Shangri-La - The Place Closest to Heaven

"Shangri-La" typically refers to Shangri-La City. Here's an introduction: Basic Overview - Location: Situated in northwestern Yunnan Province at the junction of Yunnan, Sichuan, and Tibet, in the heart of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It's a key point along the ancient Tea Horse Road. - Population and Ethnicity: Total population of 186,400, home to 25 ethnic groups, including 9 indigenous groups such as Tibetan, Naxi, and Han. - Name Origin: Formerly known as "Zhongdian" and called "Gyalthang" in Tibetan. "Shangri-La" comes from the Diqing Tibetan language, meaning "sun and moon in one's heart." Natural Environment - Topography: The terrain is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. The highest point is Balagezong at 5,545m, and the lowest point is Luojiji Valley at 1,503m. The landforms can be categorized into mountains, plateaus, basins, and river valleys. - Climate: Features a typical "vertical agricultural climate" with distinct vertical climate zones, including subtropical river valleys, warm temperate mountain zones, and temperate mountain zones across 6 climate zones, with distinct wet and dry seasons. - Natural Resources: Rich in hydropower potential, with 30 types of metallic and non-metallic minerals across 200+ deposits, including gold, silver, and copper. The region also boasts abundant biological resources, with 31 families and 196 species of algae, and 173 families, 877 genera, and 3,278 species of seed plants. Tourist Attractions - Pudacuo National Park: Features colorful dense forests, including attractions like Shudu Lake and Bita Lake, making it a paradise for photographers. - Dukezong Ancient Town: A Tibetan town along the Tea Horse Road with over 1,300 years of history. The town's layout resembles an eight-petal lotus and houses the world's largest prayer wheel. - Ga