Since the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, Nagqu City has regarded the construction of a modern transportation network system as a crucial measure to drive high-quality development, promote ethnic unity, and consolidate border stability. Roads stretching continuously and reaching people's doorsteps have not only become "arteries" driving economic growth in counties and towns along the way but also bridges to a better life, helping people of all ethnic groups increase their income and prosper. Recently, the reporter traveled along the section of National Highway 349 from Lhari County to Niwu Town, witnessing the drastic changes in transportation infusing new vitality across the northern Xizang.

At a farmers' and herdsmen's professional cooperative in Lhari County, locally produced white liquor and walnuts from Niwu Town, were neatly displayed, attracting many tourists. It is hard to imagine that before the reconstruction and opening of the approximately 2,100-kilometer National Highway 349, these treasures from the "peach blossom paradise" of northern Xizang once faced the dilemma of being "hidden in deep alleys," unknown to the outside world.

"In the past, the roads were poor. Tourists couldn't come in, and products from the mountains couldn't be transported out.We could only watch helplessly as walnuts and other specialties rotted in the mountains," said Nyima Zongji, a technical professional at the Niwu Town Farmers' and Herders' Comprehensive Service Center. The reconstruction and upgrading of National Highway 349, however, became the turning point that rewrote this situation.

Now, those difficulties have become a thing of the past. Driving along this flat road, the unique landscapes of  northern Xizang unfold before the eyes: snow-capped mountains in the distance, vibrant forests up close, and a magnificent tapestry of autumn colors intertwined with snowy vastness.

Setting off from Lhari County, it takes only a two-hour drive to reach Niwu Town, shrouded in mist and lush with vegetation. At the farmers' and herdsmen's professional cooperative in Yiga Village, Niwu Town, the person in charge, Dorje, was busy sorting local specialties like polygonatum and wild wood ear mushrooms.

"From last year to now, we've purchased agricultural and special products worth about 280,000 yuan, and currently, the sales have reached 360,000 yuan!" Dorje shared with joy. "We're also now cultivating Ganoderma lucidum under the forest and sending it to all parts of the country via express delivery."

The unique natural environment of Niwu Town not only nurtures a wealth of mountain delicacies but also provides ideal conditions for specialized breeding.

"After the reconstruction of National Highway 349, the number of tourists has increased significantly, and the sales of Tibetan pigs have soared," introduced Li Hui, the deputy secretary of the Party Committee and Township Head of Niwu Town. "In 2024, the town's sales reached 500,000 yuan. Next, we plan to cooperate with a company in Zhejiang to create our own brand and drive continuous industrial upgrading."

The transformation of National Highway 349 is a microcosm of Nagqu's transportation construction. Since the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, with strong support from national policies, transportation construction in Nagqu has accelerated: reconstruction projects for sections of national highways such as 109 and 345 have commenced smoothly, and the roads at the doorsteps of 172 administrative villages have become wider and better.

One road can change a township, and a network of them paves the way for rural revitalization. As the roads continue to extend, the people of Nagqu stride with greater confidence toward prosperity and well-being.

Reporter: Wan Jing

Translator: Luo Rongting, Zhi Xinghua

Review: Hu Rongguo, Li Chengye