Some 20 years ago , an award-winning Tibetan documentary filmmaker , wanting to share the Tibetan culture and help guests understand how the locals pursue and find their source of happiness , decided to turn his ancestral home in Shangri-La into a hotel . Today , Baima Duoji ’ s Songtsam (“ Paradise ”) luxury boutique hotel brand has 13 properties open in Tibet and more than 30 on the drawing board .
“ Songtsam ’ s mission is to inspire our guests with the diverse ethnic groups and cultures of the region and to understand how the local people pursue and understand happiness , bringing Songtsam guests closer to discovering their own Shangri La ,” Baima says . “ At the same time , Songtsam has a strong commitment to sustainability and the preservation of the essence of Tibetan culture by supporting the economic development of the local communities and the environmental conservation within Tibet and Yunnan .”
Baima was born in Kna Village in Shangri-La , Yunnan province . This is where the Tibetan community gathers on foot to visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery . While working as a camera assistant for British director Phil Agland ’ s documentary , China : Beyond the Clouds , Baima took the opportunity to do further study at Beijing Film Academy .
While attending the Cannes TV festival in France , Baima first became familiar with the concept of boutique hotels and
Baima Duoji with Architect Designer of Songtsam Shanshan Qi