In this episode of Beyond the Tracks, we journey along the Qinghai-Xizang Railway to explore how it transforms resources into economic momentum in this once inaccessible region of western China. Chen Yilin has more.

At nearly 3000 meters above sea level, the wind over northwest China carries a sharp taste of salt. This is Qarhan Salt Lake, China's largest salt lake.

CHEN YILIN Golmud, Qinghai Province "Beneath the vast white crust lies a true treasure, China's largest potash deposit."

Potash, a key ingredient in modern agriculture. Every spring, millions of tonnes begin a journey that will eventually reach farms across China.

But for a long time, this wealth was locked away by altitude and isolation.

"Careful there."

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Welcome to the beautiful Qarhan Salt Lake."

For He Lianfu, each day on the lake starts with one essential task – drawing out the resources hidden beneath its surface. Over the past two decades, he has seen an entire industry evolve before his eyes.

HE LIANFU Captain, Salt Harvesting Vessel "Before the railway reached this plateau, in the 1950s and 1960s, everything was done by hand. We dug with shovels and hauled materials ourselves. The technology wasn't advanced enough to fully extract the potassium from the brine."

Across the lake, an industrial network is operating at full speed. What was once isolated is now woven into China's food supply chain.

At the center of this transformation is the Qinghai-Xizang railway. For logistics manager Wang Zuoliang, the change is measured in time and in scale.

WANG ZUOLIANG Qinghai-Xizang Railway Logistics Center "When the railcars start rolling, wealth follows. At peak times, we ship up to 30,000 tonnes a day, roughly 400 railcars. It means fertilizer can reach farmers without delay."

"Loading complete. Start the crane."

Today, the railway is carrying trade beyond China, reaching countries like Vietnam and Nepal.

As the railway reaches further, new changes are also flowing back into the plateau, starting with food.

CHEN YILIN Lhasa, Xizang "In Lhasa, delicacies from across China could be found on the table. But none of this would be possible without one critical system: cold-chain transportation."

Early in the morning, a fresh shipment has just reached Lhasa.

"What's inside these containers?"

"Frozen food products transported by rail."

"How fast does it arrive?"

"They can reach the Lhasa West freight terminal within 48 hours."

The growth has been dramatic over the past years.

LI XIN China Railway Special Cargo Logistics "In 2024, cold-chain freight arriving in Lhasa totaled 9,000 tonnes. It rose to 33,000 tonnes in 2025, nearly quadrupling in just one year. From January to May this year, we've already shipped more than 26,000 tonnes."

What the railway brings in is not just cargo. It's a new way of life taking shape along the tracks. But food is only part of the story.

Along this high-altitude railway, another trend is reshaping travel itself.

CHEN YILIN Lhasa city, Xizang "Look, right next to me, what's being unloaded are not just new cars, but private vehicles belonging to travelers. A new travel trend is emerging in Xizang: People are now entrusting their cars to the railway. It's like giving your car a train ticket and starting your road trip the moment you pick it up in Lhasa."

Tourist "Driving up here can be exhausting. Shipping my car by rail is easier on my body."

"If you bring your car by rail, you can explore far more places here. You're free to explore at your own pace."

This is becoming a hidden engine of tourism growth. Travelers are venturing into remote valleys and small towns once off the map.

CHEN YILIN Nyingchi, Xizang "This is what tourism starting to look like. People not only come here to explore Xizang, but also coming to live it!"

"The number of self-driving tourists has surged."

"And our incomes have risen along with it."

"I've spent a week here."

"You'll find a wide range of places to stay and eat."

LI NING Niyang Community, Nyingchi City "We now receive nearly 200 self-drive vehicles here every day. Areas that were once remote and abandoned are now thriving. Storefront occupancy has risen from about 30% to 100%, with every unit now rented. The community now provides nearly everything travelers need."

Twenty years ago, the Qinghai-Xizang Railway stitched one of the world's highest plateaus into modern China. Today, it does more than connect. It circulates. From the vast salt lakes of Qinghai to the valleys of Xizang, the economic pulse of the plateau is growing stronger with every passing train. And wherever the tracks lead, opportunities follow. CYL, CGTN."