Zhongdian(Shangri-La)-Daocheng

Not only a Chinese novelist could make a place of China a beckoning attraction for tourists but also a foreign coterie hit the mark with the very aftereffect after English fiction writer James Hilton published his resounding novel Lost Horizon in 1933. Although the novel is more cerebral than of adventures and Hilton is stingy in letting out the secret of Shangri-La, the description of the place radiates magic power griping readers tension and curiosity on the peculiar seclusive cache. The puzzle is, where on earth the place is? Well, it is a controversial matter, particularly amid the answers involving the region in northwestern Yunnan province and bordering Sichuan province and these two argumentations have backup stringencies: lamasery, monks still sticking to motto of moderation, snow mountains, rivulets, forest and pastures. However, Zhongdian, a county in northwestern Yunnan newly adopted the name of Shangri-La as its new county name in December, 2001, a measure edging out its rival Daocheng of Sichuan in battle for the title of Shangri-La origin land. On the other hand, tourists don't care about the dispute. Their routes often cover both provinces in pursuit for the eternal call of sacredness and secret. Owing to lack of accommodating facility and inconvenient transportation, few package tour step in but herds of backpackers find their paradise of hideaway.

James Hilton discovered Shangri-La for us while our planet lost a virgin corner for good. Was it god-inspired?