A dancer from Yunnan performs traditional dancing at The Night of Shangri-La show on Nov 29, 2015. [Photo/Ma Chi]

More than eighty years ago, British author James Hilton wrote the novel Lost Horizon in which he described a coveted, pure land of idyllic peace and beauty - Shangri-La.

Yesterday, people from the area that inspired Hilton's Lost Horizon of Shangri-La came to London to continue the story that began over half a century ago.

On the afternoon of November 29, "Amazing Yunnan ·Shangri-La", a series of cultural events, were unveiled at London. The events will run until Dec 5 in the UK and Ireland.

With the members from different ethnic groups, the Yunnan delegation is showing traditional music, dance, scenery landscapes as well as Tibetan medicine to British and Irish audiences.

In a speech at the opening ceremony of the events, Wu Jingbo, the head of the Yunnan delegation, said that Yunnan province is a jewel in the southwest corner of China with its unique climate and landscape, rich history and splendid culture, as well as colorful ethnic customs.

Diqing Tibetan autonomous prefecture is the only one in Yunnan that is dominantly populated by Tibetans and inhabited by multiple ethnic groups, and Shangri-La is the location of the seat of Diqing Tibetan autonomous prefecture.

After more than half a century of searching, it was announced that the fictional place of "Shangri-La" was located in Diqing prefecture, which sits at the junction of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet.

Shangri-La city was formerly known as Zhongdian. In 2001, the local government renamed it Shangri-La.

On Sunday night, a show featuring traditional dances and songs was performed at the Shangri-La Hotel.

To contact the reporter: machi@chinadaily.com.cn