This year marks the 55th anniversary of Tibet's civil aviation. Over the decades, the number of airports in Tibet has increased from one to five. The number of air routes has risen from two to 51, connecting Tibet with 51 cities. The number of inbound and outbound flights has grown from one weekly to more than 150 daily, with the passenger throughput of 5.75 million annually.

The first flight of Beijing-Chengdu-Lhasa was made on March 1, 1965. The airplane landing in Damxung County, Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region marked that people of all ethnic groups in the region realized their dreams of traveling by air.

In early 1956, the Central Government decided to open an air route linking Beijing and Lhasa.

After a three-month construction, a runway, located in Damxung County, was put into use, and saw the first flight from Beijing to Lhasa on March 1, 1965. On November 23, 1966, the flight operations was moved from Damxung airport to Gongkar Airport.

Over the past 55 years, Tibet's civil aviation has made remarkable achievements, playing an important role in local economic growth and transportation improvement.

"With Lhasa Gongkar Airport as the main hub, Bangda Airport in Qamdo, Menling Airport in Nyingchi, Gunsa Airport in Ngari and Heping Airport in Shigatse as the branches, an airline network has been formed, linking Tibet with the outside world. Within one day, passengers could arrive at other cities or countries by flight," says a worker of the Tibet Civil Aviation Bureau.

Over the past 55 years, Tibet Civil Aviation Bureau has attached importance to ensuring flight safety. Despite harsh conditions, it has made a record in the time of safety flight on the world's highest place.

Over the past 55 years, Tibet has witnessed great changes. Air travel becomes an indispensable transportation connecting Tibet with other cities and provinces. The airline network improves traveling efficiency and goods flow, showing the speediness and vitality of network economic era. Exotic goods and backpackers seen everywhere at rural and urban areas also reflect the significant progress of Tibet's civil aviation.

Surrounding area of airports has also witnessed enormous changes. In 1966, Gongkar was once a wild marshland. When Gongkar Airport was put into use, an economic zone nearby the airport came into being with multiple industries. In 1985, there were only 40 households and a few stores in Gyazhugling Village. Now, it grows into a community of more than 200 households, with supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants. Local people's income and living conditions get significant improvement, too. Over the past 55 years, the development of the civil aviation has contributed greatly to the region's economic and social development, involving medical service, education, employment, catering and tourism.