China Uses Shangri-La Tourism to Dilute Tibetan Culture

The Government of China is utilizing the tourist boomtown of Shangri-La in Yunnan province to promote a commodified version of Tibetan culture that removes religious elements and the influence of the Dalai Lama. By rebranding the city and encouraging Han Chinese tourists to engage in superficial experiences, such as wearing faux costumes and visiting nonreligious Buddhist stupas, Beijing seeks to extinguish separatist sentiments and integrate ethnic Tibetans into a Mandarin-speaking mainstream.

While the tourism industry has generated economic growth for local Tibetans, it has coincided with the erosion of traditional identity. Government regulations now bar individuals under 18 from participating in religious activities and restrict Buddhist studies abroad. These policies have led to a decline in young devotees and a loss of Tibetan language proficiency among the youth.

In response to these shifts, local entrepreneurs like Dakpa Kelden, founder of Arro Khampa luxury boutique hotels, have attempted to counter sanitized views of Tibet by offering traditional Buddhist singing and thangka painting classes. Meanwhile, the 14th Dalai Lama continues to warn that Chinese policies are designed to overwhelm the distinct identity of Tibet.