Shangri-la Association of Cultural Preservation (Called as Association), is founded by a group of volunteers who are dedicated to protecting the local ethnic culture assets as their primary mission and trying pass to it on to further generations. The Association is targeting the Tibetan culture: art, music, handy crafts, folk stories and poems etc.  The Association is registered in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (also called as Gyalthang or Shangri-la), and encouraged and recognized by local government.  It is one of a few non-government and non-profit organizations in North West Yunnan.

The founder and initiator of the Association and chief sponsor, is a highly respected local figure in Shangri-la, Dakpa Kelden. He was a monk in his youth, in time becoming a government officer in the local 'Ethnic and Religious Affairs Department'. He was educated in the Minority Academy and attended a Tourism Management course in Austria. Dakpa Kelden is fluent in English, Chinese, Tibetan, Hindi and other local ethnic languages, and is works tirelessly to protect his hometown culture assets. Dakpa has helped many people abroad become sensitive to the plights of local customs, who have in turn aided his dream of preservation on a large scale. Today, under his great effort, the Association has established an initial and workable platform and can expand to include the Thangka Academy.

Born in Dongwan village near Zhongdian, Senior Thangka Master Lobsang Khedup discovered his talent for painting at a young age. Desiring to become a monk and a painter, Khedup began to study under his first master, Jampa Yinian, at the tender age of seven. When Khedup was fourteen, his master ascended to the mountains to engage in deep meditation. Khedup then traveled to Southern India to a Buddhist Monastery for further study. Studying under the master Sangye Yeshi, he practiced Thangka and oil painting, Chinese-style painting, and Indian Kangra painting, in addition to Buddhism.

In 2006 Khedup decided to return to his hometown and pass on his knowledge. Many business people approached Khedup to exploit his talents for commercial purpose. Wary of such deals, master Khedup avoided businesses and allied himself with Dakpa Kelden, founder of the Association for Cultural Heritage Preservation. Their goal is to help the community and preserve the Tibetan culture of the Shangri-La/ Gyalthang region. Master Khedup now lives and works at the Thangka Academy.

Master Khedup is an assisted at the Thangka Academy by Teacher Palden Nyamgal He has studied Thangka painting for 5 years in Qinghai Rebkong (Mensar two years and Karma Gadri 3 years).

Over the past 10 years Richard has traveled across many parts of eastern and central Tibet.

He was the creator and owner of Tashi's Mountain Lodge in Deqing and has opened up numerous new trekking lines for travelers to the area. He regularly leads commercial treks to Tibet and Yunnan.

Richard has completed the Kawa Karpo Kora several times and is the author of the Kawa Karpo Kora Guide.

As a practicing Buddhist he created the concept of the Thangka Academy and is the Program Director.

Splitting his life between Hong Kong and Tibet, Richard is the owner and creator of Hong Kong's only, privately owned Mountain Adventure First Aid Team and has worked on many of the top adventure races in the region. He is a First Aid instructor and owns a defibrillator distribution and training company in Hong Kong.

He is an accomplished adventure athlete and has competed at the highest level, regularly taking part in adventure races, 50k and 100k events.

Richard is known for his compassion and honesty and quick problem solving. He has a special skill at getting along with Tibetans and puts this down to a secret blend of "stubborn submissiveness."

Thangka Academy Administrator

Sonam Gelek was born in a little village in Chatreng county and from a very young age was greatly influenced by the staunchly Buddhist culture and the simple values of a small Khampa village. His parents always taught him the virtues of doing the "right" thing – he grew up to become a model child in his little village.

Upon finishing primary school, Sonam was sent to attend boarding school where he excelled in his studies learning English and then attending university where he studied commerce. Those formative years at boarding school further defined a young gentleman steeped in religion and prayers and a sincerity and softness rare among rough and tough Khampas. His introspective nature, intense interest in Buddhism combined with his desire to serve has made him an engaging work in Thangka Academy.