Zhongdian || Gyalthang or Shangrila
Zhongdian (Tibetan Gyalthang or Gyeltangteng) at (3450m), is located 184km southeast of Dechen and 193km north east of Lijiang. The city lies at the heart of vast Gyeltang plain. It functions as the capital of entire Dechen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the area which being marketed for tourism as Sangrila after 2001. This region prospered over the centuries, since it commanded trade routes between East Tibet and Burma, Yunan and North east India, with a long history as a frontier town between Chinese and Tibetan spheres. Today it has sizable populations of Tibetans, mixed with Han, Bai and Hui, to name a few. The new town is in a continual process of remaking itself, but then, so is the old town. A slow-paced town set amid some very pretty pastoral environs. In the evening, at the heart of old town's tourist shopping, restaurants and guest houses is a square where the Tibetans gather for group dance and singing. Tibetan here dresses much differently from those in other parts of Kham or central Tibet. Gyeltang airport (DIG) is named Diqing Shangrila.
Places /Attractions Near Zhongdian
Songzanlin Monastery
Zhongdian (Tibetan Gyalthang or Gyeltangteng) at (3450m), is located 184km southeast of Dechen and 193km north east of Lijiang. The city lies at the h...
Napa Lake
Zhongdian (Tibetan Gyalthang or Gyeltangteng) at (3450m), is located 184km southeast of Dechen and 193km north east of Lijiang. The city lies at the h...