About the
Lost Horizon book
and the debate
it created
 

 

The heated discussion

British author James Hilton coined the name "Shangri-La" in his 1933 best-selling novel "Lost Horizon". He used it to describe a fictional utopian lamasery that was secluded in a high valley in or near the Himalayan Mountains.

Ever since, people have ardently debated where Shangri-La might be.

The story in brief

In the early 1930s, a plane carrying four Westerners crash lands in the remote snowy mountains of Central Asia. Some Shangri-La denizens find and take them to their secret valley.

The Westerners are told philosophical concepts such as "Do everything in moderation". Tension builds among the foreigners on whether they should stay in this utopia or go back to what they know as civilization. Eventually, the hero Hugh "Glory" Conway leaves.

The first book of its kind

The novel Lost Horizon was initially a hardcover edition. Years later, it became the world's first paperback book.

Learn my other
Lijiang/Shangri La
tips and insights

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Shangri-La
Top 5  attractions - Ranked
Tips - When to go
Tips - Getting to Shangri-La
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Photo gallery

More topics
Pronouncing Yunnan names
Yunnan highlights map
Lost Horizon - The book
Lost Horizon - The film
Lost Horizon - Location debate

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