Under the special care of the CPC Central Committee as well as the decision and deployment of the Party Committee and Government of Tibet Autonomous Region, the "Shangshung Metog" Eco-tourism and Cultural Industrial Park, which is located in the Tohlung Dechen District of Lhasa City, is thriving in the new era.

Top-level design highlights industries and characteristics

The "Shangshung Metog" Eco-tourism and Cultural Industrial Park is one of the key projects in Lhasa during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, an important measure to accelerate the strategy of targeted poverty alleviation and also a crucial starting point to further promote the construction of strong industrial area.

In 2015, the project has started construction, covering an area of 38.28 square kilometers and with a total planned investment of 5 billion yuan RMB.

The three main themes of the park are Shangshung culture, fine spices, and sea of flowers. Specifically, it includes eight parts: family inn area, Shangshung Museum, tourist service center, equestrian performance center, external business area, Lingka area (In Tibetan language, "Lingka" refers to grassy, tree-lined place for rest and picnic.), amusement park, and cultural and creative research and development area.

At present, some individual projects in the park have taken shape. The sea of flowers is on considerable scale; the Shangshung Castle has been completed and put into use; the characteristic Dekyi Tibetan family inn has entered the operation stage; other projects are under orderly construction.

Characteristic culture integrates with rural tourism

Focusing on displaying ethnic culture with Tibetan characteristics, the design style of Shangshung Castle echoes the Shangshung culture in terms of the bridge piers, corridors and viewing platforms. In addition, it is an important transportation hub to enter the park. Standing on the observation deck, the park has a panoramic view.

Apart from the Shangshung Castle, traces of Tibetan ethnic culture as well as modern elements can be seen everywhere in the park.

For example, the characteristic Dekyi Tibetan family inn perfectly integrates Tibetan culture with modern elements. Its style is typical Tibetan building. There are TV, air conditioner, toilet and shower in the rooms, while Tibetan style desk, chair, and tea set make the rooms different.

"The accommodations are great and the rooms make a perfect combination of Tibetan style and modern decor. Here, I feel the tranquility of the Tibetan countryside and the unique charm of Tibetan culture," says Long Ying, a tourist from Changsha City of Hunan Province.

Jiang Xiaoli, deputy general manager of the characteristic Dekyi Tibetan family inn, introduces that the family inn integrates folk experience, characteristic catering, tourism and leisure shopping. Visitors can drink tea, taste Tibetan yogurt, Zanba, yak meat, buy Tibetan featured products, as well as participate in folk activities, closely touch Tibetan culture.

Industry drives employment

Focusing on delivering tangible benefits to the masses, the park adheres to taking industrial poverty alleviation as the fundamental way for the people to lift themselves out of poverty.

In 2016, 408 poverty-stricken people from 100 households in Tohlung Dechen District have moved into the poverty alleviation relocation site in Boma Village, and they have lived in spacious and bright new houses.

Relying on the industrial park, the local people can get jobs near their homes. The characteristic Dekyi Tibetan family inn and sea of flowers are representatives of industrial poverty alleviation projects in the park. By providing long-term employment opportunities, participating in the operation of the family inn and sharing the profits from tourism and others, The Dekyi Tibetan family inn has led 37 local people to obtain employment and become rich. At present, more than 20 kinds of flowers and seedlings with a total area of about 4.6 square kilometers have been planted in the sea of flowers, transferring land of over 5.2 square kilometers and driving the annual per capita land income of Boma villagers being increased by 6,000 yuan RMB.