Zhongdian at an elevation of 3400 meters is the head town of Diqing district. In spite of that it is plateau climate, but the altidude reaction of comers are not serious. How come? It is analyzed that dense forest and high quilited ecological environment here may supply people sufficient oxygen. Zhongdian, also named Shizhaicheng, has been the only passage of transforming tea and horses since ancient time. Time and again, it formed the market famous for the business of tea and horses. Today, Zhongdian having been "fully functioned" is an important new town where three provinces, Yunnan, Sichuan and Xizang meet. Beside the town, there is a river across the grassland, it's named Milk River which it is said to be made by the ? Dalai Lama. When he was a boy, he with his mother went to worship Buddha by way of here, a herdsman gave him a bowl of milk, but he spilt it on the ground carelessly, then, the milk was turned to the river. From then on, the river is named Milk River.

Bitahai Lake
A primitive cover of coniferous trees, and highland lakes, alt 3540M, 25km east of Zhongdian county, its Nature Reserve covers about 14.18 sq kms, the lake covers about 159hectares with average 20m deep and deepest as 40M. Azaleas blossoming around May dotted up and down the mountains, with many rare wild flowers and animals walking around, and meantime the fish in the water are always found lethargic sleep on the surface of the lake for swallowing some lightly as it drunk by Azaleas. And about 2hours by trek or horse ride to the Lake form the end of the car road.

Baishui Terrace (White Water Tableland)
Located in the Naxi people village (Baidi village, mean white earth village) of Sanba township at the foot of Haba Snow Mountain, alt 2380M, covers 3,000sq meters, about 90km to Zhongdian county seat. The spring water flows down step by step through the white terraced fields (the wonder formed by calcium carbonate sinte) to the bottom, like a picture of "thousands of clouds tides and snow waves." 08Feb in Chinese Calender, the Naxi people gather to celebrate the 08Feb festival with performance of dances and songs.

Meili Snow Mountain:
Meili Snow Mountain, the highest peaks of Yunnan, lies the north east of Diqing, 184 km. away from Zhongdian. At this place, there are 13 peaks which average elevations are over 6000 meters. Among of them, the Kawagebo peak with 6740 meters high above the sea level is the highest one in Yunnan. "Kawagebo" in Tibaten is the God of Snow Mountain where is the sacred place for Buddhists. During the period of the end of autumn and the beginning of the winter, a great number of devotees would come here to worship without thinking of how long the ways they have to go. It was admiring to see that they crawled to go up the high mountain step by step. However, up till now, nobody could reach the top of the peak, because there are so many glaciers and so wide area of frozen earth. In the 20th century, the peak was climbed five times by climbing teams of Britain, America, Japan and Chine and they made a great efforts, but, at last, no one succeed. From the height of 5500 meters above sea level to the height of 2700 meters above the sea level, it is the zone of modern glaciology of monsoon maritime in low latitude and high elevation. The famous River Lancangjiang Canyon is located at the foot of the mountain, 150 km. long, from the top of the mountain to the surface of the River, there are 4730 meters in difference, and it is most magnificent!

Baimang Snow Mountain
Lies in Deqin county, on the roadside from the Ganden Sumtsanling or Guihua Monastery up to Deqin, between the Jinshajiang River and the Lancangjiang River with snow-capped peaks over 5000m alt. its Nature Reserve covers about 188000 ha. Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey, the 1st class protected animal in China, living in this area, with many rare animals and plants. And no driving from Dec to Apr due to the snow and ice.

Haba Snow Mountain.
Lies at the northern of Gelthang township, between the Hutiaoxia (Tiger leaping gorge) town and Sanba village. 12km from the west to the east, 16km from the north to the south, covers 21947ha. And it highest peak 5396m stands 120km to the southeast of Galthang town.

Shangri-la
"Shangri-la" in Tibetan word mand "Land to sacredness and peace", in "The Lost Horizon" described as Zhongdian area of Diqin TAP in Yunnan. "Shangri-la" just stands for Zhongdian area only for some people's understanding, but normally; it presents this area between Zhongdian in Yunnan, Daocheng, Derong and Xiangcheng in Sichuan; largerly, big "Shangri-la" consists of Dichen in Yunnan, parts of Ganzi TAP in Sichuan and parts of Changdom in Tibet. Officially, as a county is Zhongdian's name now; economic and politically, there is a "Economic & Nature Zone of Big Shangri-la" standing for 3parties such as Diqin TAP in Yunnan, Ganzi TAP in Sichuan, Changdom in Tibet.

Gandansongzanlin Monastery:
It lies in the northwest part of the Zhongdian, 3 km away from downtown. It, with an area of 34 ha. is built in the middle of the 19th century and regarded as the largest Buddhist building in Yunnan. There are over 700 monks in the monastery now. On 29th, November of each year, Tibetan's Gudong Festival is held here. It is the grandest religious festival. At this day, you will see the exacting scene of "Tiao Shen" (dancing with masts) which to show the wishes of people for peace.

Napahai Grassland:
Napahai a seasonal lake lies on the northwestern grassland of 8 km. away from Zhongdian. The tract of grassland with an average elevation of 3266 and an area of 3125 km. are a basin between mountains. Whenever the autumn comes, many kinds of birds will be here. They would fly over and stay around the tents of herdsmen casually. Everything here makes harmonious natural scenery. If you want to visit here, you can take mini-buses in Zhongdian.

Baishui Terrace :
The three - square - kilometre Baishui Terrace lies snugly on a mountain slope 2,380 metres above sea level in Baidi Village, Sanba Township, 101 kilometres southeast of the seat of Zhongdian County. The variegated karst landform of the tableland is an outcome of the continuous piling up of Tosco (calcite sediments), resulting from the disintegration of calcium bicarbonate contained in the water.