Famous landscapes and monuments across China have been featured in several recent feature films. This is the fifth installment in a series about these star attractions.

Chen Kaige's The Promise may not be a brilliant movie for cinephiles, but its film location is definitely a beautiful destination for tourists.

About 30 percent of the movie was filmed around Bigu Lake in the Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Diqing, known for its breathtaking scenery, and called "Shangri-la" in James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon. Located 4,000 m above sea level, the Bigu Lake will dazzle you immediately with its pristine beauty. The azaleas around the lake bloom in late May and June. A marsh south of the lake is a sanctuary for wild birds and waterfowl.

The crew of The Promise caused a scandal by fouling the unspoiled scenery in 2004 with construction debris and trash. The cleanup work was effective, but as a result, the government issued a regulation in 2007 that bans filmmaking and artistic performances in most nature reserves, scenic spots and at sites of historical interest across China.

Directions: Bus, train and plane are all available from Kunming, capital of Yunnan province.