Situated on a high plateau, Shangri-La (formerly Zhongdian) is one of the main gateways to Tibet. The region lies amid magnificent scenery of high mountains (almost 6 000m in altitude), crossed by the two great rivers of Asia, the Mekong and the Yangzi. This agricultural region dotted with villages of wooden houses is also home to many different ethnic groups, such as the Lisu, Yi and Naxi, as well as Tibetans. The impressive Songzanglin monastery is one of the highlights of the region.