Zhongdian is regarded, at least commercially by the Chinese, as being "Shangri-La". Known however locally as Gyeltang, the town itself is a rather uninspiring collection of white tiled buildings (there are two hotels on the main drag through of similar description, and a main 4 star "Zhongdian Hotel" that caters for travelers, otherwise there are some guest houses with English signs up welcoming travelers on the road out towards the monastery. Further out, in the opposite direction, a collection of rough hewn Tibetan farmhouses stand, and the families there will also on occasion take in guests, albeit unofficially. You'll be living with the Yaks and Horses, but who cares?
