Thriving tourism benefits local residents in SW China's Xizang

An aerial drone photo taken on July 19, 2025 shows a view of the Sapukonglagabo Mountain in Biru county, Nagqu city, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. The Sapukonglagabo Mountain, with a main peak soaring to nearly 7,000 meters above sea level, is favored by tourists for its magnificent snow-capped scenery, spectacular glaciers, and abundant wildlife. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Thanks to supportive policies and strategic branding efforts, tourism in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region has boomed in recent years, drawing increasing numbers of local farmers and herders into the industry. This has enabled them to find employment and increase their incomes close to home, while benefiting from high-quality development.

As transportation infrastructure continues to improve, more and more visitors are heading to the Sapu scenic area in Biru county, Nagqu city, to admire its unique snow-capped mountains and glacial lakes.

"In July this year, the Sapu scenic area was officially approved as a national 4A tourist attraction, the second-highest level in the country's tourism evaluation system. Behind this achievement lie comprehensive upgrades to tourism services and facilities," said Tenzin Dargye, a guide in the scenic area.

In September last year, the Shargang La tunnel was completed and opened to traffic, transforming what was once known as "the first dangerous pass into Xizang" into a major thoroughfare, marking the full opening of the national highway G349.

"The number of vehicles and tourists has more than doubled," said Tashi, a resident of Banbar county in Qamdo city.

A series of major transportation projects have been approved and launched locally, with extensive road networks at various levels bringing tangible benefits and convenience to local villagers.

"Yak meat and caterpillar fungus, an expensive ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, can now be transported out quickly and sold at good prices—our pockets are getting fuller," said a local resident.

Improved infrastructure has also made it easier for villagers to access education and medical services in the county seat.

Puyu village 1 in Banbar town, located over 50 kilometers from the county seat of Banbar, boasts unique natural attractions, including a large ice cave. In early 2024, the Banbar county government donated 50 off-road motorcycles to the village, supporting the development of a tourism program that combines ice and snow exploration with off-road riding, involving all 149 village households.

"Thanks to this motorcycle, my annual income exceeds 10,000 yuan (about $1,393.36)," said villager Phuntsok.

Under a range of policy incentives, Banbar county received over 300,000 tourist visits last year, generating tourism revenue of 34.54 million yuan—a 225.84 percent year-on-year increase.

At the end of 2023, Biru county was officially designated an autonomous region-level holistic tourism demonstration zone. This July, 14 tourist attractions, including the Sapu scenic area, were approved as national 4A scenic spots.

To promote cultural and tourism consumption, Xizang has encouraged the integration of intangible cultural heritage and performances into scenic areas. The autonomous region has also implemented a project to cultivate distinctive cultural and tourism sectors to promote deep integration between tourism and other sectors such as sports, agriculture, transportation, and commerce by establishing premium scenic areas, cultural tourism corridors, and tourism-focused counties.

"To keep beautiful scenery permanent, we must protect the ecological environment of scenic areas," said Jamyang, a member of the standing committee and head of the publicity department of the CPC Biru county committee.

To broaden participation in ecological protection, the county established 36 positions in the Sapu scenic area for forestry ecological protection, water conservation, and highway maintenance, addressing employment while safeguarding the environment.

Tenzin Dargye, a native of Biru county, graduated from Xizang Vocational Technical College in 2021 and chose to return home as a guide. "Telling my hometown's stories to more people gives me great satisfaction," he said.

Since 2017, Biru county's cultural and tourism departments have encouraged local residents to convert idle houses into B&B hotels, providing accommodation and dining services for tourists. The county has invested 2.26 million yuan in the decoration of B&B hotels, oxygen equipment, and accommodation supplies.

At the "three-color lake" scenic area, the first B&B hotel opened in Puyu village 1 in late 2022. Today, seven B&B hotels operate locally, with each household earning an additional 50,000 to 100,000 yuan annually.

Beyond Banbar and Biru, similar transformations are taking place across Xizang. At a scenic area in Nyingchi city, B&B hotels that preserve the traditional Tibetan village atmosphere are especially popular with tourists, and local residents' per capita annual income exceeds 20,000 yuan.