Decade Success: Tibet's rural residents enjoy improved livelihood

Located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the "roof of the world," southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has experienced a decade of extraordinary transformations with the support of the central government and the entire country.

After years of efforts, rural residents in Tibet have achieved fruitful results and seen improved livelihood, with their per capita disposable income maintaining double-digit growth for 19 consecutive years.

Photo taken on June 3, 2022 shows a view of the Yamzbog Yumco Lake, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

In 2021, the per capita disposable income of rural residents in Tibet reached 16,935 yuan (about 2,385 U.S. dollars), 2.97 times the income recorded in 2012, said Du Jie, director of the regional department of agriculture and rural affairs. The income growth has been the highest nationwide for seven consecutive years.

"The living environment and quality of life of farmers and herders have significantly improved over the past 10 years," Du said.

NEW ROADS

With heavy spending on the construction of railway and road facilities, Tibet has fostered rapid development and constant improvements to the lives of the locals.

Since 2012, more than 337 billion yuan has been spent as fixed-asset investment in Tibet's transport sector, according to the region's transport department.

Over the past decade, three railway lines have formed a "Y" shape on the plateau region, with the latest Lhasa-Nyingchi line, the region's first electrified railway line, kicking off operation on June 25, 2021. The Lhasa railway station, where the three lines meet, has seen passenger flow up from 2.24 million in 2007 to more than 4 million in 2021.

  A Fuxing bullet train runs on the Lhasa-Nyingchi railway in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Chogo)

In Cosibsumgyi Township, Ngari Prefecture, residents of Baka Village have enjoyed development dividends in local infrastructure.

"In the 1990s, local residents started to plant willow trees along the river valley. Considering the weather in Ngari Prefecture, plantations are usually carried out in April and May, when Cosibsumgyi is often snowbound," said Oizhu Doje, who hails from Baka Village.

Oizhu Doje recounted a time when the mountain was completely blocked for a month due to heavy snowfall, preventing the transportation of nursery stock to the outside.

At the end of 2020, an asphalt road was operational in the township. "The road, coupled with a series of favorable policies, has guaranteed smooth shipment for nursery stock," Oizhu Doje said.

The total length of roads in Tibet has increased by some 55,000 km to 120,000 km over the past 10 years, including more than 90,000 km of rural roads, according to official figures.

IMPROVED WELL-BEING

Improved transportation network has rendered a further boost to tourism in the region. Rural Tibet attracted more than 12.7 million tourists last year, generating about 1.6 billion yuan in tourism revenue and creating 64,500 jobs for farmers and herders.

  Local residents pose for a photo in front of their new house in Gurum Township of Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

In Tashi Chodan, a community in the Nedong District of Shannan, known for its Tibetan opera, some 30 artists perform regularly for tourist groups.

Dawa Drolma, 52, one of the performers, said they have shows every night during the peak season.

Dawa Drolma and her family have also refurbished their house into a homestay with six beds. "During the busiest time, all rooms are full," she said, adding that the opera performance and homestay business bring the family an extra income of more than 50,000 yuan every year.

Located in a deep valley in the Himalayas, Medog County is besieged by high hills and primitive forests. For centuries, porters were the major transportation means for the county.

The situation significantly changed following the start of the operation of the Medog Highway in October 2013, with vehicles and machines flowing in. Children can now go to school by vehicle, and, whenever needed, patients can be transferred to the city hospital quickly, sometimes by ambulance. Porters are no longer needed.

  Tourists take photos of the ruins of the Guge Kingdom in Zanda County of Ngari Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Aug. 3, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng)

Thanks to the country's pairing-up assistance mechanism, by the end of June, seven batches of more than 1,300 medical professionals nationwide have trained more than 2,400 local doctors of different levels for Tibet. At the same time, hospitals in Tibet sent 1,800 local medical personnel to their pairing-up provinces and municipalities for further study.

By the end of 2021, more than 400 serious diseases could be treated without leaving Tibet, and more than 2,400 moderate diseases could be treated without the patients having to leave their cities. Moreover, the average life expectancy in Tibet rose from 68.2 years in 2015 to 72.19 years.

RURAL REVITALIZATION

Improved transport facilities, telecommunications networks and courier service coverage have contributed to e-commerce development in the region, with online shops and consumption surging rapidly. Local specialties are sold to other parts of China via online e-commerce platforms.

At a workshop in Chagyab County, more than 30 artisans were busy producing goldware and silverware, and their creations, such as pagodas and vases, were placed next to them.

  A harvester operates in a highland barley field in Rasog Township of Gyangze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Sept. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Maidoi Village in Chagyab County has a long history of manually processing goldware and silverware, and the craftsmanship has been included in the region's intangible cultural heritage list.

Tengpa Doje, an inheritor of the craft, said villagers earlier processed gold and silver at home with low efficiency and poor product quality.

"Thanks to the workshop, we can now sit together and discuss challenges we are facing, and pool wisdom to attract young artisans and consumers with our products," he said.

The workshop is part of the county's ethnic handicraft industrial park, which was established in October 2018 with a total investment of about 27.2 million yuan. The park, featuring Tibetan cultural handicrafts such as thangka painting, and goldware and silverware processing, has helped boost the income of local residents.

Sherab Doje, a local villager, joined the workshop three years ago. "I have learned how to make ethnic accessories, earning some 4,000 yuan a month," Sherab Doje said.