Have the Chinese uncovered the real Shangri-La

Hidden valleys and Himalayan peaks

The Chinese government would have us believe so. They've announced they are to spend 6 billion developing a remote mountainous area in the south-west of the country as a Shangri-La tourist attraction.

Only trouble is, Shangri-La can't have existed - it was the figment of an English author's imagination.

You mean 'heaven on earth' isn't real

Sadly, no. It all starts with the 1933 novel Lost Horizon, by English author James Hilton, which is set in the beautiful, hidden kingdom of Shangri-La. He described a hidden valley high in the Himalayas where people didn't age, the land was lush, the atmosphere spiritual, and the leaders of the country had set about gathering the great literature and music of the world. Into this world come four Westerners who are ultimately charmed by this other Eden.

However, James Hilton wrote all this at his home in Woodford, east London. The nearest he got to the Orient would have been a trip down the road to Leyton to see his local football team! And precious few people would call Woodford anything like heaven on earth - not even the local estate agents - though it is handily situated for both the M11 and for the shopping in nearby Ilford. It's other claim to fame was as Winston Churchill's parliamentary constituency.

Hilton's story must have been based on something

An American lawyer, Ted Vaill, believes he's established a link between Hilton and magazine articles about an Austrian-American explorer called Joseph Rock. Specifically, the once independent valley-kingdom of Muli in Sichuan province has many similarities with the Shangri-La of Hilton's novel. Nice conjecture, but that doesn't alter the fact that the book was made up! And ironically, Muli is not even in the area that China has decided to smarten up and re-brand for the expected influx of Western tourists. So the place that may best be described as Shangri-La will remain relatively untouched: surely a good thing.

Why did Lost Horizon click with the public

Hilton's optimism for a better world was infectious in the troubled 1930's. Shangri-La was peaceful where the real world was full of talk of war. It was positive where the real world was negative. And it was a rattling good yarn.

What else did James Hilton write

His other classic novel was set closer to home in an English public school: Goodbye Mr Chips. It's probably more widely read today than Lost Horizon, and was also turned into a cracking film.

Ah yes, the film of Lost Horizon. Any good

Made in 1937 and regarded as a classic, directed by Frank (It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) Capra. Stars Ronald Colman, Jane Wyatt and Sam Jaffe as the High Lama gave pre-War viewers the perfect excuse to dream themselves away from the harshness of their own lives.

Other claimants to being 'the real Shangri-La'

What's on the other side of the pass

Half-hidden mountain kingdoms are ten-a-penny in this remote region. Nepal and Tibet are the best-known. Bhutan, Sikkim and Ladakh will be familiar to the odd backpacker off in search of karmic nirvana. But what about Kinnaur, Spiti or Lahaul Muli, Ninglang or Liangshan All might have a valid claim to be Shangri-La - if it wasn't a fictional place to start with!

Other Shangri-Las

You can find most things you want if you just search for 'Shangri-la' on the Internet - scores of hotels, motels and hideaways around the world, a decent Memphis-based music store, a "Family-Friendly Nudist Resort" and one of the greatest of all 1960's New York girl-groups (don't knock it, they had some strong competition!)

What's all this about China developing a tourism industry

The China National Tourism Administration puts it clearly enough: "China's tourism industry has worked out a long-term plan for development prospects for following 20 years. Based on the historical leaping over from a country with only rich tourist resources to an important tourist country in Asia over the past 20 years, China will continue to develop itself from an important tourist country in Asia to the one in the world after another 20 years of efforts." On the other hand, human rights activists may target this nascent industry.