Xinhua reports that a massive fire swept through Dukezong Ancient Town last night in the northwest Yunnan county of Shangri-la, a tourist resort ever since marketers changed its name from Zhongdian in 2001. Preliminary reports say the began at 1:30 am from a local shop, then spread due to windy conditions and the prevalence of wooden structures in Old Town. The exact cause is under investigation.
As of now, there have been no reported casualties. Buildings — living relics — appear to be the biggest loss.
Dukezong, meaning “the town of moon” in Tibetan and built 1,300 years ago, was an important town on the South Silk Road, also known as the Ancient Road of Tea and Horse. It is now one of the most renowned resorts in Shangri-la, known for its well-preserved ancient Tibetan dwellings.
This is the second massive fire to hit a Tibetan town this week. On Thursday, 100 houses were destroyed at the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Ganzi, Sichuan province. “The fire was so intense that the whole complex of Larun Gar was lit up in the night,” a source told Radio Free Asia. Two nuns were injured but there were no reported casualties.
