Shangri-la is no more just a distant imaginary haven. The paradise
has been brought to earth, as
Zhongdian
County in western Yunnan Province has renamed itself
"Shangri-la."
At
a news conference in Beijing yesterday, Shao Qiwei, vice-governor
of the province in Southwest China, declared that the State Council
granted Yunnan's request to rename Zhongdian in the Diqing Tibetan
Autonomous Prefecture "Shangri-la" on December 17, 2001.
With its snow-capped mountains, dense forests, turquoise-green
lakes and charming Tibetan atmosphere, the region has long been
considered the perfect match for James Hilton's Shangri-la in his
novel "Lost Horizon," which was first published in 1933.
"The renaming definitely will boost the booming tourism of the
region," said the official.
A
series of cultural activities including an art festival and a
fireworks show will be held in the region between May 5 and 10 to
celebrate the event.
It
will be an important part of the third annual China Kunming
International Tourist Festival, Shao said.
The festival, sponsored by the Yunnan provincial government and the
State Tourism Administration, will be held from April 10 to May 10
in 16 cities and prefectures in the province.
With the theme of folk arts of the province, the festival will
promote dozens of cultural, sports and tourist events to visitors
from home and abroad, including a local food festival, a gala night
of Yi ethnic people in Stone Forests near Kunming (the capital of
Yunnan), a flower festival in Danan, a trade fair of tour products,
and international golf and tennis competitions.
(China
Daily March 19, 2002)