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Shangri La Old Town 香格里拉古城

Some pictures of the old town of Shangri La

Presentation of the old town of Shangri La

The old town of Zhongdian, located at an altitude of 3,200 m, was recently renamed “Shangri-la” by the Chinese government, after the imaginary location of Shangri-la (which means paradise) described by James Hilton in his book “Lost Horizon”. In Tibetan, Zhongdian is Gyalthang. The influence of the Tibetan minority is very present. The architecture, the temples, the women with fuchsia turbans are very characteristic. The buildings of the new town remain unattractive but they are very colorful.
The old town of Shangri La is also very pretty. It is made up of large, meticulously carved wooden houses and very pleasant little cobbled streets. Many restaurants have taken up residence there as well as shops that will offer you yak leather accessories, fabrics, jewelry and others. Delve into the alleys of the old town to discover very old dwellings and the daily life of the locals. On the central square, you can join men and women of all generations to dance to the rhythm of Tibetan music. This moment of relaxation takes place every evening at 8 p.m., so don’t hesitate to stop by and dance because it’s worth the detour!
At the very south of the old town you can visit a small temple facing the city’s giant prayer wheel. At the top of a hill, the enormous golden monument is operated all day by Buddhists. Also enjoy the view over the rooftops of the old town.
The old town partly caught fire in a fire that took place on January 11, 2014, but is being rebuilt very quickly after major work.

Shangri La Old Town 香格里拉古城 : visits around

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