Dukezong Ancient Town, a 1300-year-old Tibetan town located in Shangri-La, which has experienced both the flames of war and prosperity of frontier trade. Its authentic Tibetan dwellings, majestic prayer halls and pagodas, winding lanes offer sanctuary to all those seeking refuge from the bustle city. As one of the oldest towns in the region, it is also known as the 'footstep of Shangri-La'.
It's so sad that this exotic ancient town got devoured by a huge fire on Jan. 11, 2014. A number of cultural relics, precious Thang-gas and Buddhist artworks were burned in the fire, plus some Tibetan-style buildings and precious historical sites.The whole rebuilding project, which is worth 1.2 billion yuan (196 million US dollars), is expected to be finished within two years. The old town is restored to its original appearance by the end of 2016.
