Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture

Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is an administrative region in northwestern Yunnan that spans mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 3,160 meters. The area comprises multiple districts and valleys with varied landscape and several communities distributed across the prefecture.

The region was originally known as Zhongdian but was renamed Shangri-La in 2001, inspired by James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon from 1933. This name change marked a significant shift in the area's tourism and cultural identity.

The Gandan Sumtseling Monastery, built in 1679, is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan and displays architectural traits similar to the Potala Palace. Visitors can observe the elaborate religious buildings and the daily practices of monks that shape life across the region.

Visitors can arrive via Diqing Shangri-La Airport, which offers regular flights to larger cities like Kunming and Chengdu. The best time to visit is during the drier months when roads are easier to navigate and weather conditions remain more stable.

The area is partly located within the Three Parallel Rivers Protected Area, where the Yangtze, Mekong, and Salween rivers flow side by side through deep valleys. This geographic feature creates one of China's most unusual natural landscapes.