The Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa opens in the heart of the Himalayas on Thursday, the first luxury property of the hotel group in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.

Its debut marks a sort of homecoming for the hotel group, as the legendary Shangri-La - the mythical paradise on earth set in the Himalayas - was the inspiration for the Hong Kong-based luxury hotel brand.

Designed to provide guests with an authentic window onto Tibetan culture and hospitality, the new 289-room urban retreat in Lhasa is steeped in local elements.