Benzilan, two hours by car from Shangri-la, is a pleasant town standing on a narrow strip of land on the right bank of the Upper Yangzi River, tucked between the water and the sharply rising hills. As the altitude falls by for more than 1, 000 meters, so the temperature rises, and travelers now arrive at another Shangri-la rich in blooming flowers and flourishing trees. The countryside around Benzilan is dotted with farms, wooden houses and small temples. The town was one of the most important stops of the Ancient Tea and Horse Trail, the trade route that linked Southwest China to India. The area is nowadays famous for its handicrafts, especially lacquer bowls and boxes, and black pottery popular among locals as well as traders.