Yunnan lies in the southwest of China at the far eastern edge of the Himalayan uplift. A mountainous province, but one with a generally mild climate, it is home to many so-called “minority people,” including numerous Tibetans. The Ringha Valley is located 90 minutes by air from the provincial capital of Kunming. The region is extremely picturesque and, in contrast to many other areas of the country, relatively unspoiled. Today, it is identified with Shangri-La, a mythical area derived from James Hilton’s bestselling novel “Lost Horizon.” The book was based on the articles of the Austrian-American scholar Joseph Rock, once known familiarly as “National Geographic’s man in China,” who lived in Yunnan from 1922 to 1949.

The most famous local attraction is Tiger Leaping Gorge, where 6,000-foot cliffs compress the Yangtze River to a width of just 75 feet.