Mt Khawa Karpo, known by Chinese as Meili Snow Mountain, is among the most sacred mountains in the Tibetan world. It is here in the steep valleys that novelist James Hilton set his Lost Horizon, describing the utopian wonderland of Shangri-La where time stands still. Tibetans have long worshiped this holy mountain, regarded as one of the highest spiritual gods in this mountainous region of China.

Yet as the earth warms, glacier retreat and ice loss here over the last decade have reached alarming levels and the melting is only accelerating. As a result, locals worry that the soul of this holy land - their Shangri-La – is slipping away. With it, a supernatural source of blessing for their people and communities is feared to be disappearing.

Recommended reading from China Dialogue:

“Understanding glacier changes”, Kenneth Hewitt

“Policies for an eco-plateau”, Beth Walker

“Restoring the grasslands”, Emily Yeh

“Facing America’s demons”, Judith Shapiro

“The iceman of Ladakh”, Athar Parvaiz

“There’s no doubt it’s getting warmer”, Joydeep Gupta

This production owes thanks to the following individuals and organizations:
Joseph Rock, archive photos via National Geographic Society
Frank Kingdon Ward, archive photo via Royal Geographical Society
Bob Moseley et al, recent photos via The Nature Conservancy
Susan Meiselas, Zhong Yu (Greenpeace China) and Zhang Mei (WildChina Travel) for additional photography
Google Earth
Khawa Karpo Cultural Association
Big Tashi
John Delury
Wendy Glassmire
Kuang Yin
Kunga Lama
Elizabeth Moy
Taden Nyima
Tashi Nyima
Emily Parker
Sonam Dorje
Leah Thompson
Joy Wheeler
Emily Yeh
Zou Rong (“Wandou”)

A Michael Zhao production, assistant producers: Laura Chang, Andrew Smeall, executive producer: Orville Schell.

外界所幻想的圣地香格里拉出自云南西北邻近西藏的梅里雪山／卡瓦格博，这里神山庇佑万物，有着田园般的祥和，而日益加剧的冰雪消融不仅会令神山退色，也将意味着香格里拉灵魂被慢慢抽走。

8 Responses to “Fading Shangri-La 失色中的香格里拉”

1. Feature: Fading Shangri-La – the melting snowcaps of Mt Khawa Karpo | Travel Wire Asia Says:
   May 3rd, 2012 at 7:26 pm

   [...] CLICK TO SEE THE VIDEO [...]

2. Costa Rica News Says:
   May 12th, 2011 at 3:55 am

   The photos are amazing. Very impressive. I really enjoy the quality of this site and its content.

3. Canister vacuum cleaner Says:
   August 10th, 2010 at 5:26 pm

   This truly is an inspiring post! I actually just submitted your articles on http://digg.com!

4. Fatima Odekirk Says:
   June 19th, 2010 at 6:09 am

   Very nice post. What a shame I did not find it earlier.

5. Bernardo Higinbotham Says:
   June 11th, 2010 at 8:14 pm

   Hi what are the reuse rights for the first photo at the top of the page as I want to reuse it on my own blog if that is alright?

6. Feature: Fading Shangri-La - the melting snowcaps of Mt Khawa Karpo | Asian Correspondent Says:
   May 3rd, 2010 at 8:04 pm

   [...] Yet as the earth warms, glacier retreat and ice loss here over the last decade have reached alarming levels and the melting is only accelerating. As a result, locals worry that the soul of this holy land - their Shangri-La – is slipping away. With it, a supernatural source of blessing for their people and communities is feared to be disappearing.CLICK TO SEE THE VIDEO [...]

7. norbu Says:
   April 30th, 2010 at 12:14 am

   sir/ madam
   i am very mush interested by your movie on Tibetan glacier, and climate change has did so far,,,,
   so how can i get you clips if it is possible ,,,

   thanking you
   norbu

8. Fading Shangri-la » The Peking Duck Says:
   April 29th, 2010 at 6:06 pm

   [...] warming in action – a moving video illustrates how the rapidly disappearing glaciers of Tibet are melting the culture away with the [...]

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