STORIES

IN SEARCH OF SHANGRI-LA - JOURNEY INTO CHINA'S LOST HORIZON

In 1933, James Hilton wrote of an idyllic civilization living in an isolated valley high in the mountains of Central Asia, one that would not be found on any map. Decades later, after exhaustive investigation and considering endless possible alternatives, the Chinese have recently declared Zhongdian in Yunnan Province as the official Shangri-La. Tibetan for 'having the sun and moon in your heart', Shangri-La is widely touted for its visual charm. Testament to the difficulty facing the authorities in making their decision, the Shangri-La of people's dreams appeared time and again as we traveled thousands of miles through the Tibetan-like landscape. But perhaps there is something beyond the obvious. "Those in Shangri-La believe they have everything in life, so you may not find it just by looking," remarked an elderly gentleman in a quiet Zhongdian backstreet, echoing the words of Hilton, "It's your own journey."

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