protection.
Although this is China's first national
park, over 9,800 exist worldwide with the Yellowstone National Park in
the US being the first one to be established in 1872. (Xinhua News
Agency June 22, 2007)
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