Tourism is a key industry in China's Xizang Autonomous Region. To help develop the sector, experts from Guangdong Province have transformed a small town in Linzhi into an increasingly attractive destination. Guo Tianqi has the story.

Located in the eastern foothills of the Himalayas, Linzhi benefits from a humid climate due to moisture from the Indian Ocean, turning it into an environmental wonderland high in the snowy plateau.

WANG CHEN is a member of the 10th batch from the Aiding Xizang program in Guangdong Province. We followed him on a visit to the Zhuoma Sisters' home-stay, which is very popular during the summer months when it's peak tourist season in Lulang.

WANG CHEN Team Leader 10th Batch of Aiding Xizang Program in Guangdong "You can use the internet platform to attract more customers. Feel free to tell us if you have any difficulties at the homestay."

ZHUOMA Owner, Homestay "We are going to make freshly ground coffee here. The view is good. The Aiding Xizang program provided us with training, including hotel management, coffee making, ice cream making and so on. Our income has increased three or four times since we embraced tourism."

Lulang, with only 1,400 residents, is an important stopover on China's most famous road trip route. But the lack of infrastructure puts people off staying here. In response, the Aiding Xizang team established an international tourist town here by investing 3.8 billion Yuan, about 52 million U.S. dollars, in construction and design. In 2023 alone, it received 860,000 tourists, with a turnover of 90 million yuan, or 12 million U.S. dollars. In addition to the twelve hotels, there are more than seventy home-stays.

WANG CHEN Team Leader 10th Batch of Aiding Xizang Program in Guangdong "Lulang has world-class nature and transportation advantages. The most beautiful national highway in China, 318, passes through here, and there a high-speed rail station is also planned. We can use our experience in modern tourism to create world-class destinations here."

"We drove all the way from Yunnan and planned to stay here for one more day. The young people are planning to go horseback riding later. We plan to go for a walk in the mountains."

Beyond the natural scenery, tourists are also able to experience traditional Tibetan archery, enjoying the beauty of nature, and receiving a mature service.

WANG CHEN Team Leader 10th Batch of Aiding Xizang Program in Guangdong "I remember in 2012, the per capita disposable income here was 7,400 yuan, about 1,000 U.S. dollars per year. But now, the figure has reached 33,000 yuan, about 5,000 US dollars, and the income from tourism accounts for more than 60 percent, which has brought great changes to the local area."

Tourism is one of the pillar industries of Xizang, and supporting the industry is a key plank of the central government's efforts to help develop the economy in a sustainable, and increasingly prosperous, direction. GUO TIANQI, CGTN, Linzhi, Xizang Autonomous Region.