After lunch, the afternoon itinerary took us to the Napa Lake. This was a vast grazing pasture surrounded by snow-capped mountains around it. In Buddhist beliefs - the Shangrila was supposed to be a region surrounded by eight mountain peaks and this place where the Napa Lake is fitted that requirement. from the sky, the central lake and the 8 snow-capped mountains around it would look like the lotus flower - a common Buddhist symbol. People have been looking around for places that fitted this description to make it into the 'Shangrila'. Our guide told us the first Shangrila discovered was in Hong Kong - he was joking - hw was referring to the island's Shangrila Hotel. Previous sites proclaimed as the 'Shangrila' was in India, in Tibet and in Japan. The Chinese government proclaimed this region the 'Shangrila' in 1986 and it has since then become a famous tourist destination.
The Napa Lake is only filled up with water during winter when the snow melts and the water flows down the mountain to fill up this region. In spring and summer this area dries up and becomes farms and grasslands where the animals graze for food. The many houses built by farmers who live here from spring through autumn will be left behind in winter when the whole area becomes flooded.
the local 'yaks'...
8 snow-capped mountains around this lake....and on each of these mountain tops Budhhist temples were built..
yaks grazing the land..
yaks grazing the land..the snow-capped mountain tops covered by clouds...
sunflower farms..
a wild boar and a goat...
sunflower farms..the farmers houses in the far distance would be abandoned
in winter when this area becomes flooded and turned into a lake...
a wild boar and a goat...
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