Written exactly 70 years after Hilton’s novel, Brahm, a Beijing based lawyer and foreign investment consultant (sounds familiar), is getting fed up with the material, electronic, concrete and glass world that inhabits much of China and international business today, and decides to give it all up and seek the answer to the question “What and where is Shangri-La ?” Accordingly, he quite sensibly decides to start in Lhasa, whereupon he ditches his phone in a rubbish bin and begins to travel, with the help of copious quantities of Yak Butter Tea, and (when he can find it) a decent cup of Latte.

On the way he meets various Chinese luminaries such as the Royal Ballet dancer Yang Lipeng, Rock Star Kaiser Kuo, the artists Luo Xu, Ye Yongqing, fashion designer Flora Cheong-leen, and many local nomads, monks and assorted passers-by. Of them all he asks the same question. The results are remarkably consistent on where and how to find the mythical land, and a picture of a developing alternative intellectual lifestyle that is actively flourishing – especially in China’s Western regions – begins to emerge.

From the Soros funded Yak cheese factory in the middle of nowhere (blessed are the cheese makers) that is now supporting schooling for nomadic children without interfering in their way of life, to an apparent desire for more meaning in life than the mere accumulation of wealth, Brahm deals with the subject in a sensitive, charming, and fascinating way. The project continues with a film, music and various other activities being planned for release shortly, but for the time being, if you’re getting a little jaded by the rat race of life, pick up this little gem of a book and immerse yourself in a different way of looking at things.