Shangri-la/Zhongdian (“middle district”, whose official name is now Shangri-la), or Gyalthang in Tibetan, is the capital of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and the gateway to the ancient Tibetan kingdom. Located in a wide valley surrounded by soaring snow-capped peaks, primeval forests, and pristine lakes, the region is characterized by traditional villages with white walled and richly-decorated buildings. The town itself, located at an altitude of 10,500 feet above sea level, was formerly an important staging stop for trading caravans, and retains the rich cultural heritage of the Kham, the local people of Tibetan origin. Zhongdian is now officially known as “Shangri-la” after the mythical paradise of natural beauty in James Hilton’s book Lost Horizon, and has retained its identity as a spiritual center despite the rapid tourism development in the region.

Tibetan women do much of the farm work, and throughout the day, they can be seen working in the fields, their bright fuchsia-colored head scarfs popping out from the dark green backdrop. Every family raises its own livestock, including pigs, chickens, sheep, horses, and yaks, an animal that plays an extremely important role in Tibetan culture. Exploring the hills around the hotel, youʼll see farmers, bent over with huge loads of wood and twigs gathered in the mountains, walking single file down the paths. When they get to the village, they will lay their pickings in the pig pens as a cushion or to make humus for the fields. They milk the yaks in the afternoon to make yogurt and cheese, and then they smoke the milk residue over wood-fueled stoves in a conical basket called naiza.