On July 1st, 2006, the 1,956 kilometer of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, stretching from Xining in the east to Lhasa in the south, opened for business.

As of July 31st this year, the railroad has carried 95.594 million passengers and transported 411 million tons of goods. Passenger and good volume has increased from 6.482 million people and 24.91 million tons of goods in 2006 to 12.748 million people and 54.724 million tons of goods in 2014, making a significant contribution to the growth of Tibet’s GDP.

Qinghai-Tibet Railway adds to Tibet’s popularity

“Going abroad is easy, but going to Tibet is hard.” This was once an accurate portrayal of Tibet’s transportation system, but since the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, travelers can easily get into Tibet. The railway is both safe and convenient, and the economical and cozy way of transport will bring Tibet and the rest of China closer together than ever before.

Since the railway has begun operating, Tibet has experienced a huge surge in tourism, becoming the mainstay industry of the region’s economy. Data from Tourism Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region show that in the nine years of the operation of Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Tibet has received a total of 74.183 million tourists from home and abroad. Tourism revenue has grown from 1.94 billion yuan in 2005 to 20.4 billion yuan in 2014, increasing more than tenfold.

Qinghai-Tibet Railway brings wealth to Tibet

Since the construction of the Gera section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway began in June of 2001 and the cut-through of the whole Qinghai-Tibet Railway in July of 2006, it has smashed the long time transportation bottleneck restricting Tibet's development. As a result, the volume and quality of goods entering and leaving Tibet has risen significantly.

Jieqing, head of Lhasa Station of Qinghai-Tibet Railway Company, said: “All kinds of products that are coming into Lhasa by way of the railroad arrive at the Lhasa West Station first, including refined oil, building materials, cereals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, and more. In 2014, Lhasa West Station received and sent out 4.327 million tons of goods."

Data show that since 2006, 75 percent of Tibet's transported goods are borne by the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The transit capability of the railway is more than 40 times than that of auto cargo. The railway has hugely contributed to the development of Tibet’s economy and society, putting Tibet in an economic fast lane.

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway brings kindness to Tibet

Since the opening of the railway, every year many Tibetans take the train to worship while the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Company seeks to provide comfortable, safe, and convenient service for these ethnic groups.

On August 1st of this year, on the Xining to Lhasa Z6801 train, Cailuo, nearly 70 years old, from Yushu Prefecture of Qinghai Province, went to Lhasa to worship. He said, “Before, the train did not go through Lhasa, and I didn’t dare to travel there. But now, I will go there on a pilgrimage every two years. It’s great!”

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway gives Tibet stamina

Last August, service from Lhasa to Shigatse commenced. This year, a line from Lhasa to Nyingchi is under construction, allowing the “Sky Road” to bring more development to Tibet, unearthing and maximizing Tibet’s full growth potential.

The opening and operation of the railway from Lhasa to Shigatse, Tibet’s two largest cities, means that travel time will be shorter by 2 hours and 59 minutes than the 6 hours it takes to drive. This year, the Lhasa-Shigatse line will be one year old. According to the statistics of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, as of July 31st, passengers transported numbered 626.5 thousands, while cargo stands at 65 thousands tons.

The Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway is Tibet's first electrified railway, starting in Lhasa, and finally connecting to Nyingchi, it is 435 kilometers in length. The total construction period will be seven years. This project is an important part of the planning of national long-term railway network involving the Sichuan-Tibet and Yunnan-Tibet railways.

Today, nearly 30 trains traverse the tracks of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway each day, while the daily average passenger numbers have reached 9,100. In addition, goods from all over the country pour in and out of Tibet, and each day nearly a thousand tons of goods “ride” across the plateau, greatly contributing to the development of Tibet as well as the unity of its people.