Mysterious Shangri-La

Author: Zhang Feng et al. Photography
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-04-01
Features: "How should I step into your realm? How should I unveil your veil? How should I connect with you with my heart?!" This book takes readers, gently and gently, into the world of Shangri-La through the lenses of photography masters: seeing the bright sunlight, the wild azaleas and gentians covering the mountains, the oak and bald cypress stretching mountain after mountain, the clear and beautiful lakes, and the splendid temples. Shangri-La is magical, a "most extraordinary place in the world." Shangri-La, a beautiful and melodious name; a magical and enchanting place. Since the publication of James Hilton's novel "Lost Horizon," you have inspired countless people's pursuit and longing, leaving behind only admiration and regret. Half a century has passed. Your fairyland-like, dreamlike beauty and purity have never been forgotten. After countless miles of search and countless calls, one day, on the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the highest plateau in the world, people finally found you! You are Diqing in China—the "City of the Heart's Sun and Moon"! How should I step into your realm? How should I unveil your veil? How should I gaze upon your world? How should I connect with you with my heart?! You are so proud, the "place where the sun rises earliest." Nearly a hundred snow-capped peaks, stretching for thousands of miles, stand majestic and clustered around you. The "Thirteen Peaks of the Prince," each over 6,000 meters high, are more perilous and mysterious than the last. The Kagebo Peak, the first of the Eight Sacred Mountains, known as the "God of Snow," stands tall and stretches across the sky. For nearly a century, people have made countless attempts to bow to the world's highest peak—Mount Everest at 8,848 meters—but to this day, no one has reached the summit of this 6,740-meter peak. You are so delicate, the "place where the sun and moon shine together." Interweaving rivers have magically divided the vast grasslands into eight pieces, resembling the auspicious eight-petaled lotus. The scattered cattle and sheep, the blooming flowers, the distant white clouds and snow, the nearby forests and villages, the crystal-clear lakes, and the crisp mountain songs all blend together, forming a living natural painting. You are so magical, the "most extraordinary place in the world." A hundred million years ago, the Eurasian Plate and the Indian Plate collided, and amidst the earth-shaking upheaval, you rose from the Tethys Sea like a legend, transforming a roaring ocean into rolling mountains. Your remote and high location has shaped your unique geographical and natural environment, creating your distinct traditions and culture. The rugged and simple pastoral life, the sincere and extraordinary interpersonal relationships, the devout and religious beliefs, the bold and kind national character—all of this reveals your spirit and value, tempting people to explore your simple yet magical life philosophy. When I gently and gently step into your world through the lenses of photography masters, seeing the bright sunlight, the wild azaleas and gentians covering the mountains, the oak and bald cypress stretching mountain after mountain, the clear and beautiful lakes, and the splendid temples, my heart trembles! When I see the sacred and solemn "Great Praying Festival," the Dongba (pictographic) script written by the Naxi people, the "Laba" dance performed by the Tibetan people, and the radiant and innocent smiles of the Yi girls, my entire soul becomes immersed in the ancient yet profound, solemn yet simple traditions and culture. Oh, Shangri-La! How I long to immediately embrace you, warm my long-weary and cold heart, wash away the tainted from my body, merge with the creation of nature, and step into the realm of unity between heaven and man.