Construction of Tibet's largest water control project well underway
http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/mediafile/201009/26/P201009261035532700718221.jpg
The construction of the Phomdo Water Control Project conducted by Sinohydro Foundation Engineering Co., Ltd. has been going smoothly, Sept. 24, photo from Xinhua.

The Phomdo Water Control Project will be mainly used for irrigation and power generation, plus flood control and water supply.

With a total investment of 4.569 billion yuan, it is the largest water control project in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). The construction of this project started officially in July of this year.

http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/mediafile/201009/26/P201009261036142009330113.jpg
Workers were building water-proof walls of the dam with cement in the Phomdo Water Control Project, Sept. 24, photo from Xinhua.


http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/mediafile/201009/26/P201009261036382859127212.jpg
The construction of the Phomdo Water Control Project conducted by Sinohydro Foundation Engineering Co., Ltd. has been going smoothly, Sept. 24, photo from Xinhua.

http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7150709.html

World's highest sewage treatment plant to open in Tibet
The world's highest water-treatment plant will begin operating officially later this month to mark the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Qamdo, the government of Qamdo prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, announced Friday.

The treatment plant will serve the 640,000 people of Qamdo and is the first modern water-treatment plant in Tibet, which has a population of 2.8 million.

A high mountain valley region on the banks of the Lancang, Jinsha and Nujiang rivers, Qamdo was of strategic importance in the environmental protection of Tibet, said a prefectural government official.

An exact date for the official opening had yet to be decided, he said.

Qamdo was the first part of Tibet to be liberated, when the People's Liberation Army raised the national flag in Qamdo on Oct. 19, 1950, creating conditions for the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951.

China CMIIC Engineering & Construction Corp. started building the plant four years ago at a cost of 99.74 million yuan (14.95 million U.S.dollars), funded by China and Germany.

Since 2008, when the plant was completed and put into trial operation, it has treated 4.58 million cubic meters of sewage water and 1,575 tonnes of sludge with a daily sewage treating capacity of 7,000 tonnes.

"We bought equipment from Germany, France and Finland. The power of the engines is somewhat effected by the high altitude, but the equipment is still operating quite well," said Yang Miyou, manager of the plant.

"Before the trial operation, sewage water was discharged directly into the rivers," Yang said. "The plant will undoubtedly improve the natural environment and the quality of life in this area."

Tibet regional government has invested about 1.03 billion yuan in energy efficient and emissions cutting projects in the last four years. The Chinese central government has spent 512.48 million yuan in equipping 187,273 Tibetan households with methane gas supplies.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7160608.html

Construction of Tibet's largest water control project well underway
http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7150709.html

I once talked to an old American lady who happened to be a professor promoting democracy and 'free Tibet'. She was very concerned about the modern development in Tibet which according to her will destroy the local culture and heritage. I told her that most infrastructures have nothing to do with culture, like in some areas Tibetan people are getting running water into their homes, and she interrupted me, asking 'Have you ever considered that maybe Tibetan don't want tap water? They have been living happily without it for many centuries.' Suddenly even tap water is bad for a culture, this is bit shocking to me. So I asked the old lady, "Then by your same logic, have you considered that maybe Chinese don't want democracy? Will that destroy the Chinese culture too?" That was where the discussion ended.

Way to go Tibet! And hats off to our civil engineers. They made a lot of Man Made Marvels!

Tibet plans huge investment in highway construction
18:55, October 07, 2010

Transport authorities in remote China's Tibet Autonomous Region will invest heavily in highway construction for the next five years to provide better access to its rural townships.

Almost 50 billion yuan will be earmarked for highway construction during the 2011-2015 period, a spokesman with the Tibet Autonomous Regional Transport Department said Thursday.

The total length of highways will be extended from the current 58,000 km to 70,000 km by 2015 in the plateau region, the spokesman said.

All rural townships will be connected by highway, he said. Currently, about three quarters of townships have highway links.

In the past five years, China has invested heavily in building transport infrastructure in Tibet, pouring money into construction of highways, railways and airports.

On July 1 this year, Tibet's fourth civil airport opened in its far west Ngari area, shortening a trip to the regional capital Lhasa to one and half hours from three or four days by car.

Source:Xinhua

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/7158785.html

I once talked to an old American lady who happened to be a professor promoting democracy and 'free Tibet'. She was very concerned about the modern development in Tibet which according to her will destroy the local culture and heritage. I told her that most infrastructures have nothing to do with culture, like in some areas Tibetan people are getting running water into their homes, and she interrupted me, asking 'Have you ever considered that maybe Tibetan don't want tap water? They have been living happily without it for many centuries.' Suddenly even tap water is bad for a culture, this is bit shocking to me. So I asked the old lady, "Then by your same logic, have you considered that maybe Chinese don't want democracy? Will that destroy the Chinese culture too?" That was where the discussion ended.
I stopped caring what American Tibetan independence supporters think when I asked one of them to point out Tibet on a world map and they failed.

I once talked to an old American lady who happened to be a professor promoting democracy and 'free Tibet'. She was very concerned about the modern development in Tibet which according to her will destroy the local culture and heritage. I told her that most infrastructures have nothing to do with culture, like in some areas Tibetan people are getting running water into their homes, and she interrupted me, asking 'Have you ever considered that maybe Tibetan don't want tap water? They have been living happily without it for many centuries.' Suddenly even tap water is bad for a culture, this is bit shocking to me. So I asked the old lady, "Then by your same logic, have you considered that maybe Chinese don't want democracy? Will that destroy the Chinese culture too?" That was where the discussion ended.

I EL-OH-EL-ed out loud at that one!

Motuo (墨脱, AKA Medog) is the only county in mainland China without a highway. Its elevation various from 7756 meters to a few hundred from the north to south. Roads to Motuo were built before, and repeatedly damaged by landslide. A new year-long accessible highway to Motuo is being constructed, and Galong La Mountain Tunnel is the key.

Motuo, the last untouched county in China

Motuo, as the only county with no highway link to the outside world among all of China's 2,100 strong counties, is the last county where the Brahmaputra River crosses over in China before it flows to India. As the remotest county in the southeastern part of Tibetan Autonomous Region, Motuo is located on the southern slope of the Himalayas. Covering an area of 30,550 square kilometers, the mysterious Motuo County is mainly inhabited by the Menba and Luoba ethnic groups with a population of about 10,000.

According to the Tibetan Buddhist scripture "Bka'gyur", Motuo, or "hidden lotus" in Tibetan, is Tibet's purest and holiest region. While regarded as "Lotus Holy Land" in the eyes of Tibetan Buddhists, Motuo is also a significant symbolic destination for travelers and adventurers, because it is the only county in China that still has no access to roads, making it one of the most untouched places in the world. But the charm of an expedition to Motuo lies in the very challenge of reaching this amazing place.

The virgin forest in Motuo County wreathed in mist. [Photo: Xinhuanet]
http://news.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/upload/motuo1.jpg


"Tongue-shaped" glacier lies at the foot of Mount Galongla. [Photo: Xinhuanet]
http://news.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/upload/motuo2.jpg

current 'road'
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China starts building highway to its last county without paved road

2009-04-20

NYINGCHI, Tibet, April 20 (Xinhua (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/20/content_11222275.htm)) -- China on Monday began building a highway to the country's last county without paved road, Medog in Tibet, to end the county's isolation with the outside world.

Costing 950 million yuan (139 million U.S. dollars), the 117 km-highway will link Zhamog Township, the county seat of Bome, and Medog in 2011 as scheduled, said Wong Mengyong, deputy Transportation Minister.

Situated at Tibet's border with India and nestled among snow-capped mountains, there are only mountain paths connecting villages and towns. Tough terrains, complicated geological conditions, lack of funds and poor technologies had doomed seven attempts to build a highway in the area since the 1970s.

"We have no postal services, and little communication with the outside world. Local residents mainly rely on horse and mules for transportation," said Ngodrup Doje, Medog's county head. "Many people in the county haven't seen vehicles."

Cering Wangchug, running a transportation business from Bome to Medog, says he is "three-fourth jobless". His business runs bleakly for only three months from July to October every year, through the narrow winding passes between the two counties.

"It's a dream of generations that vehicles could shuttle between the two counties freely throughout the year," said Cering Wangchug.

Now the dream is coming true. As the first phase of the project, more than 300 technical staff from an armed police unit have been digging a 3.3-km tunnel since last November through the Galung La mountain, about 4,000 meters above the sea level in Tibet's Nyingchi Prefecture.

The tunnel, which has been advanced for 500 meters and is expected to be finished in two years, will withstand earthquakes measuring up to a 6.5 magnitude, said Liu Genshui, who is in charge of the tunnel project.

"When it is completed, the progress for the rest of the project will be smoothed," he said.

Tibet had no highways before 1951. Now, 97 percent of its towns and 76 percent of its villages are connected by 51,000 kilometers of highways, said Pelma Chiley, vice chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region government.

The sparsely populated Medog, which means "secret lotus" in the Tibetan language, has about 10,000 residents, mostly in rural areas. It is the last of the country's 2,100 counties to be connected via a highway.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/20/xin_28204062016322961829111.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/20/xin_28204062016321561891210.jpg



Latest News Oct 09 2010

http://epaper.chinatibetnews.com/xzrb/html/2010-10/09/content_216030.htm

墨脱公路嘎隆拉隧道有望年内贯通

新华社林芝10月3日电 （记者 拉巴次仁 边巴次仁） 记者近日在西藏墨脱公路控制性工程——嘎隆拉隧道施工现场看到，200多名建设者正在高寒缺氧条件下在隧道中紧张施工。截至目前，墨脱公路建设进展顺利，嘎隆拉隧道建设完成85%以上，有望年内贯通。

墨脱县位于西藏林芝地区，尽管上世纪70年代和90年代，国家曾先后两次修筑墨脱公路，但由于地质灾害频繁、气候条件特殊等原因，造成墨脱公路只能分季分段初通，且每年通车时间很短。墨脱县至今仍是我国唯一不通等级公路的县。

2009年4月20日，国家总投资9.5亿元的墨脱公路正式开工建设。这意味着我国将填补墨脱县不通等级公路的空白，实现全国县县通公路的目标。

正在建设中的墨脱公路起于波密县扎木镇318国道与老扎墨公路的交叉处，经打而曲、波弄贡、金珠藏布、米日、马迪和西莫河，止于墨脱县城莲花广场，路线全长117.2公里，工程建设工期为三年半。

横穿岗日嘎布山的嘎隆拉隧道是墨脱公路的控制工程，隧道长坡度为4.1%（即每100米下降4.1米），是国内坡度最大的隧道，工程难度大、施工条件差。在起点波密县扎木镇至隧道进口处共24公里的路程中，有14条雪崩带，经常造成路阻，物资运输困难。同时，隧道所处地域的地质条件复杂，冬季温度极低。武警官兵在施工过程中，只能采取在混凝土中加入防冻剂、隧道内生炉升温等措施，解决气温低造成的施工问题。

有着丰富隧道修建经验的武警交通二支队承建了嘎隆拉隧道北端1800米的施工任务。这个支队的嘎隆拉隧道工程项目经理程春明介绍，嘎隆拉隧道全长3310米，截至目前已成功掘进2950多米。

“人们常说十里不同天，这里是百里不同地质。”程春明介绍，隧道地质结构极为复杂，地质断层带横穿隧道，同时隧道位于海洋性冰川地貌，隧道中有大量的冰结物，松散透水，稳定性差，造成隧道无法一次性成型，需要分五六次成型。

尽管隧道施工工期短、任务重，但参建人员对于修通墨脱公路充满了信心。程春明说：“只要到了墨脱就知道墨脱公路的重要性，这是通向高原孤岛的重要生命通道。”

如今，武警交通二支队、三支队、西藏天路等5家参建单位正在全力投入到墨脱公路建设中，在春节、中秋节、国庆节等节假日中，参建人员舍弃了与家人团聚的机会，全力奋战在施工一线。

嘎隆拉隧道今年有望贯通。隧道建成后，修筑墨脱公路所需物资的运输成本将大大降低，全部工程进度也将随之加快，墨脱县这个至今仍不通公路的县将融入雪域高原的交通网络中。




The above latest news said Galong La Mountain Tunnel was nearly 85% finished, and will be through by the end of this year. After the tunnel is through, the construction will speed up.

Oversea Chinese impressed by new development in Tibet
The delegation of Association of Chinese French in Southern France said they were so impressed by breathtaking scenery and improved living standard after a field trip to southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the informal discussion on October 9, Song Binglin, consul general of Consulate General of People's Republic of China in Marseilles met with and extended his congratulations to the delegation on their successful visit to Tibet.

Song said, great changes has taken place in Tibet since the democratic reform in 1950s, with the strong support of the Communist Party of China and people from other inland provinces and cities.

On the 5th National Work Conference on Tibet held early this year, further development goals were made that Tibet would strive to narrow the gap of per capita net income between rural Tibetans and the national average by 2015, and to level up with the national average by 2020.

Song also briefed on the social and economic development of Tibet, Tibetan Buddhism and feudal serfdom system and answered questions raised by the representatives.

Zhang Chengcai, president of the Science College of No.2 University of Aix-Marseilles thanked the association's support for their visit to Tibet on behalf of the delegation.

Zhang said, during their visit, the delegates were so impressed by the breathtaking scenery and had close contact with local Tibetans witnessing their improved living standard as well as China's determination and great efforts in promoting the local development.

The delegation also displayed some photos taken during the trip and shared with all attendees. Moved by the warm atmosphere and interactive discussions, the representatives expressed their hope to visit Tibet again for a closer look at the end of the meeting.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7166307.html

First flight from Xining lands at Lhasa airport
Sichuan Airlines first opened its air route from Xining, capital city of northwest China's Qinghai Province to Lhasa, capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region on Oct. 11, 2010, which helped further improve the air traffic on the plateau.

http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/mediafile/201010/13/P201010131035556810406912.jpg
Passengers board the plane from Xining to Lhasa at Xining airport on Oct. 11, photo from Xinhua.

http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/mediafile/201010/13/P201010131036221046317183.jpg
Airport staff at Lhasa airport hold flowers to greet the passengers from first Xining-Lhasa flight, photo from Xinhua. http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7164773.html

Building of Natural Science Museum begins in Tibet
LHASA, Oct.8 (Xinhua)-- Construction on the first large Comprehensive Natural Science Museum in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region began Friday in Lhasa, the regional capital.

"Tibet's Natural Science Museum, which is scheduled to open to the public in 2011, will aim to show the rich natural resources along with the unique history and culture in Tibet," said a spokesman for Tibet's Science and Technology Bureau.

The 442.5-million-yuan building will include three large exhibition halls showcasing nature, science and technology, and Tibetan culture and customs.

Located in Tamacun, in the east of Lhasa, the 130,000-square-meter site is by the Lhasa River, close to Tibet University.

Tibet, with an average elevation of 4,000 metres, has 125 unique wild animals and more than 6,400 species of plants.

Tibet's Natural Science Museum would be an educational site for Tibetans and a tourist destination, said the spokesman.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-10/08/c_13547713.htm

Delhi sweats as China inches toward Nepal
BANGALORE - China's construction of a rail link between Lhasa and Xigaze (Shigatse) in the Tibet Autonomous Region will bring its rail network closer to its Nepal border and to India. The rail link has potential to boost Sino-Nepal trade and tourism; it is also expected to enhance China's already substantial influence in Nepal and bring the Chinese rail system closer too to the contested Sino-Indian boundary. A worried India is looking on as the Chinese railway steams southwards.

Construction now underway of the US$1.9 billion, 253-kilometer rail line between Lhasa, Tibet's capital, and the region's second-largest city, Xigaze, will, according to the official Xinhua news agency, be completed in four years. It is an extension of a line between Golmud in Qinghai province and Lhasa, inaugurated in 2006.

Xigaze is the capital of prefecture of the same name, Tibet's largest prefecture and one that shares boundaries with India, Nepal and Bhutan. Xigaze city is also the home of the Panchen Lama, the second most important spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism.

The Golmud-Lhasa line has been hailed as a technological marvel as it cuts through some of the world's most difficult terrain; over 80% of the route lies at an altitude of 4,000 meters above sea level and large stretches run through permafrost conditions and part traverses an earthquake-prone area.

Construction of the Lhasa-Xigaze link is expected to be no less challenging. It too will snake across terrain at an altitude of 3,500-4,000 meters. Nearly half the route will burrow through mountains - Mount Everest rises from Xigaze prefecture - or run across bridges. While construction across unstable permafrost soil confronted engineers building the Golmud-Lhasa line, the new route provides geothermal fields with hot springs to set them thinking.

The Golmud-Lhasa railway came under sharp criticism from environmentalists, who argued that it would have disastrous consequences for the region's ecosystem. Human rights organizations and Tibetan activists said the train link into Tibet was aimed at Chinese consolidation of control over Tibet and would unleash a new wave of Han Chinese migration into the region.

Many of these concerns and criticisms will apply to the Lhasa-Xigaze.

An added concern for India is the rail's steady approach towards Nepal, a country it regards as lying in its sphere of influence, and its own borders. It is evident that the Chinese rail system will not terminate at Xigaze. In 2008, for instance, Chinese and Nepalese officials announced plans for extension of the rail beyond Xigaze up to Khasa, a small market town on the Sino-Nepal border - and it might not stop even there. Cheng Xia Ling, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal, was quoted in 2008 by Nepal Weekly as saying: "We are even planning to link it to Kathmandu in not too distant future."

Landlocked Nepal has been eyeing the southward advance of the Chinese rail system with anticipation. It will bring it more tourists from China and Chinese trains loaded with goods will reduce the Himalayan country's long-standing dependence on Indian imports. To Nepal, the Chinese rail link promises opportunity.

For India, the southward advance of China's rail system is fraught with implications for its security and influence. Nepal has played a traditional role as buffer between India and China. New Delhi has wielded considerable influence in Nepal for decades, half of Nepal's trade is with India and its currency is linked to the Indian rupee.

India's influence has been on the decline in recent years, especially with Nepali Maoists entering Nepal's political mainstream. Indian officials believe that during their brief stint in power, the Maoists built strong ties with the Chinese government. Anti-India sentiment in Nepal is high, with many people and politicians blaming "Delhi's meddling" for an ongoing political impasse.

Indian officials fear that the arrival of trains bearing Chinese people and goods will further undermine their country's already weakening hold in Nepal.

Delhi also has worries over other proposed rail links that might be constructed up to the Sino-Indian boundary at Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. China is contemplating a rail link from Xigaze to Yatung, a trading center a few kilometers from Nathu La, a mountain pass that connects Tibet with Sikkim. Another rail line will run eastwards from Lhasa to Nyingchi near Arunachal.

This southward expansion of China's rail lines is of concern to several Indian security analysts. Much of the Sino-Indian boundary is disputed and the two countries fought a war over it in 1962, which India lost. Incursions by both sides, especially along the eastern sector, are frequent given the fuzziness of the boundary.

It was believed that the Sino-Indian boundary at Sikkim was more or less settled, especially with China implicitly recognizing Indian claims over Sikkim through a 2003 agreement that provides for Sino-Indian border trade via Nathu La. However, Chinese incursions into the Finger Point area in Sikkim in the summer of 2008 and its statements at that time indicated that the boundary at Sikkim was far from settled in China's view.

As for the boundary in the eastern sector, China continues to lay claim to around 90,000 square kilometers of territory that roughly approximates Arunachal. It has stepped up its rhetoric, especially with regard to its claims over Tawang.

It is in the context of these contested claims over the boundary that the extension of rail lines towards India is being seen.

Although China's Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun has described the extension of the Qinghai-Lhasa line as a key project in China's long-and medium-term railway network expansion, aimed at speeding up Tibet's social and economic development, Indian analysts are warning that it has strategic implications.

In an article in Japan Times, Brahma Chellaney, author of Asian Juggernaut: The Rise of China, India and Japan, wrote that the rail link to Tibet "has now started being used to supply 'combat readiness materials for the air force' there." Regarding the proposed rail extension to India's borders in the east, he told the Times of India that it "will strengthen China's rapid military deployment capability in the eastern (Arunachal) sector." China would be in a position to rapidly move its armed forces and strike at India whenever it wanted to, he said.

Road and railway building has been a key element of China's grand strategy in the Himalayan region for decades. Building motorways into Tibet began as early as 1950. As the People's Liberation Army prepared to annex Tibet, Mao Zedong advised it to "advance while building roads." Roads linking Xinjiang, Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan to Tibet were constructed at great human cost, yet pursued with much determination because they facilitated the transport of troops to Tibet - which enabled the quelling of unrest there. They also helped China's economic development of Tibet.

In contrast, India's infrastructure development in the Himalayan region has been lethargic. Its road and rail network near its boundary with China is abysmal. For instance, there is just one single-lane road connecting Sikkim's capital Gangtok to Nathu La and one landslide-prone road linking Sikkim to the rest of India. Sikkim's road density is 28.45 kilometers per 100 square kilometers against the national average of 84 kilometers. Arunachal Pradesh is even worse off, with a road density of just 18.65 kilometers per 100 square kilometers. India might have the world's largest rail network but there are no trains running into Sikkim or Arunachal.

This means that when trainloads of Chinese goods begin arriving at Nathu La around a decade from now, mere truckloads of Indian goods will be trickling in.

Underlying India's poor transport infrastructure in its border regions is a perception that roads and railways there are not in India's interest, as they would enhance China's access to India. Such transport links are not seen as providing Indian access to China.

Fear, rather than ambition, thus dictated India's strategy to the Himalayan region.

But with China flattening the Himalayan barrier to South Asia with its ambitious road and railway building in the region, India has been forced to respond.

Slowly it is acting to build roads and railways in its states bordering China. It has plans to build rail infrastructure into Nepal as well. Five rail links between the two countries are being planned. Most are just a few kilometers long, and do not run through the kind of rugged terrain that the Chinese in the Himalayas have to contend with. However, Indian engineers are likely to run into a far more formidable barrier in executing the projects - official lethargy and negative mindsets.

Unless India looks at its Himalayan infrastructure building as an opportunity rather than with trepidation, it will not be able to gain benefits of its own from China's leveling of the Himalayas. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/LJ16Ad01.html

I once talked to an old American lady who happened to be a professor promoting democracy and 'free Tibet'. She was very concerned about the modern development in Tibet which according to her will destroy the local culture and heritage. I told her that most infrastructures have nothing to do with culture, like in some areas Tibetan people are getting running water into their homes, and she interrupted me, asking 'Have you ever considered that maybe Tibetan don't want tap water? They have been living happily without it for many centuries.' Suddenly even tap water is bad for a culture, this is bit shocking to me. So I asked the old lady, "Then by your same logic, have you considered that maybe Chinese don't want democracy? Will that destroy the Chinese culture too?" That was where the discussion ended.

Thousand Thanks to you fragel for challenging the old american lady professor!! :bow:
Way to go!! :banana:

Maizhokunggar invests 11.4 mln yuan on housing project


The regional government of Maizhokunggar has vigorously carried out both housing projects and private-house renovation projects in recent years.

Up to now, a total of 11.4 million yuan has been invested on the local housing project in Maizhokunggar County, Lhasa, capital city of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).

The construction of altogether 100 apartments (aseismaticly reinforced) has been completed, and the main structures of another 650 apartments are under construction.

http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/mediafile/201010/15/P201010151313253764253534.jpg
The picture shows new houses under construction in Maizhokunggar County, Lhasa, capital city of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region(TAR).
http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7167536.html

Forest along Yunnan-Tibet Highway tinged with gold
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http://www.people.com.cn/mediafile/pic/20101018/83/7405833235679635007.jpg

A car runs on the Mangkam section of Yunnan-Tibet highway, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Oct. 14, 2010. The forest along the road was tinged with gold in the late autumn.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7169078.html

Lhasa invests 90 mln yuan on 23 tourist facilities
Nearly 90 million yuan was invested in 23 tourist facilities this year in Lhasa, capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region with some tourist service stations about to be completed at the end of October.

The tourist facilities include Lhasa Tourist Service Center, Namtso Scenic Spot, Potala Palace-Jokhang Temple-Norbu Linka Cultural Heritage tourist attractions, etc.

Many of the tourist projects feature strong Tibetan culture in design such as the Thangka infrastructure and the Tourist Product Development Base of Tibetan handicraft, etc., according to the staff of Lhasa Tourism Bureau.

The Lhasa Tourist Service Center, consisting of the Tourism Information Technology Application Center, the Information Center, the Emergency Center, etc., will offer better services especially emergency assistance for tourists.

Besides, the projects will create more jobs for the local people and bring in more economic benefits. For example, the restaurants and souvenir shops set up in the tourist areas has not only improved tourist services but also boosted the local economy.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7176624.html

Research Institute on News Communication & Social Development of Tibet established
The Research Institute on News Communication and Social Development of Tibet was officially established on October 24 at the 2nd National Forum on Information Dissemination and Social Development in Ethnic Minority Areas of China.

Jointly established by Tibet Institute for Nationalities and Renmin University of China, the research institute is the first of its kind specializing on the studies of journalism and communication of Tibet.

The Minzu University of China has rich academic resources while Tibet Institute for Nationalities enjoys a unique advantage of Tibet news communication. Thus the cooperation between the two institutions will set up a high-level platform for studying news communication in ethnic minority areas of China, said Zhou Decang, head of the Research Institute on News Communication and Social Development of Tibet, and vice president of Tibet Institute for Nationalities.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7177570.html

Gas station starts operation in quake-hit Tibetan town
A liquefied gas station started operating Monday in Yushu county, northwest China's Qinghai Province, six months after a devastating earthquake there.

The station in Gyegu town at the heart of Yushu County is run by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and supplies 20 million cubic meters of liquefied natural gas a year to meet the winter heating demands for 30,000 local families.

It also provides clean fuel for taxis and cars in town, said Luo Jianwu, manager of the Yushu branch of CNPC Qinghai oilfield.

Construction of the gas station began on June 28 and cost 130 million yuan, he said.

It was the first major post-quake reconstruction project to be completed in the predominantly Tibetan Yushu County.

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake on April 14 left almost 3,000 people dead or missing and more than 120,000 homeless in Yushu, mostly in Gyegu town, near the epicenter. The government said rebuilding would take about three years.

To ensure a stable energy supply to the quake zone, CNPC reached an agreement with the Qinghai provincial government in June to build 12 petrol stations and a 6,000-cubic-meter oil storage tank in Yushu along with a terminal to receive liquefied gas in Gyegu town.

Qinghai is home to a number of key oil and gas production bases. Last year, its identified crude oil reserves topped 370 million tonnes and natural gas deposits were placed at 290 billion cubic meters -- only 25 percent and 11 percent, respectively, of the province's estimated total reserves. http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7177560.html

First large parking lot open at Zham Port, Shigatse
The first parking lot was recently opened at the Port of Zham of Nyalam County, Shigatse Prefecture of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).

With an overall area of 12,000 square meters, the parking lot cost 18 million yuan and is expected to hold over 300 trucks.

The new facility has largely improved the infrastructure of the Port, ensuring further development of the local border trade.

In the past, there wasn't a large parking lot at Zham Port and its development was restricted somewhat by traffic congestion.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7174409.html

Lhoka makes 2.409-bln-yuan investment in 8 months
From January to August, Lhoka has maintained a big increase in its investment of fixed assets, driving a smooth and rapid development of local economic and social sectors.

According to statistics, the local government of Lhoka Prefecture focused on fixed assets investment worth up to 5.38 billion yuan, and implemented 474 projects of state investment totaling 2.409 billion yuan, up by 32.4% than that of last year, accounting for 72.1% of the annual plan.

Besides, the introduced capital of 0.472 billion yuan was invested, increasing by 228.6% compared with the same period in 2009, accounting for 74.9% of the annual plan.

During the past eight months, another 20.82 million yuan of aid-Tibet investment has been materialized, increasing by 82.5%, accounting for 13.9% of the target this year.

Meanwhile, 0.746-billion-yuan private investment was made, raised by 17% than that of last year, taking up 59.2% of the annual plan.

A number of construction projects have improved local people's living conditions, helped advance local tourist industry and provided a powerful drive for the further development of the entire region.

The construction projects in Lhoka cover irrigation, highways, community health centers, school houses, livestock sheds in cold pastoral areas, etc. http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7174390.html

Road expansion project starts in north China to ease traffic congestion
A road expansion project in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region started Wednesday, in a step to ease traffic congestion on the freeway between Beijing and Tibet.

A 217-km-long stretch of the freeway between the regional capital, Hohhot, and Baotou City will be widened from four to eight lanes, said Gao Tuanshan, deputy general manager of the Inner Mongolia Highway Construction and Development Corporation.

The construction is scheduled to take two years and the total investment of the project is estimated at 10 billion yuan (1.5 billion U.S. dollars), Gao said.

The Hohhot-Baotou highway section is a trunk line in Inner Mongolia and is shared with the Beijing-Tibet freeway and the Beijing-Xinjiang freeway.

This year, bumper-to-bumper traffic on the section has been a common sight as the number of trucks transporting coal has increased.

As a major coal-producing area, Inner Mongolia has witnessed increased coal output. Transportation of coal by truck in the region surged 49 percent year on year to 50 million tons in the first nine months of the year, according to the regional coal mine safety department.

The worst congestion occurred in early September, when a traffic jam lasted for more than ten days when traffic banked up 180 km.

Once the road-widening project is complete, maximum traffic flow on the section will increase to 93,000 units of vehicles per day, compared with the current 40,000 units per day.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7173071.html

World's deepest anti-seepage wall completed in Tibet
The inauguration ceremony of the world's deepest anti-seepage wall, 158 meters deep, was held in Lhundrup County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on Oct. 31, 2010.

The wall is part of TAR's largest water control project, Phomdo Water Control Project, which is located at the left bank of the riverbed dam.

According to Han Wei, manager of the project, the anti-seepage wall of the project has broken the national record set by the Luding Hydropower in Sichuan Province with a 115-meter-deep anti-seepage wall. It also has set a new world record, 22 meters deeper than the former record of the Tokyo Bay Bridge of Japan with a 136-meter-deep anti-seepage wall.

"The Phomdo project was a very difficult one due to high altitude, severe coldness, and complicated geologic conditions," said Han Wei. "The whole construction achieved the international level. Up to now, six items of the project have applied for utility patent. And it has applied for the following three Guinness World Records it has set: the deepest anti-seepage wall, the deepest uprooting pipe and the deepest underwater concrete."

With a total investment of 4.69 billion yuan, the construction of the Phomdo project started on July 15, 2009 and is expected to be completed in 2016.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/96069/7187994.html

Key project construction boosts Tibet's development
During the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), the construction of key projects in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) not only has boosted Tibet's self development but also has given a strong impetus to the "fast track" of its economy, according to sources from the Development and Reform Commission of TAR.

The investment of 188 key projects including the Nyingchi Airport and the Ngari Gunsa Airport hit 137.8 billion yuan during the 11th Five-Year Plan.

Industries such as tourism, green beverage as well as Tibetan medicine have boomed, which contributes a lot to TAR.

key projects have brought great profit. As estimated, TAR's GDP increased 12.4% annually in the past four years and this year it is expected to exceed 50 billion yuan.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7199595.html

Tibet to build animated film & television production base
As reported, the project of building an animated film & television production base in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) maybe be listed as a key project for the 12th Five-Year Program of TAR.

According to departments concerned in TAR, during the 12th Five-Year Program, an animated film & television production center is expected to be constructed and excellent works would be made to meet people's demand.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7199617.html

Qinghai-Tibet Power Grid Interconnection Project goes smoothly
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The Qinghai-Tibet Power Grid Interconnection Project has gone smoothly since it started construction.

Currently the Tibet section for the project has poured 50% of the concrete foundation.

The Qinghai-Tibet Power Grid Interconnection Project is the world's longest DC transmission line at the highest altitude and the most difficult to construct, which is expected to end the history that TAR has a separate power line.
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Tibet to build first large hydropower station
The Brahmaputra River, which has long been praised as a "heavenly river," was dammed for the first time on Nov. 12, indicating that the Zangmu Hydropower Station, the first large hydropower station in Tibet, will soon begin its main construction.

The Brahmaputra River originates in China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and is the world's highest river. The huge gap between the highest and lowest points of the river and the heavy river flow help ensure abundant water resources. The Zangmu Hydropower Station is located in the middle reaches of the Brahmaputra River in Gyaca County, Lhoka Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region.

With a total investment of nearly 7.9 billion yuan, it will have six 85-megawatt generating units installed, which will bring the total installed capacity to 510 megawatts. It will be the first large hydropower station in Tibet, and its first unit will be put into operation in 2014, which will greatly alleviate the power shortage in central Tibet.

The hydropower station is about 325 kilometers away from Lhasa, and its average annual generating capacity is expected to reach 2.5 billion kilowatt hours. Its main function is power generation, but it can also be used for flood control and irrigation.

The hydropower station is a key project included in Tibet's 11th Five-Year Plan. At present, Tibet has only hydropower stations with the installed capacity of up to 100 megawatts, but soon it will have a hydropower station with a total installed capacity of more than 500 megawatts.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7199976.html

Yushu Green Industrial Base to take shape next year
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A total of 40 million yuan has been invested in building 1,700 greenhouses out of 1,923 in the reconstruction project of Yushu Green Industrial Base since May 16.

The vegetables grow well in the newly constructed greenhouses and will be sold on the market during next spring festival, easing the shortage of vegetables in TAR.
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Hydro-power dam in Tibet stirs debate
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Hydropower engineers and economists Wednesday defended plans to dam a major river in the Tibet Autonomous Region, saying the multi-billion-yuan project would not dramatically impact downstream areas, given its minimum effect on the water supply.

The statement came amid concerns from environmentalists that the project could disrupt water flows downstream in India.

The damming of the Yarlung Zangbo River, also known as the Brahmaputra in India, commenced Friday. This marks the start of construction on the main part of the Zangmu Hydropower Station, the first mega hydroelectric power plant in Tibet.

"The riverflow will not be stopped during construction," Li Chaoyi, chief engineer of China Huaneng Group, the prime contractor for the project, told the Xinhua News Agency Wednesday. "After it becomes operational, the water will flow downstream through water turbines and sluices, thereby not affecting the downstream water levels."

With a total investment of nearly 7.9 billion yuan ($1.2 billion), the hydropower station will be built along the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the highest in the world. It is located in Gyaca county, Lhokha prefecture of Tibet, 325 kilometers southeast of Lhasa. The station, with six 85-megawatt power-generating units, is designed to answer energy shortages in central Tiber, with the first generators expected to come online in 2014.

The Yarlung Zangbo River originates upstream among the northern foothills of the Himalayas and flows from west to east across southern Tibet, where it has long been considered a sacred river. It then passes through India, where it is known as the Brahmaputra River. On Tuesday, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao raised her concerns with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun over the possible downstream impact of the project during the fourth round of bilateral strategic dialogue held in Wuhan, central Hubei Province, according to The Hindu newspaper.

Zhang assured Rao that the project "was not a project designed to divert water" and would not affect "the welfare and availability of water of the population in the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra," the paper added. China has also expressed its willingness to continue exchanging data with India to minimize the risks of any dispute arising, it said. Environmentalists warn that building a large dam in an area with such complicated geological structures could threaten the region's fragile ecosystem.

"The diversified fauna and flora there have evolved over tens of millions of years and will be damaged. Blocking the river may also overturn the balance of the region's ecosystem," Wang Yongchen, founder of Beijing-based Green Earth Volunteers, told the Global Times, adding "it seems to be unworthy to build a dam while sacrificing the environment."http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7203130.html

Kathmandu-Lhasa bus service likely to resume
With Nepal Tourism Year 2011 just around the corner, the Kathmandu-Lhasa bus service, which was suspended more than three years, is very likely to resume within a month.

According to Wednesday's Republica Daily, once this service comes into operation, Chinese tourists are expected to get to Kathmandu more easily from Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China by surface transport.

"We are very hopeful of restarting the Kathmandu-Lhasa bus service by the very first month of 2011, keeping the tourist year in mind," Anil Gurung, acting director general of the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), told Republica.

According to Gurung, work is going on smoothly in maintaining the partly-damaged road linking Kathmandu to Zhangmu or Lhasa as it is well- known in Nepal.

However, Hong Mei, a Chinese national who won the contract to operate the bus service from Kathmandu to Lhasa said: "We are trying to operate our service within this very month." Initially, two buses from Kathmandu and two from Lhasa will be ferrying Chinese tourists. But the number of Nepali tourists to visit Lhasa by bus will be less than the Chinese tourists to visit Kathmandu.

According to Hong Mei, tourists will be charged 70 U.S. dollars per person for traveling to Lhasa by bus.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7225687.html

Libraries to cover all primary and middle schools in Nagri
On Dec. 5, the first library named "Dangdang Book Recommendations -Apple Reading Project" was opened in Nagri Prefectural Primary School.

Co-sponsored by Dangdang.com, Beijing Apple Charity Fund and 34 famous press, this library was officially set up in Nagri, northwest Tibet Autonomous Region. The project planned to build libraries for all primary and middle schools across Nagri within half a year, which would be supported all year round by all sponsors.

The shortage of extracurricular reading materials in Nagri schools will be eased with books provided.

The first donation of 120,000 books and 350 bookshelves has been successively sent to Nagri starting from early November. The donated books were reported to have already reached Sengye Tsangpo by Dec.5. http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7224467.html

China aims to narrow east-west gap with more investment, expertise
On frosty Sunday morning, Wang Jinjian joined residents of Huocheng County in far west China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to clear streets blanketed by heavy snow.

Wang, who just arrived in Huocheng two weeks ago after being appointed the head of the county committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), wanted to get acquainted with local people as soon as possible.

"I will work here in the next five years," said Wang, who came from Jiangyin City of economically-developed Jiangsu Province in the east. "I wish my hometown's experiences in socioeconomic development could help boost the development of Huocheng."

Wang is among thousands of cadres and experts who were being dispatched by the central government to Xinjiang to assist local development by using their expertise and successful experience in the east.

This marked a new round of China's efforts to narrow the development gap between the west and the east.

In 2010, besides increasing capital investment and policy support, the central government decided to begin a new round of assistance to Tibet Autonomous Region and Xinjiang by pairing relatively developed provinces and cities with the two regions.

A series of decisions were announced after the CPC Central Committee held conferences on the development of West China, Tibet and Xinjiang this year.

Observers said the three meetings were milestones in working out the plan for narrowing the east-west gap as the western region is a difficult but key point in building a well-off society in a comprehensive way.

The government is aimed at narrowing the gap between east and west in the next decade, with western regions making great progress in comprehensive economic strength, people's living standards and environmental protection.

Compared with other western regions, Tibet and Xinjiang lag further behind eastern areas. As a result, the central government has sketched a detailed route map for the development of both regions in the next decade:

-- By 2015, the gap between Tibet's per capita net income and the nation's average will be significantly narrowed, and by 2020 the gap will be small enough to ensure the accomplishment of a well-off society.

-- Xinjiang's per capita gross production will reach the nation's average level by 2015, and by 2020 it will also realize the goal of building a moderately prosperous society.

The new round of assistance is a significant milestone in promoting the coordinated east-west development plan and in safeguarding the stability of the country's border areas, said Wang Ning, an economist with Xinjiang's Academy of Philosophy and Social Sciences.

Different from previous rounds of assistance, the new initiatives will give the two regions direct income. For instance, the changes in Xinjiang's resource taxes will increase local revenues by billions of yuan.

"This round is unprecedented and inspiring," said Yili Ismail, deputy director of the General Office of the People's Government of Xinjiang.

Compared with previous assistance efforts, this year the central government acted with even greater determination, he said.

In 1996, eight provinces and cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, were assigned to support Xinjiang. This year, 19 provinces and cities are supporting the region.

As the old Chinese saying goes, "give a man fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life." In the new round, the government underscored the improvement of the West's self-development capability.

Paired with the Aksu region in Xinjiang, Zhejiang Province plans to train more than 5,000 local high school and primary school teachers. Also, Shandong Province, which is paired with the region's Kashgar, is spending 60 million yuan (about 9 million U.S. dollars) to train 2,000 local cadres.

In the proposal for the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) for the country's development, the CPC Central Committee said the country would continue to give priority to the development of the West and intensify support for Tibet, Xinjiang and other regions of ethnic minorities.

"The input by the central government has been huge. But the most important thing is to stimulate people's growth incentives and local cadres' consciousness of self-development," said Jiang Daming, governor of Shandong Province.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7222204.html

Qinghai-Tibet highway re-construction from Golmud to Lhasa accomplished
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After rebuilding a section of the Qinghai-Tibet highways, hot rods for constant temperature are erected along the highway.

Recently, Qinghai-Tibet highway re-construction from Golmud to Lhasa has been accomplished. The travel time from Golmud in Qinghai province to Lhasa, capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region is two hours shorter than in the past. The construction project started on January of 2008 with investment of 1.159 billion yuan. According to standards of the secondary road construction, the whole road covered totally more than 530 km.

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Tibet's telecommunications accessible in last five years
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During the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010), the regional telecommunication has developed rapidly with the number of telephone users reaching 2.027 million, covering 70% of the local.

Moreover, 92% of administrative villages were equipped with telephones, totaling 4,827 villages across the region. It was planned that all administrative villages could get access to land lines by the end of 2010.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7223451.html

Building Motuo highway's mountain tunnel


For the people of Motuo County in Tibet, the 47-hundred meter-high Galongla Mountain is a formidable barrier to entering or leaving. And it's a massive challenge for the construction workers tunneling from both ends to create a passageway. To meet that challenge, the crew has pact: no see, no leave. CCTV reporter Yin Xiang reports from Motuo County.
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Cheng Chunming is a veteran of tunnel construction. He worked on the Erlangshan Tunnel and won the Luban Prize. However, as he told us, the Galongla Tunnel is the most difficult project he has been a part of . At Galongla, Cheng not only encountered the usual problems, such as fragile geology and rock bursts. He also faced water burst problems. From September 2008 to the present, Chen and his colleagues have been staying at the constructing site without once returning home. Chen has mixed feelings about the tunnel project ending.

Cheng said, "We have a pact with colleagues at the other end, which is ‘no see, no leave’. Now we are waiting for the last blast. When the tunnel breaks through, we are going to have tears, laughter and bear hugs to express our setbacks, and solidarity."

Inspection is a key process to guaranteeing the success of any tunnel project. Bu Qiong is the only Tibetan Nationality armed police soldier on the site. He is also the quality test engineer. He always oversees the most dangerous situations like the blast, water extraction and hole drilling.

Bu Qigong, QC engineer of Armed Police Traffic Team said, "Because there was plenty of water in the tunnel, we had to operate in the water, and the water could reach waist level. But we overcame those difficulties and hope for the early finish of this project."

Although Bu Qiong’s family live in nearby Shannan District, he seldom went back home. As a Tibetan, Bu has a special feeling about this road.

Bu said, "The Motuo is an isolated island on the plateau and is the only county in China with no vehicle access. The people in Motuo desire lots of goods, and they have to carry them by back from outside, walking. We hope that we get this tunnel finished as fast as we can, so the people of Motuo can leave easily, and outsiders can enter the county to enjoy the beautiful scenery."

The Galongla Mountain stands in the way of a dream. Cutting through it will not only free up access for goods to come and go - it will allow the people of Motuo to follow the motto of the tunnel's constructors, in being united with their family and friends: ‘no see, no leave.’

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墨脱公路开工 全国最后一个不通公路县将成历史
经济观察网 记者 翁仕友

2009年4月20日，西藏波密扎木至墨脱县城公路新改建工程开工建设，结束了墨脱县不通公路的历史，这也标志着全国唯一不通公路县将成为历史。
http://www.eeo.com.cn/uploadfiles/Politics/by_region/20090420062329264.jpg建设中的墨脱公路墨脱公路，经国务院常务会议2008年10月批准立项建设，国家全额投资9.5亿元。工程位于西藏自治区波密和墨脱两县境内，路线起于波密县扎木镇318国道川藏公路与老扎墨公路的交汇点，先后跨越波斗藏布江、金珠藏布江、西莫河等6条江河，路线全长117.278公里，建设工期36个月。
http://www.eeo.com.cn/uploadfiles/Politics/by_region/20090420062057874.jpg墨脱地理位置墨脱县面积3.4万平方公里、人口10543人。由于地处喜马拉雅山脉东端，雅鲁藏布江贯穿县域全境，海拔由7756米急速过渡到低谷地带的200米，陡峻的山隔、湍急的水阻“置”墨脱于“井底”；频发的地震、滑波、塌方、泥石流、高雨量和局部的强降雨几乎“屏风”墨脱于“孤岛”。
http://www.eeo.com.cn/uploadfiles/Politics/by_region/20090420062251295.jpg俯瞰墨脱县城目前各乡之间仅通骡马驿道，村寨之间只有羊肠小道。县城通往外界的扎墨简易道路地形起伏大、自然坡降大、降水量大、地震烈度大、地质灾害多、地质条件复杂。虽经数十年的屡屡投资、几经修建、数十人付出宝贵生命，仍需分段、分季节年勉强通行2至3个月。
http://www.eeo.com.cn/uploadfiles/Politics/by_region/2009042006241514.jpg通往墨脱县的扎墨公路从上世纪五六十年代开始，政府就曾多次试图打通通往墨脱的道路，但由于山势太险、技术难度太大而被迫停工。1975年成立墨脱公路修建指挥部，并组建施工队伍动工修建。经5年建设，耗资2538万元，粗通至105km，因建设条件艰巨、公路灾害频发工程于1980年停建。已建路段除起点段约24公里可使用外，其余路段损毁严重，车辆无法通行。
2005年，墨脱公路改建再次提到国家和西藏自治区重要议程，9月西藏自治区交通厅和林芝地区组织国内权威公路勘察设计院所，在多年科研的基础上再次进入墨脱实地研究公路建设方案。年底安排施工队伍对波密扎木至墨脱简易道路进行便道保通整修，2006年实现了近4个月的通车时间。
http://www.eeo.com.cn/uploadfiles/Politics/by_region/20090420062449374.jpg墨脱一瞥据悉，交通运输部多次派出专家组进行现场勘察，参与技术方案论证；国内权威公路勘察设计单位在多年科研的基础上多次进入墨脱，进行数年的线路勘察、筛选线路。根据项目区域特殊气候、地质、水文环境资料，在充分吸取川藏、滇藏公路整治改建和墨脱简易道路初期建设、维护的基础上，经多年研究、多方案比选、实地勘察和反复论证确定了工程建设方案和灾害治理工程措施。

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蓝线是天朝官方的中印边界，红线是现在的中印实际边界，基本走向沿麦克马洪线。
蓝红之间的区域就是藏南，也就是印度目前控制的所谓“阿鲁恰达尔邦”。看图就能发现藏南植被非常茂密，因为已经是喜马拉雅的南坡了，海拔很低，雅鲁藏布江谷底海拔不过几百米。墨脱就在图中红线中段的上方，稍微沾到些许绿色。

VIDEO：
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Lhasa economic and technological development zone implemented 550 mln yuan
Through high quality service to promote enterprise development this year, the project investment of Lhasa economic and technological development zone hit 550 million yuan.

Lhasa speeds up the construction of municipal infrastructure facilities. Since the project started in March this year, cables have been laid more than 3 kilometers, installing two transformers and three branch boxes. About 30% investments of electrical works in zone-A has been implemented.

The enterprise construction project has been speed up. The development zone created a good environment and high-quality services for enterprises in 2010. Fourteen enterprises have been constructed with nine new projects.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/96057/7228428.html

Motuo: Dream of connecting to outside world to come true
Motuo is the only county in China which cannot be accessed by car. The county is located in the southeastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The harsh natural conditions meant building a highway connecting Motuo to outside world was once considered a dream. However, just in a week, the last tunnel is due to be completed for the Motuo Highway，and the dream will come true. CCTV reporter Yin Xiang brings us the story from Motuo.

Motuo is part of the Linzhi District of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is located at the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, and at the eastern section of the Himalayas. It covers 34,000 square kilometers, and has a population of 11,000. The main ethnic groups there are the Menba, Luoba and minority Tibetan Nationality.

The average altitude is 1,200 metres, and the whole area slopes dramatically north to south. It has a varied landscape, from cold mountainous slopes, to tropical rainforests.

Motuo's economy relies mainly on agriculture, predominantly rice and grain. But up until now, the only way of getting the produce out of the country, was by animal or human transportation. There are no roads for cars and lorries. But all that is now set to change.

The Motuo Highway

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The harsh natural conditions meant building a highway connecting Motuo to outside world was once considered a dream.

The highway will be 117 kilometers long, and will connect Muoto County and Bomi County. Construction began in April 2009 and is estimated to finish next year.

The Motuo Highway negotiates the difficult terrain of the Grand Yalunzangpo Gorge. Before approaching Motuo County, it will cross over 6 rivers, and push through the the newly constructed tunnel through Galongla mountain. Alongside the highway, there are stenothermal glaciers, rainforests and gorges. As well as the extreme slopes, the construction project has had to deal with heavy rainfall and earthquakes. The change in sea level along the 117 kilometer highway is a huge 3100 meters. Annual rainfall is 3-4 times that of the Yangze River basin.

CCTV reporter Yin Xiang said, Just behind me is the entrance to the Galalong Tunnel. Looking up, you can see the snowy peak of the Galalong Mountain. The thickness of snow on this mountain can reach up to 3 or 4 metres. It means that it's basically impossible for any vehicles to cross the mountain. This underlines the necessity of building this new tunnel, to allow vehicles to get into Motuo country.

Isolated island on the plateau

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Motuo is surrounded to its west, north and east, by the Himalayas, and segmented by Yalunzangpo River and Palongzangpo Gorge.

Motuo is surrounded to its west, north and east, by the Himalayas, and segmented by Yalunzangpo River and Palongzangpo Gorge. This is the reason behind Motuo's nickname - 'the isolated island on the Plateau'.

Historically, there were two main ways of entering the country. The first involves crossing the 4000 meter high mountain and trekking through the forest, full of hazards such as leeches, poisoned insects and wild animals. There is also the ever present risk of avalanches, downpours and landslides.

Another traditional route is from Milin County, tramping over the Doxiongla Snow Mountain, and walking through Lage, Hanmi and Beibeng to Motuo. Usually, after climbing over the 4,200-metre-high Duoxiongla, you enter the gorges and frequently encounter landslides. Only August, September and October are safe to walk this route.

Because of the lack of traffic access, and the difficulty in entering, Motuo has become the most expensive county in China.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7229128.html

After rebuilding a section of the Qinghai-Tibet highways, hot rods for constant temperature are erected along the highway.
How do those hot rods work? What are they warming/cooling?

'Power road to heaven' reaches Danggula Mountains
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Construction workers are setting up electric wires of the Qinghai-Tibet AC/DC Interconnection Project in the permafrost region around the Danggula Mountains on December 12, photo from Xinhua.

Regardless of the extreme coldness, oxygen deficiency and other unfavorable conditions, construction workers are setting up electric wires for the Qinghai-Tibet AC/DC Interconnection Project in the permafrost region of Danggula Mountains at an elevation of over 5,200 meters.

As planned, power pylons and wires for the Qinghai-Tibet AC/DC Interconnection Project will be all set up in 2011 and put into operation in 2012.

Dubbed as the "power road to heaven", the Qinghai-Tibet AC/DC Interconnection Project is one of the 23 key projects for the Western Development Drive. After its completion, the project, the biggest power transmission project in China will largely ease the power shortage in Tibet Autonomous Region.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7232091.html

Lhasa ETDZ's tax revenue hits 900 mln yuan
Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) of Lhasa ETDZ (economic and technological development zone) has made great efforts to tax works in 2010.

By the end of November, the tax revenue of the zone reached 909 million yuan, increased by 577.09 million yuan with growth of 173.87%, realizing the leap-forward development in terms of tax revenue.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7236485.html

Quarrying enriches local Tibetans
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A local villager from Kangma County, Shigatse Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) works on stone material processing in a quarry on December 11, photo from China Tibet News.

Leveraging on rich stone resources, Kangma County now saw more local farmers and herders engaged in quarrying, stone mining and processing in idle agricultural season.

Local villagers have earned more from stone businesses, following a rising demand for construction materials for the housing projects and urban construction recently.
http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7239116.html

232 new buses put into use in Lhasa
A total of 232 new buses have been put into use in Lhasa, capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) in the southwest of China since December 19.

So far, Lhasa has replaced 579 old minibuses with new buses to cut exhaust emissions and provide more efficient public transport routes for citizens.

To better serve the public, the new public transit routes include ordinary buses for local citizens, luxury coaches and sightseeing buses for tourists, all of which are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) and are able to make announcements about the stations in Tibetan, Han and English.

The new routes covering 259 bus stops will run across the city.
Besides, more than 800 bus drivers and conductors have been employed.

As one of the 12 items relating to people's livelihood in 2010, the replacement of old minibuses and the use of new coaches has been going on since March, which is all funded by the Lhasa Municipal Government.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7239132.html

Tibet to build up 7 key eco-systems in 20 years
Tibet Autonomous Region will strive to establish seven key eco-systems in the next 20 years, said Zhang Yongze, director-general of Tibet's Environmental Protection Department, at the CPPCC Tibet Committee Session on Jan. 11, 2011.

Zhang Yongze, who is also the deputy of Tibet People's Political Consultative Conference, said: "Setting up seven eco-systems requires support from departments, including that of Finance, Environment Protection, Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock, to advance key ecological projects, such as the protection for virgin forest, natural grassland and nature reserve, etc."

We should encourage farmers and herdsmen to participate in the building up of ecological shelter zones by combining it with the improvement of people's livelihood in farming and pastoral areas, added Zhang.

"Currently, Tibet is speeding up its efforts to draft an outline on building up eco-Tibet and , and legalize the project, making it a long-term task for the whole society," Zhang said.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7259372.html

Tibet to develop three complementary economic zones
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Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region aims to develop three interdependent economic zones in central, eastern and western Tibet respectively in the 12th Five-Year Plan period. The three zones will function differently according to their own advantages.

The central zone, including Lhasa, Shigatse, Lhoka and Nyingchi, embraces the great ambition of becoming an international tourist destination as well as an important comprehensive economic center in China's western region.

The eastern zone, bordering with Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces, is expected to become part of the Sichuan-Chongqing economic circle, specializing in agriculture and animal husbandry, handicraft and Tibetan medicine industries.

Positioned as a window to South Asia, the western economic zone will concentrate on establishing a frontier trade market while paying attention to ecological protection.

Tibet is expected to make new headway thanks to the fast growing regional economy.

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An airplane lands safely at the airport in remote Ngari. [Photo by Rao Chunyan]http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7273097.html

Tibet builds continental trade passage to China's South Asian neighbors
During the past five years, the Tibet Autonomous Region has enhanced its position as a main trade frontier in southwest China by constructing infrastructure, preparing for the establishment of China-Nepal economic cooperation zone and building the "continental trade route to South Asia", according to Xinhua's report at Tibet Economic Work Conference held on Jan. 20 in Lhasa.

Ma Xiangcun, director-general of the regional commerce department said that the trade passage is planned accroding to the Tibet development blueprint of "one line, two bases and three ports", referring to the Qinghai-Tibet-Lhasa-Shigatse railline, the Nagqu logistics center, Lhasa economic and technological zone, and Zham, Gyirong and Gro Mo ports.

The development of the trade route is accompanied by the construction of supporting facilities worth 190 million yuan as well as six trade markets in border areas.

"In the 12th Five-Year Plan period, we'll see that the Tibet market will be basically connected with the international market,' Mr. Ma added.

China shares a long borderline with India, Nepal and other countries, and Tibet serves as a window for trade and communications with China's South Asian neighbors.
http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7272597.html

Tibet to build up comprehensive energy system in next 5 years
In the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015), Tibet Autonomous Region will build up a stable, safe, economical and sustainable comprehensive energy system predominated by hydroelectric power and supplemented by oil gas and new energy.

The energy supply project will focus on the hydroelectric power with the installed capacity to hit 2.6 million KW to meet the demand of the region.
Meanwhile, Tibet will actively exploit solar energy with the expected generating capacity for up to 160,000 KW, while striving to build a state solar utilization research and demonstration base and explore the construction mode of small and large solar energy power generation stations.
In addition, Tibet will speed up its power grid construction by completing the interconnection between the central Tibet and the northwestern China, expanding its coverage in farming and pastoral areas, upgrading the voltage level and power supply capacity, and ensuring safety.

"To guarantee energy supplies, Tibet will set up Zam, Gonpa-la, Gotod and Tob hydropower stations as well as emergency and peak-shaving power plants in central Tibet and Ngari. Preliminary survey on key power plants will be conducted before the Yangyi geothermal power station, large grid-connected photovoltaic power stations and energy storing equipment will be built around selected sites in Lhasa, Lhoka, Shigatse and Ngari," said Li Wenhan, deputy director-general of Tibet's Water Resources Department.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7268319.html

China adds 3 bln dollars to rebuild quake-hit Yushu
China's government plans to spend 20 billion yuan (3 billion US dollars) this year, about four times the amount last year, to accelerate reconstruction of a Northwestern county flattened by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake last year, a senior local official told reporters Thursday.

Luo Huining, governor of Qinghai province, said the money would mainly go to the building of urban homes, public service facilities and infrastructure in the Tibetan autonomous county of Yushu.

By the end of last year, about 5.01 billion yuan had funded 289 recovery projects in Yushu. Workers had completed settlements for herdsmen and repaired damaged homes in the town of Gyegu, near the epicenter, Luo said.

A 7.1-magnitude quake struck Yushu on April 14, killing more than 2,200 people, and leaving more than 100,000 homeless. The government has pledged that reconstruction will take less than three years. The homeless are temporarily housed in tents and prefab homes.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7268322.html

Chamdo to set up non-ferrous metal industrial base by 2020
Eastern Tibet's Chamdo Prefecture will basically set up a non-ferrous metal industrial base by 2020, said Urgyen Phuntsog, vice secretary of Chamdo Party Committee.

Chamdo boasts a reserve of nearly 100 kinds of mineral resources, including gold, silver, bronze and iron. The main mineral reserves consist of 52 kinds in 6 major categories. The identified bronze reserve amounts to 10.34 million tons while lead and zinc reserves measure about four million tons.

"The Yulong bronze mine, which is under exploitation, exceeds 6.5 million tons and its potential reserves will top over 10 million tons. It is the largest mono-bronze mine in China as well as the second largest in Asia," said Urgyen Phuntsog.

The exploitation of Yulong bronze mine will ease the imbalance between the supply and demand of bronze in China and also promote the economic and social development of Chamdo, added Urgyen Phuntsog.

"By 2015, Chamdo will strive to realize the goal that the annual output of bronze, magnesia and coal exceeds 100,000 tons respectively, and the sales volume of iron ore amounts to one million tons," said Urgyen Phuntsog.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7266729.html

Chamdo to build 25 terraced hydropower stations
Eastern Tibet's Chamdo Prefecture plans to build 25 terraced hydropower stations in accordance with the water-resource development plan along the Drichu River, Dachu River and Ngulchu River, said Urgyen Phuntsog, vice secretary of the Chamdo Party Committee.

So far, Chamdo has completed the preliminary surveys on seven terraced hydropower stations, and the feasibility studies on the Yerpa Beach, Lawa and Suwalong terraced hydropower stations have been in full swing.

In Chamdo, the total water reserve amounts to 40.46 million kw while the overall hydropower generated in Chamdo was 280,000 kw as of the end of 2010.

Chamdo will build several major power plants along the three rivers in the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015), with its installed capability estimated to over 5 million kw by 2015.

By 2020, Chamdo's installed capability is expected to exceed 10 million kw and then it will basically set up a national energy base to transmit electricity from the western to the eastern regions.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7266716.html

nice info from tibet
how about the hotel, shopping mall and office building in there?

nice info from tibet
how about the hotel, shopping mall and office building in there?

Tibet has all these kind of development, But they wont have many of those compare to other province, cuz tibet has onlt like 3million pop, and the largest city lasah has only like half million pop,but their living standard is some of the best in China, with income above the national average.

^^

First five-star hotel opens in Tibet
BEIJING: The first-ever five-star hotel in Tibet opened Saturday in the capital Lhasa, in a bid to attract more tourists to the region.

The St. Regis Hotel opened Saturday in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, confirmed Guo Yan, chairman of the hotel's investor, Yungao International Hotel.

Wang Songping, deputy chief of the tourism bureau of Tibet, said construction of two other hotels - the Shangri-La and the Intercontinental could start later this year, Xinhua reported.http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-05-28/news/29593981_1_lhasa-tourism-bureau-first-five-star-hotel

China to build major highway tunnel to further open up Tibet
(TibetanReview.net, Jun03, 2011) In its relentless quest to open up occupied Tibet for Chinese movement and settlement, China is investing 1.12 billion yuan to build the world's highest highway tunnel at the Trola Mountain section of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. The tunnel, located at an altitude of about 4,300 meters, links Sichuan’s capital Chengdu to Tibet’s capital Lhasa and the work began on Jun 1, reported China’s official Xinhua news agency Jun 1. The project is expected to take four years to complete.

The report cited construction manager Li Ming as saying the 7-kilometer tunnel will shorten travel time across the mountain from more than two hours to about 10 minutes. The tunnel’s importance was also emphasized for the fact that it will dramatically reduce the danger for truck drivers zigzagging up and down the mountain.More: http://www.tibetanreview.net/news.php?&id=9007

All very interesting information. Thank you guys for posting! :)

It's nice to see Tibet growing in development.

Lhasa-Shigatse railway under construction
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Pictures show Lhasa-Shigatse railway under construction now. As the extension line of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, the 253-kilometer Lhasa-Shigatse railway starts at the Lhasa Railway Station in the east, the terminal of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, up along the Yarlung Zangbo River and finally ends in southwestern Tibet's Shigatse.[Photo/Tibet.cn]

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Pictures show Lhasa-Shigatse railway under construction now. [Photo/Tibet.cn]

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http://www.people.com.cn/mediafile/pic/20111010/18/5882521881159591598.jpghttp://chinatibet.people.com.cn/96069/7612827.html

love them... nice photos

Qinghai-Tibet power grid goes into trial operation
LHASA, Oct. 31 -- The Qinghai-Tibet Power Grid Interconnection Project has been completed and went into trial operation early Monday morning, according to local authorities.

A converter station in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, went into operation at about 3 a.m. Monday, according to Peng Kai, chief engineer with the Hubei Electric Power Transmission Distribution Engineering Company, which runs the project. Read more (http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/96057/7632726.html)

one word Hats off to China !

sometimes i just feel that Pakistan - our brotherly country should have been much more developed and advanced if they were a part of china lol

Tibet spends US$507 mln building eco-security barrier
Southwest China‘s Tibet autonomous region spent 3.2 billion yuan (about 507 million U.S. dollars) last year to turn the area into an “ecological security barrier,” the local government said Thursday.

The spending financed 10 major projects including the conservation of Tibet’s pastureland and wetland, measures to prevent forest fires and pests, wildlife protection and environment monitoring, said Zhang Yongze, the regional environment protection chief. Read more (http://www.eco-business.com/news/tibet-spends-us507-mln-building-eco-security-barrier/)

Rail link to Tibetan town near India to be completed by 2015
BEIJING: The extension of a landmark railway line from Tibet's capital Lhasa to its second-largest city Xigaze, located close to Indian border, is in full swing and will be completed by 2015, Chinese officials said today.

As of the end of 2011, 3.4 billion yuan (USD 538 million) had been poured into the Lhasa-Xigaze railway, about a quarter of the total budget for the project, Tibet's regional development and reform commission said in a statement. Read more (http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-01-17/news/30635668_1_qinghai-tibet-railway-rail-link-lhasa-xigaze)