The legend of Shangri-La began in 1933, when British writer James Hilton told a story full of romance in his masterpiece, "Lost Horizon". The story was set on the Tibetan Plateau in an idyllic and tranquil place called Shangri-La. Since its publication, the word "Shangri-La" has become synonymous with purity, grace, enchantment and elegance.
In 2009, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts paid tribute to its namesake by organizing the first My Shangri-La Photography Competition. The aim of the competition was to encourage amateur and professional photographers to discover and capture a personal Shangri-La, a paradise of serenity, mysticism and nature.
Held every two years, each My Shangri-La Photography Competition features a different theme, and sees thousands of remarkable entries.
The 2009 theme, which required professional and amateur photographers to capture the essence of "Shangri-La" through the qualities of grace, enchantment, serenity and nature, drew almost 4,000 entries.
The 30 winning photographs featured in this digitized album are the result of a highly professional and critical selection process by a renowned panel of judges.