The Kingdom of Shangri la valley is a gargantuan, genial nation, ruled by Sanat Kumara with a fair hand, and notable for its museums and concert halls, keen interest in outer space, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic, cheerful population of 14.696 billion Shangri la valleyians enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The medium-sized, liberal government prioritizes Education, although Industry, Welfare, and Administration are also considered important, while Spirituality and Law & Order are ignored. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Beyul. The average income tax rate is 89.2%.

The frighteningly efficient Shangri la valleyian economy, worth a remarkable 2,629 trillion Shmeckleses a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Arms Manufacturing. Average income is an impressive 178,926 Shmeckleses, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.2 times as much as the poorest.

The wheel has been patented by at least a hundred people, turtles are frequently shot for looking at people 'in a funny way', every new building project has to undergo a five-year environmental impact study before it can go ahead, and the Shangri la valleyian Arts Council pays teenagers to sit through opera performances. Crime is totally unknown. Shangri la valley's national animal is the turtle, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Shangri la valley is ranked 4,703^rd in the world and 1^st in Hippy Haven for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 580.03 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.