This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Aid-Xizang Program. The program was proposed by the leaders of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China at the third Central Conference on Tibet in July 1994, which called for dispatching groups of personnel from regions at various levels in China to Xizang to provide needed support on a regular basis.
As an active participant of the program, Guangdong province has been aiding the city of Nyingchi of the Xizang autonomous region over the past three decades, serving as a driving force for its long-term stability and high-quality development.
Between 1994 and 2024, Guangdong dispatched nearly 1,000 professionals in 10 groups to Nyingchi to offer assistance. The South China province has also invested more than 13.4 billion yuan ($1.85 billion) in more than 900 projects in the city, as reported by Xizang Daily.
These endeavors have covered various domains, including the development of local characteristic industries, enhancement of livelihoods, infrastructure construction, talent development and fostering cultural exchanges.
The results of these efforts are evident in the remarkable growth of Nyingchi's economy, with the city's GDP soaring from 290 million yuan in 1995 to more than 23 billion yuan in 2023.
Guangdong's aid initiatives have played a pivotal role in establishing local industrial clusters, such as the yak industry and modern agricultural parks for Tibetan pigs, edible fungi and tea production.
Notably, the tea industry in the city's Metog county stands out as a significant success story, with the introduction of tea varieties from Guangdong leading to significant growth in tea cultivation and increased incomes for local farmers.
Zhong Dong, a tea farmer in Metog county, expressed his delight and gratitude, saying that "with the guidance of aid-Xizang experts, my family's tea farm has flourished, enabling us to earn more than 40,000 yuan annually from tea farming, a substantial portion of our total income. I am confident in the future of tea farming".
Furthermore, Guangdong's aid efforts have extended to the tourism sector, a key pillar of Nyingchi's economy. The establishment and enhancement of scenic spots in various regions, coupled with the promotion of tourism cooperation alliances, have significantly boosted the city's tourism revenue, reaching a record high of 11.6 billion yuan in 2023.
One shining example of Guangdong's efforts in assisting local tourism is the development of the township of Lunang in Nyingchi.
The township is located in a valley in the east of Nyingchi. Hundreds of Tibetan-style houses are dotted throughout the valley, which features a bubbling stream, surrounded by blossoming grasses and shrubs, farmlands and thriving spruces. And far away, snowcapped mountains can be spotted, emerging through the dense mists.
Despite an altitude of more than 3,000 meters, this is a place ideal for living, farming and herding. Local Tibetans, who have been there for many centuries, usually refer to this place as "the habitat of immortals".
But today, tourism has been added to the traditional industries of farming and herding, resulting in drastically increasing revenue.
Phuntsok, a resident in Lunang's Tashigang village, was among the pioneers to operate a bed-andbreakfast business by the No 318 National Highway — which links Xizang and Sichuan province — more than a decade ago, offering services to tourists with his rustic food and simple lodgings.
Because of a large tourism development project in Lunang more than 10 years ago, Phuntsok has seen unexpected growth in tourist numbers and revenue.
"There weren't many tourists in the village back in the 1990s, but since the area was turned into an international tourism town, both the tourism infrastructure and service quality have improved dramatically, and tourism has become a main income source for the villagers over the past few years," Phuntsok said.
Wang Chen, deputy director of the Lunang management committee, praised the project, which is called Lunang International Tourism Town, as a significant move to "make this hidden pearl (of Lunang) shine".
Planned by the Guangdong provincial government and the government of Xizang, and with funding from Guangdong, the project started construction in 2011.
The project was operational in 2016, and quickly became an attractive tourist destination.
Wang is from Guangdong and was assigned to Lunang as an official for the Aid-Xizang program.
"Since Lunang International Tourism Town was built, almost every household has run a family homestay or other operations. Local residents' incomes have increased year-by-year," Wang said. He added that there are 12 hotels and 73 guesthouses in Lunang, offering more than 2,000 jobs to locals.
Tenzin, 27, for instance, is a local resident working at a five-star hotel in Lunang. "I am paid more than 6,000 yuan a month," Tenzin said. "The hotel is close to my home, making it possible for me to manage my own homestay in my spare time."
Tenzin said he cherishes the opportunity to work at a premium hotel. "The pay is good. And I can learn advanced hotel management skills in my daily work, which are also applicable in operating my own homestay," Tenzin said.
According to local statistics, Lunang received 860,000 tourists in 2023, generating tourism revenue of nearly 90 million yuan.
Overall, Guangdong has directed more than 80 percent of its aid funds and projects to grassroots initiatives, underscoring its dedication to rural vitalization and improving the lives of farmers and herders. In education, Guangdong has supported the construction of schools and dispatched more than 2,400 teachers and other staffers, further strengthening the educational sector in Nyingchi.
As Guangdong's aid to Xizang continues to have a tangible influence on the region's development, it stands as a testament to the enduring partnership and collaborative efforts between the two regions, fostering growth, empowerment and prosperity in Xizang.