One of the biggest draws to Tibet for visitors is its rich religious environment.

Lhasa, known as "Holy City," houses respected monasteries. Rolling prayer wheels remind the public of the legends and myths of the Himalayan region, while prostrating believers line the roads leading to the Tibetan capital, demonstrating their religious piety.

"Tibet is a place where modernity coexists with tradition, and legend lives alongside reality," said Liu Wei, a writer who has spent nearly 30 years in Tibet.

These traditions live on in 18-year-old Shabdrung Rinpoche.

Shabdrung Rinpoche is one of 358 living buddhas in Tibet. Since a young age, he has been respected and worshipped by followers of Tibetan Buddhism.

He has spent most of his life studying Buddhist scripture, literature, English and history.

"My responsibility is heavier than a mountain. I should offer salvation to sentient beings," he said.

Across Tibet, there are 1,787 religious sites housing 46,000 monks and nuns. In Lhasa, before sunrise, believers wait in lines to enter the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple.

Further south in Shannan, Yumbulagang, Tibet's first temple, also has no shortage of visitors.

For the past 20 years, Kelsang Wangyel has made a living by providing horseback rides to Buddhist believers and tourists ascending the mountain to see the temple.

"I bought my horse in 1996 and have been working here ever since," he said. A native Tibetan, Kelsang has learned to greet customers in Mandarin, English and Japanese.

"I'm in good health and I will continue to lead my horse here," said the 61-year-old.

The sanguine Tibetan has little to worry about. Tibet has led the country in covering all rural and pastoral residents with basic medical care.

Fifteen years of compulsory education are also provided, with free boarding for all children from rural and pastoral families as well as those from poor urban families.

The original title: Xinhua Insight: Tibet celebrates 50 years of development, tradition