History of Niru Village in Shangri-La, Diqing

Niru is located in the northeast of Shangri-La County (香格里拉县), Yunnan Province, 75 kilometers from the county seat. It lies at an altitude of 2705 meters above sea level, surrounded by mountains. With an annual average temperature of 20℃ and an average annual rainfall of 5800 millimeters, the rainy season extends from June to October. Niru is encircled by lush greenery and virgin forests that seem to touch the clouds. Due to its relatively low altitude, the area supports a rich growth of vegetation. Birch groves cover the landscape, turning golden brown in the fall. Towering spruce and fir trees, with their dark green canopies, form a dense shelter pointing towards the sky. The forest is home to a variety of exotic animals, including deer, bears, Cangma chickens, monkeys, and lynx.

In James Hilton’s novel “Lost Horizon,” the timeless and serene Shangri-La is depicted as a pristine and untouched paradise. Niru, with its beautiful and untouched landscapes, including the South Po Pastures (南坡牧场), Kyrgyzstan Pastures (吉尔吉斯斯坦牧场), the Swap Court Pastures (斯瓦普法庭牧场), Colorful Waterfall (多彩瀑布), Dingru Lake (丁汝湖), Intense Color Lake (浓色湖), glacier peaks, cave rivers, and geologically diverse features, is often compared to this fictional utopia. Many people have not heard of Niru, but the Tibetans who have long lived here lead a leisurely life of farming and animal husbandry, rising with the sun and setting with the moon. Niru is recognized by the local Tibetan community as a place where people are willing to stay, often referred to as the “place where people are willing to stay” (人们愿意待的地方). For young travelers, adventurers, and hikers, Niru is considered a holy land.

The Three Rivers area (三江并流区域) is like an evolution of the earth’s history textbook. The collision of the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate has created a force that plays out over 150 kilometers, forming the parallel ranges of the Hengduan Mountains, including the Nujiang River (怒江), Lancang River (澜沧江), and Jinsha River (金沙江). This region boasts spectacular mountain glaciers, steep canyon rapids, open alpine meadows, crystal-clear mountain lakes, beautiful Danxia peak clusters, and karst plateaus. Except for deserts and oceans, the “Three Rivers” area has almost all types of natural landscapes found in the Northern Hemisphere.

The “Three Rivers” area is one of the richest geological regions in terms of biodiversity. From the earth’s ophiolite and pillow lava to Paleozoic fossils and Quaternary geological formations, the area records orogenic metamorphism and glacier peaks, cave rivers, karst landscapes, and more. It is a paradise for expeditions, research, and exploration, often referred to as the Earth’s most intuitive thermometer and a refuge for rare and endangered species in China. This area, which accounts for only 0.4% of China’s land area, is home to 20% of the country’s higher plant species and more than 25% of its animal species. This is unique not only in China and the Northern Hemisphere but also in the world.

Upon entering the boundaries of Niru, the blue sky seems to be within arm’s reach of the clouds. You can hardly imagine what kind of scenery awaits you ahead. The frost Euphorbia, dyed red, is a familiar yet stunning Tibetan landscape, a favorite subject for photographers. The yellow or red reflections in the lake are so vivid that you might not be able to tell which side is up and which is down. A waist-high pink daisy might give you a pollen allergy, causing you to sneeze all the way to the sky, adding an element of fun.

In a meadow, yellow and dry grass hastily nests with sporadically blooming blue-purple flowers, which are the alpine gentians. Lying in the grass, with the grass height and the swaying purple-blue flowers creating a vague dream, you can experience a unique sense of peace. As you travel along the winding road from an altitude of 2500 meters to 3800 meters, you will experience alternating warm and cold temperatures. Walking through the clouds in the fir forests, larch, and oak woods, covered with thick lichen and moss, you will often encounter anxious streams and meadows with calm flowing springs from the mountains. Niru Village is a famous ranch in Shangri-La, where vast grasslands and lush plants support flocks of sheep cruising by the alpine lake, carrying mountains and facing the green water. People feel deeply that the plateau is a busy place, full of carefree zest for life. The failing roads and extremely inconvenient transportation have kept Niru unknown to outsiders for many years. The Tibetans who have long lived in Niru lead a leisurely life, rising and setting with the sun. When you are fortunate enough to drink the Tibetan-brewed wine, your life will be filled with nostalgia. The paradise-like Niru is also known as the last Shangri-La.

A country with nearly a thousand square kilometers of virgin forest, anxious stream rapids, and meadows in China, there are some deep in the jungle, in harmony with the virgin forests of the Tibetan village.

Niru, ejected by the giant river, forms caves with Hua Quan fan terraces dissolved from about 180 waterfalls. On the side of the rock surface, springs cascading down from the upper terraces form drops, lines, and horse waterfalls. In the sunshine, rainbows surround the waterfall, creating a very strange and magnificent landscape. Local Tibetans call this waterfall the “Waterfall of God.” In the colorful waterfall, you can see the original ecology of the tundra dropping water flow, which really makes you feel like you are in Wonderland. The gurgling streams, with their glowing white foam, create a sense of impetuosity, and the rest is that you are in nature, enjoying all the pleasures and blessings.