A MAZE OF TRANSPORTATION LINES IN TIBET

<正>In 2001,by chance I traveled along the road from Qinghai to Tibet. Though I did not experience the full length of this national road,I was very impressed by what I observed of Tibetan culture.Up to early 2007, I had entered Tibet eight times,from different directions through the four major access points:Sichuan,Yunnan,Xinjiang and Qinghai. Shouldering the responsibility of filming a documentary,I together with my colleagues in 2002 and 2004 drove a vehicle along the route from Sichuan to Tibet,but my third visit to Tibet was by myself.The route from Sichuan to Tibet     

三百六十五里路

What kind of roads have you traveled on?Perhaps the mountain path you walked on behind your mother?Or the bridleway on which you left your hometown?I have not walked on those roads,but I am going to tell you about a road along which the peach trees blossom.     

DAOFU:A GO-GO COUNTY

When my car sped along the Highway No.317, which is part of the Sichuan-Tibet road, I was entranced to find I was in a fairyland. The surrounding environment was so enchanting that I slowed down to enjoy the picturesque scene. Daofu is the first of the eight counties one reaches when traveling from Sichuan to Tibet. Everyday the county has a dozen passenger buses heading for Kangding and Chengdu. The Daofu-Chengdu Highway is asphalted now, and is so smooth and spacious that the entire jo…     

Ancient Rock Paintings and BOLIN GYIASA RUINS IN MARKANG

In July 2000, when I went to investigate ethnic education in the AbaTibetan and Qiang Ethnic Minorities Autonomous Prefecture inSichuan Province, I heard of the BolinGyiasa Ruins in Markang County, androck paintings in nearby Mors Gully inSumgang Township.Accompanied by Mr.MaChaosheng from Markang County, Imade a special trip to Mors Gully. It wasdrizzling, and road conditions were terrible. Our jeep bumped for 15 km along atiny stream in the Gully.SLEEPING ROCK PAINTINGS.…     

New Books

正Archaeological Study on the Structure of the Tang-Tubo Road Net and the Cultural Relics along the Road Line This is a book written by Yu Xiaohong and Xi Lin. The ancient Tang-Tubo road was a famous line of transportation for Tang, with many of its sections corresponding with parts of the Silk Road. After conducting field investigations along the road at areas within the Tibet Autonomous Region as well as Shanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, and Sichuan Provinces, the authors     

黄河岸边菜花香（英文）

正Advancing through the expansive land alongside the south bank of the Yellow River,the snow-covered lofty mountains in the distance seemed to bring a slight,jarring chill as we moved forward along the gravel road.Sopa took this opportunity to point out the cultivated land alongside both the right and left flanks of the road to me.     

黄河岸边菜花香

Advancing through the expansive land alongside the south bank of the Yellow River,the snow-covered lofty mountains in the distance seemed to bring a slight,jarring chill as we moved forward along the gravel road.Sopa took this opportunity to point out the cultivated land alongside both the right and left flanks of the road to me.     

HISTORICAL TESTIMONY FROM TIBETAN PREHISTORIC AGRICULTURE - AN ARCHEOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE TRANGO RUIN IN LHOKA PREFECTURE

<正>Suddenly the sealed asphalt road disappeared.The off-road vehicles drove along the north bank of the Yarlung Zangpo River in a mountain valley.In the distance,we could see the undulating mountain ranges changing shape as our vehicles moved along the riverbank.Gedun explained that those were the mountain ranges of Gokhlariju Mountain.     

TIBET‘S LAST CARAVAN CHARGED WITH TRANSPORTING SALT(Ⅸ):Kelsang Wangdul Arrives at Lhasa

The road became worse by the south part of Namtso;streams of melting snow had eroded the road until it resembled a giant comb.The vehicle alternated between speeding along and a sudden brake that made everyone lurch about as though they were all intoxicated.     

Chasing Tibetan Antel Across Changtang Grassland

n the beginning of Winter, we drove along a zigzagging road across Ithe grassland of north Tibet. Music played incessantly from the vehicle while the extensive landscape stole our breath away. Above the black mountain range; golden clouds and the remaining starswere still hanging in the blue sky. Sporadic groups of antelopes, each consisting of about three to five antelopes, were rtmning beside the road.     

Messengers In Tibetan History

The year 1920 saw the establishment of a post office in Tibet. It was located in Daingyiling in Lhasa. Stamps were produced by the Zhaxi United Factory and postmen were called ＂Zhawa＂ in Tibetan. The major post road, with Lhasa as the center, reached Gongbogyangda in east, Yadong in south, and scores of post stations were set up along the road. The major work of the postmen was carrying private mail and remittances, etc. on foot; while official documents of the local government were mainly sent by professional postmen （Ngazong in Tibetan） hired by the government.     

THE MAGNIFICENT LANDSCAPE AT THE END OF THE DANGEROUS PATH ---THE ROAD TO CHAMDO

<正>People say the road between Sichuan and Tibet is rather dangerous,especially the section close to Chamdo. My first experience of this road worried me a lot because of its poor condition.That was in the middle of June in 2010,just several months before the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Chamdo.I, together with my colleagues,was sent to there to report on the associated celebrations.Our destination was Gatar Township of Tengchen County,where we aimed     

THE TRAILS AND HARDSHIP OF CHOKHOR GYALTSEN

<正>Spring was in the air as our vehicle dashed along the rough mountain road that ran beside the Kathok River. The reporters inside soon found they were approaching Xuzhong Village of Xuzhong Town in Markham County. Chokhor Gyaltsen emerged from his family home.He was an elderly but energetic and slim man of 71.Though his face reflected his experience of all the changes in his world,his gaze was clear and penetrating.     

TIBET’S LAST CARAVAN WITH TRANSPORTING SALT (IV)——WORKING WHILE SINGING

When the director woke us early in the morning, twinkling stars filled the sky amid dead silence; the mountains could be seen dimly snaking away to the far horizon. We drove to the Salt Lake. The distance was only a little over 10 km, but the way was blocked by a river and the road was rough. So, we all began to judge the direction and searched for the little path leading to the Salt Lake. Northern Tibet in the early spring was still covered with ice and snow. We continued to walk along the…     

TRAVELOGUE ON THE UNINHABITED LAND OF NORTH TIBET

<正>Setting foot on the eternally snow-covered Qinghai-Tibet national road and heading to the"roof of the world",my gaze was unavoidably fixed on the vast but harsh conditions in the north-west of the Tibetan plateau.This is the"Changtang uninhabited land"to which people so often refer. It has been about 20 years since I last encountered the"uninhabited land"of North Tibet.Surprisingly,however,today I find this mysterious land has undergone an earthshaking change.     

“I USED TO BE A Road Maintenance Worker”——Interview With Director Celo of Qamdo Communications Bureau

EDRROR's NOTE: During our interview with Director Celo,the Kamba man told us he used to be a road maintenance workerI was born in 1956 in the rural areain Zayu. My hometown was inaccessible by highway. It took me sixdays to walk to Zugong Countyseat, where, however, I still did not findan automobile.When I graduated from primaryschool, I passed examinations to be amember of the County Literary Propaganda Troupe. It was an easy jobbecause we Tibetans are born singersand dancers.When …     

HISTORY ENGRAVED ON THE STONES-Tubo Stone Inscription in Lhodrak——The 2~(nd) Record of Archeological Studies in Lhodrak

<正>Lhodrak Town is a small town on the border of the Tibet Autonomous Region(TAR) in China.This is a peaceful and beautiful town stretching from east to west along the Lhodrak River between a mountain and the river.The Xungqu River of Lhodrak runs day and night from the town to the distant border.The end of the downtown of the county seems to be the end of the access.Nevertheless,a single road suddenly appears before you,zigzagging to the village and surrounded by rich forest.In the morning when the fog is still lying on the land,we have     

RETURNING TO OMBU

From the southwest of Nyima,a wide and flat road crosses over ex-tensive grassland.It is the road to Ombu-a high-altitude and very remote area in Tibet Au-tonomous Region(TAR).This road offers many challenges to the traveler.     

THE METOK ROAD OPEN TO TRAFFIC

Metok in Nyingchi Prefecture was the only county that did not have a road in the past. On October 31st, 2013, the Road to Metok was officially opened to the public. The opening of this road signified that now all counties in China can be accessed by road.     

THE GOLDEN AGE:VISITING DRATHANG MONASTERY

正Not far from the ferry dock close to the Samye Monastery,there is a countryside road leading directly to the Dranang County.The road has been laid with asphalt and connects Lhasa to Lhokar.At the very beginning of the road,however,there is a sign,where"To the Drathang Monastery"is written.Obviously,the monastery is much more famous than the county.Ten