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Diqing Overview
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- Updated:
- Nov 17, 2009;
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- China Highlights;
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Shuduhai
Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is situated in the northwest of Yunnan Province, with Tibet to its west and Sichuan to its east. Zhongdian County, the capital of Diqing Autonomous Prefecture, was renamed Shangri-la County in 2001. It is 315 kilometers north of Dali and 659 kilometers away from Kunming. Shangri-la is a Tibetan word meaning land of sacredness and peace. It is located at the southeast edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, from where the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Province originate.
Many snow-capped mountains surround Shangri-la. Of these, the three well known ones are Meili, Balang, and Haba mountains. The Tibetans consider these mountains sacred. Meili Mountain is famous for its highest peak: Kang Karpo, towering over Yunnan at 6740 meters above sea level. Thirteen lesser peaks, each more than 6000 meters above sea level, surround it. Kang Karpo peak is shrouded in mists and clouds most of the time. Meili is one of the eight sacred mountains the Tibetans worship. Beneath Kang Karpo, the Mingyong and Sinong glaciers stretch down to a level of 2700 meters. Because of its changeable climate, Meili Mountain is fraught with danger and remains unconquered until today.
Baimang Snow Mountain, also called Baima Snow Mountain, is a nature reserve in China. It is home to the endangered golden monkey. Haba Snow Mountain is located in the southern part of Shangri-la County. It has the largest variety of animals and plants anywhere in China, and is known as the world’s “gene bank” for plants.
Diqing is a glorious place, with dense forests, alpine lakes, grasslands, and gorges distributed among the meadows and plains. Among the lakes, Bitahai, Napahai, Hehai and Shouduhai are the most beautiful. Jinsha Tiger Leaping Gorge and Lianchajiang Gorge are the most famous. Every spring, fields of flowers blanket this region. There are over 200 kinds of azaleas, about 100 kinds of gentian and a variety of primroses and lilies.
More than 13 minorities such as Zhuang, Lisu, Han, Naxi, Bai, Hui and Yi live here in harmony in spite of their different life styles and customs.
Lamaseries dot the area. The Gadan Songzanlin Monastery is 5 Km from Shangri-la. A 2-year face-lift has been completed and the monastery has reopened to the public recently. It is the largest of 24 lamaseries in Diqing Prefecture. Dongzhulin Monastery was built seven years before Songzanlin. A grand religious ceremony is held here every October. These are both important places of worship and are well worth visiting.
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See Also
- Lijiang overview
- Kunming overview
- Jinghong overview
- Diqing overview
- Dali overview
- Xishuangbanna overview
