Air Service Links Yushu to Lhasa in Tibet

Air Service Links Yushu to Lhasa in Tibet

 

Tibet Airlines has launched a new regular flight between Lhasa, the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province, marking the first air route linking the two areas.

The new route linking Tibet and Yushu serves as a window for tourists to experience the different customs and natural scenery of different Tibetan areas.

It is more convenient for tourists to explore the wild natural grassland and to experience the lives of the Khampa people and Tibetan Buddhism.

Lhasa is a pilgrimage destination for Tibetans, and every year thousands on the plateau travel to the city.

“It will be more convenient to fly to Lhasa from now on. It is time-efficient,” Tsethar, a local Tibetan in Kyegu town of the prefecture, was quoted as saying.

Using an Airbus A319 aircraft, Flight TV9871/2 will have three flights weekly — on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

According to the regional civil aviation authorities, Tibet opened 13 new air routes in 2013, bringing the total in the region to 48 and the number of cities linked with Tibet to 29.

First Highway Begins to be Constructed in Sichuan Tibetan Area

First Highway Begins to be Constructed in Sichuan Tibetan Area

 

The construction ceremony of the Ya’an-Kangding Highway was held in Ya’an City of Garze Autonomous Prefecture,Sichuan Province on April 20th, ending the history with no highway in the area.

The Ya’an-Kangding Highway, first highway in Garze is expected to be put into operation in 2017.

The four-lane highway is designed with a length of 135 km, the speed of 80 km/h and a total investment of 23.1 billion yuan.

The highway can accelerate the economic development in Garze as a connecting road from inland China to the Tibetan areas. It will put an end to the history of no highway in Garze, perfect the national and Sichuan highway network, and improve traffic conditions in earthquake-hit areas in the ethnic minority regions.

Story of an Ordinary Tibetan Family

Story of an Ordinary Tibetan Family

 

Tsering, 49, is a villager in Yangbajain Township of Lhasa, capital of Tibet.

When Yangbajain railway was constructed in 2004 as part of Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Tsering bought two tip lorries and opened a quarry, earning 200,000 yuan that year.

After having the first bucket of gold, Tsering opened a brickyard and employed more than 20 villagers.

Now, Tsering and his families live a comfortable life in his Tibetan-styled house of 386 square meters with all modern household appliances.

Photographer and His Tibet Story

Photographer and His Tibet Story

 

From the photos, Cheng Weidong, a famous Chinese photographer, tells you a true developing Tibet in different angles and also his stories in Tibet.

Photo shows the Ruins of Guge Kingdom in Nagri Prefecture. Guge is said to be the highest ancient kingdom located on the ridge of the Roof of the World, as Tibet is called. Cheng stepped foot on this “no man’s land” in 1997. “At that time, there was no water, electricity in this site, just one Tibetan gatekeeper named Phurbu Chusang who could only speak broke Chinese and started working there in 1991,” Cheng Weidong said.

Peach Blossoms in Drupung Monastery, Lhasa

Peach Blossoms in Drupung Monastery, Lhasa

 

File photo shows a monk in crimson gown is passing by a cluster of full-blown peach blossoms in the Drepung Monastery, Lhasa. The Twelfth Nyingchi Peach Blossom Cultural Tourism Festival of 2014 starts on March 26 in Kala Village, Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region.

Art Festival on Snow-covered Plateau

Art Festival on Snow-covered Plateau

 

Photo taken on Apr. 11th, 2014 shows the annual horse racing art festival is held in Sum Dzong Township of Pome County, Nyingchi Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region. During the festival, horse racing and equestrianism will be held; meanwhile, song and dance performance with strong Tibetan flavor will also be put on by local villagers in vivid colors.

Nyang Pavillion in Nyingchi,SE Tibet

 

Photo taken on April 9 shows the Nyang Pavillion in Bayi County, Nyingchi Prefecture, southeast of Tibet. Sitting beside the Nyang River, the pavillion, a representative Tibetan construction, holds the Culture Heritage Museum of Southeast Tibet displaying the folk culture tradition of this area.

Butter Sculpture Handicraft's Inheritance in Tibet

 

Butter sculptures, together with prayer wheels, colorful prayer flags and piles of prayer stones, were endorsed by ancient Buddhist masters in Tibet as a flexible approach to help illiterate commoners practice Buddhism.

The sculptures made of white yak butter and mineral dyes depict scenes from the Buddha’s teachings and show the sculptors’ reverence for the Buddha and their wishes on the special day.

It was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage by the State Council in 2006.

Trip to Kumbum Monastery for Spring Outing

 

During the Tomb-sweeping Day holiday, a large number of tourists and Buddhist followers visited the Kumbum Monastery. As a key tourist attraction of Qinghai, the monastery boasts of three artistic specialties including butter sculptures, mural paintings and embroidery.

Story of Tomb Keeper in Tibet

 

Samdrup, the only tomb keeper in Lhasa Martyrs Cemetery, has devoted his life to grave keeping. Dated back to 24 years ago, twenty-year-old Samdrup began his career after serving the army.

Samdrup looks after the graves every day by cleaning the cemetery and telling the heroic stories of martyrs to tomb sweepers.

“I am an ordinary Tibetan. But I know the happy life we are living is gained by the sacrifice of the martyrs. Only by taking good care of the cemetery will I let the martyrs rest in peace,” said Samdrup.

Lhasa Martyrs Cemetery buries near 1,500 martyrs who have lost their lives in big events of Tibet, including the construction of Sichuan-Tibet and Qinghai-Tibet railways, the brief border war between China and India in 1962 and the social constructions in Tibet.

The Tomb-sweeping Day, or Qingming festival,which fell on Apr.5 this year, is the most important period for Chinese to remember the deceased.