"Xizang's steps are steady and firm, and its future is infinitely bright." On March 6, 2026, inside the Great Hall of the People's Xizang Hall, at an open panel discussion of the Xizang delegation, deputies presented to the world a picture of today's Xizang, characterized by prosperity.
Also on March 6, at an open panel event of the Sichuan delegation, the heated discussion covers farm produce on the plateau. Chen Guanghao[1] , a deputy and director of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, mentioned that Sichuan is improving public services along the Sichuan sections of the G317 and G318 national highways, known as China's most scenic thoroughfare. Eight pilot tourism services have been constructed which facilitates tourists by leaps and bounds. "An EV can now go from Chengdu to the Mt. Qomolangma Base Camp with battery changes all along the road."
Plateau Stories Witness Vicissitudes
In Douyu Lhopa Township, Longzi County, Lhoka City, Xizang Autonomous Region, Tashi Galtshen, the township head, is a witness to his hometown's changes. In recent years, over 8 million yuan has been invested to protect the language, history, and traditional skills of the Lhopa. The government funds Lhopa language courses in schools, and the village regularly holds evening classes. "This ensures our culture lives outside of museums and among folks," Tashi Galtshen said.
Great Changes in Infrastructure
By the end of 2024, a tap water plant invested by government was fully operational[2] , covering all administrative villages and finally solving the die-hard [3] problem of unstable water supply during the dry winter months. The township health center, expanded with support from paired-up assistance funds, has tripled in size and is now better equipped, allowing villagers to receive treatment for minor illnesses without leaving the township. The old school with only a shabby two-story building has been replaced by a new one with separate classrooms and dormitories. Children now have access to quality education.
Data Behind the Stories
In 2025, Xizang Autonomous Region achieved a GDP of 303.189 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.0% at constant prices, with growth rates ranking among the highest nationwide for four consecutive quarters. Even more noteworthy, it took Xizang 50 years to cross its first 100-billion-yuan GDP threshold, six years for the second, and only four years to surpass 300 billion yuan. In 2025, Xizang ranked first nationwide in the growth rate of eight key indicators: regional GDP, value-added of large-scale industries, fixed asset investment, general public budget revenue, general public budget expenditure, per capita disposable income of all residents, per capita disposable income of urban residents, and per capita disposable income of rural residents.
Looking at livelihood indicators, in 2025, the per capita disposable income of all Xizang residents reached 33,600 yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.2%; for urban residents, it was 58,794 yuan, up by 6.0%; and for rural residents, it was 23,184 yuan, up by 7.4%. All three income growth rates ranked first nationally. From 456 yuan at the founding of the Xizang Autonomous Region in 1965 to 58,794 yuan in 2025, urban resident income has grown 128-fold. Average life expectancy has increased from 35.5 years in 1951 to 72.19 years in 2025.
The Change of an Ordinary Family
During the 2025 Spring Festival, at the square of Chaka Village, Chodron and her family were lining up for the "Swapping for New Appliances" event. Staff explained the policy: depending on the appliance's energy efficiency, herders can enjoy subsidies ranging from 15% to 20%. Chodron's father, Gongpo, recalled that electricity was a major problem because small hydropower stations were unstable, forcing them to use kerosene lamps. In 2014, Chaka Village was connected to the national power grid, and since then, they started using all kinds of electrical appliances.
In 2018, Chaka Village was built into a Hot Spring Town out of its abundant geothermal heat and developed the collective economy. Chodron's family invested 5,000 yuan for shares. The following year, the town generated over 400,000 yuan in revenue. With the support from the tourism bureau, Chodron started a homestay. She calculates her annual income: dividends from the homestay and the hot spring, and income from work, totals over 40,000 yuan. The Lithang county government has invested over 1.4 billion yuan in building high-quality rural roads, extending the county's road network to over 1,600 kilometers and establishing a three-tier county-township-village logistics system, effectively solving the "last mile" problem in rural logistics.
Data Witnesses Garze's Development
In 2025, Garze Prefecture achieved a GDP of 61.311 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.5%, an increase of 18.153 billion yuan compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period, increasing by two hundred-billion yuan within five years. The value-added of large-scale industries grew by 16.2% year-on-year, and total profits of large-scale industrial enterprises reached 3.073 billion yuan, a growth of 72.5%. In 2025, the per capita disposable income of rural residents in Garze Prefecture reached 19,119 yuan, with an average annual growth of 7.4%, ranking among the fastest in the province; in Litang County specifically, the figure was 18,139 yuan.
Ecological Protection and Cultural-Tourism Improve Life
Gannan Prefecture is implementing "Ten Major Projects," including upgrading scenic spots and expanding industrial integration, aiming to receive over 60 million tourists annually by 2030. Ren Qunjie, a tourist from Xi'an, remarked, "I find Yeliguan is beautiful, and the people are warm. I'm very satisfied with the food, accommodation, and transportation—even the restroom I just used was very clean. In the evening, we watched the performance at the square and joined the circle dance. It was a lot of fun."
Figures about Gannan's Development
In 2025, Gannan Prefecture achieved a GDP of 27.562 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.4%. The per capita disposable income of rural residents reached 13,481 yuan, up by 6.1%. Total profits of large-scale industrial enterprises hit 2.078 billion yuan, a year-on-year surge of 81.5%. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Gannan completed the integrated protection and restoration of 169,000 hectares of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, grasslands, lakes, and sandlands. Compared to five years ago, the average outflow of the Yellow River and the average annual water supply have increased by 36.48% and 23.97% respectively. Gahai Lake was enlisted as a Wetland of International Importance.
Numbers about Diqing's Development
In 2025, Diqing Prefecture's estimated GDP reached 31.3 billion yuan, with value-added of large-scale industries growing by about 9% and fixed asset investment increasing by 5.7%. The prefecture has consistently maintained over 80% of its fiscal expenditure in livelihood areas. Ecological protection red lines cover 63.26% of the prefecture's total land area, and the forest coverage rate stands at 63.98%.
Ecological Protection Plays an Important Role in Yushu
"I was a herder, which generated an unstable income and damaged the grassland. Now, I'm a ranger, and earn an annual salary of 21,600 yuan, plus the ecological compensation," smiled Karma Tseten, a wetland ranger from Tsozang Village, Longbao Town, Yushu." Longbaotan, where he works, has also been enlisted as a Wetland of International Importance. Over 8,000 rangers like him safeguard the clean waters and lush mountains of the Sanjiangyuan area.
Ecological improvements are transforming into advantages for industrial development. Yushu yak products have achieved certification for organic production across the entire prefecture, with 12.4 million hectares of usable pastureland and 1.5 million yaks incorporated into the organic management system. In pilot smart pasture projects in Yushu City and Zhidoi County, nearly 7,000 yaks have been fitted with electronic ear tags, giving them a "digital ID." From guardians of the grasslands to the modernization of the yak industry, Yushu is forging a new path prioritizing ecological conservation and green development.
Whether it's Xizang, the roof of the world, or the Tibetan-inhabited areas in Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, and Qinghai, all are demonstrating stable development, harmonious societies, and a bright future within the grand process of Chinese modernization. This high and vast land, through the united efforts and hard work of all its ethnic groups, is radiating unprecedented vitality and energy, becoming a shining gem on China's development map in the new era.
