Daocheng-Yading

    　Shangri-la. the very name is an incantation that evokes images of a mythical mountain paradise where peace reigns and life approaches perfection. Drawn from the pages of James Hilton's 1933 classic, Lost Horizon, Shangri-la has become synonymous with exotic escapism, a connotation not lost on the tourist industry.
　 Hilton professed that Shangri-la is not on any map, but that hasn't stopped numerous countries-Nepal, Landmark, Sikhism and Bhutan, among others-from claiming to harbor the verdant Himalayan valley in the shadow of a glacier-clad peak, shaped like a pyramid. the People's Republic of China is the latest to jump on the bandwagon, announcing in 1996 that it had found Shangri-la in the mountainous Deign prefecture of northwestern Yunnan province. Not to be outdone, Sichuan, its equally scenic neighbor to the north, has since claimed the title for its Yading Nature Reserve in the Konkaling Mountains. Its assertion is based on a 1931 National Geographic photo-essay about the area said to have inspired Hilton's tale. ” ..

　Joseph Rock. (1886 - 1962) who wrote the 1931 National Geographic photo-essay about Daocheng-Yading.

　Daocheng, located on the southeast of qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the east of Hengduan Mountains,is a county on the southwest border of Sichuan,China.This county, subordinated to the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,extends,across 27.58'-29.30' north latitudes and 99.56'-100.36' east longitudes, 174km from the south to the north and 63km from the west to east.It covers 7323 square kilometer people .Economically and partial animal husbandry.
　 Daocheng County is special in geographical features,Its north the is higher than its south,the west higher than the east .Winding and majestic mountains like billows of the sea alternate with valleys.Hence,the high-altitude mountain peaks clad with snow all the year round,deep serene valleys with snow all the year round, deep serene valleys with gurgling brooks and broad pastures.the scenes are various and bewitching.
　 In the north of Daocheng County lies the plateau area with brad valleys.Mt.Hai-zhi(Lake),parallel to Daocheng River and with an of glaciating on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, traditionally called"the Old Ice Cap of Daocheng".With its glacial erosion scattered here and there,and 1145 (lakes),can be found in an area of 3200 square kilometres.With the size and number of its haizhi exceptional in China,Mt.Haizhi has become the most important base for the study of the topography of quaternary glaciers. In 1982, fossils of dinosaur teeth and eucalyptus were unearthed in the center and the south of the county respectively. Its rolling hills,crisscrossed valleys,scatter de lake boulders and the forest of rocks of grotesque shapes make MtHaizhi magnificent and charmful.
　 the middle of Daocheng County is of mountain plateau,including the Bowa Mountain and the Chitu River.On both banks of the river are broad pastures and stretches of forest.Mt.Bowa,grand and scenic, is sharply distinct during the four seasons:in spring and summer, azaleas bloom to vie each other for beauty;in autumn,leaves as red as flame cover the trees,while in winter,snow clothes all and gleams white In the south of the county are mountains and valleys. Mt.Echu,parallel to DongyiRiver and with an altitude of 5140m, is as charming and attractive as a per tty fairy sitting upright on the clouds,although it is lofty and majestic. What is most fascinating about Mt.Echu is its autumnal tints:the bright red,lucid yellow and delicate green make the mountain colorful."Both heavy and delight makeup are compatible with it".the Dongyi River,rushing down from MT.Echu like a steed,has two bands rock. the rumbling waves and series of waterfalls wonderfully correspond to the mountain.
　 Adjacent to Mt.Echu is Daocheng Sacred Peaks-the Heavenly Charms in the Snow World which are well-known among the Tibetan people. they consist of three snow capped peaks whose names were,according to a legend,conferred by Dale V.Xiannairi, the north peak with an altitude of 6032m,means Mother Buddha; Yangmaiyong,the south peak with an altitude of 6032m,means Mother Buddha; Yangmaiyong,the south peak with an attitude of 5958m, means Manicurist Buddha; Xiaruoduoji,the east peak with an altitude of 5958m,means the Buddha with warriors'hands.the total coverage of the peaks is about 800 square kilometres.the Daocheng Sacred Peaks covered kilometers,the Daocheng Screed peaks covered with snow all the year round are grand and majestic. On the maintain side are colorful lakes which are gorgeous and changeful; At the foot of the mountain,on the pastures are rare fowls and valuable animals that co-exist harmoniously with the people. the peaks are regarded as sacred peaks by the Tibetan people;and visited by continuous stream of devotees.