In 2001, the Chinese government re-named Zhongdian to Shangri-La. Widely interpreted as a move to attract tourists to the area, the re-naming was followed by large-scale construction, creating an “old town” built with traditional materials to look like historical buildings. Under the surface of this manufactured utopia, this project explores the conflicting undercurrents of identity, tradition and belonging in Shangri-La.
Research supported by the India-China Institute at The New School.
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