Shangri-Laisafictionalplacedescribedinthe1933novelLostHorizonbyBritishauthorJamesHilton.Inthebook,"Shangri-La"isamystical,harmoniousvalley,gentlyguidedfromalamasery,enclosedinthewesternendoftheKunlunMountains.Shangri-LahasbecomesynonymouswithanyearthlyparadisebutparticularlyamythicalHimalayanutopia—apermanentlyhappyland,isolatedfromtheoutsideworld.InthenovelLostHorizon,thepeoplewholiveatShangri-Laarealmostimmortal,livingyearsbeyondthenormallifespan.ThewordalsoevokestheimageryofexoticismoftheOrient.ThestoryofShangri-LaisbasedontheconceptofShambhala,amysticalcityintheTibetanBuddhisttradition.