What makes a mountain sacred? In his search for the mythical Shangri-la, writer/film-maker Laurence J Brahm travels on the ancient Tea Caravan Trail in Yunnan. His journey takes him across Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Lugu, Zhongdian, and Kawegabo. In these cities that have been developed into popular tourist spots, he learns about the waning cultures of the ethnic minorities such as the Bai, the Dai, the Yi, the Naxi and the Mosu. He meets various individuals, including the famous Chinese dancer Yang Liping, who fight hard against the onslaught of modern development to preserve their ethnic cultures and identities. They share with him stories about the misty mountains that stand majestically in this land 'South of the Clouds' and how they are sacred to all the ethnic minority groups that live in the regions. Follow Laurence's journey and find out how only when one engages in a conversation with a mountain will he truly discover why it is sacred.
Conversations with Sacred Mountains : A Journey along Yunnan's Tea