Standing on the observation deck of Nanshan Park in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, one can see patches of greenery spreading across the mountain slopes on both sides of the Lhasa River like a well-woven carpet, gently embracing this ancient plateau city. This remarkable green transformation is the result of the North-South Mountain Greening Project, the first large-scale ecological restoration initiative in Xizang's valley areas.

Since its launch in 2021, the project has set the ambitious goal of "greening the mountains within five years and turning Lhasa green within a decade." On the roof of the world, a magnificent green relay has unfolded, turning one "impossibility" after another into reality and writing a new chapter in plateau ecological development. To date, the project has added over 1.1 million mu (approximately 73,333 hectares) of afforested land, while completing more than 300,000 mu (approximately 20,000 hectares) of other reforestation tasks, with an overall survival rate exceeding 85 %. A vibrant green tapestry is slowly unfurling across the plateau.

Institutional support: Laying a solid green foundation

Walking into Nanshan Park in Lhasa, one is greeted by lush trees swaying in the breeze, babbling brooks under small bridges, and eco-friendly slogans lining the roadsides. Many local residents and tourists can be seen strolling and hiking.

However, few would imagine that just a decade ago, this area was barren and desolate, severely lacking in trees and greenery.

The greening journey of Nanshan began with a high-altitude afforestation pilot project in 2012. In 2015, the "Green Encircling City" project was gradually rolled out, followed by afforestation efforts on North Mountain, which faces Nanshan across the city, in 2018. The pioneering tree-planting efforts on Nanshan achieved the first successful case of artificial afforestation in a semi-arid region at an altitude of over 3,900 meters, providing valuable experience for the subsequent North-South Mountain Greening Project.

To better ensure the smooth progress of the project, Xizang has formulated and issued over 30 supporting policies and institutional documents, providing a strong legal and institutional framework.

Selecting suitable saplings is crucial to ensuring survival rates. Xizang has carried out nursery cultivation of native tree species and the introduction and domestication of non-native species. It is stipulated that saplings for the project must be transported from high-altitude areas in neighboring provinces such as Qinghai, Gansu and Ningxia, and must undergo 180 days of local domestication. Moreover, saplings can only be used after passing on-site inspections.

Through continuous experimentation, the project has carefully selected over 30 hardy, drought-resistant, and wind-resistant tree species, including Chinese pine, Mongolian pine, Siberian apricot and silver berry. The project has also clarified that areas below 3,900 meters will primarily be afforested artificially, while areas above 3,900 meters will mainly be restored through seeding and natural regeneration.

Today, the once barren mountains are covered in green, with Chinese pine, lacebark pine, and oriental arborvitae thriving.

Technological empowerment: Overcoming high-altitude afforestation challenges

The challenges of large-scale afforestation on the plateau are immense — strong winds, thin soil on most slopes, impassable roads, and a lack of water and electricity.

To solve difficulties, Xizang has integrated forestry, agricultural, technological and other resources, forming professional afforestation teams. Technical guidance and supervision have been strengthened throughout the processes of pit digging, soil replacement, planting, and irrigation. At the same time, an innovative model of "government leadership, enterprise participation, and farmer and herder employment" has been introduced, allowing more people to share in the ecological benefits of planting and protecting green spaces.

Watering is one of the most critical factors affecting sapling survival. To bring water up the mountains, construction companies involved in the project supporting infrastructure have built high-altitude reservoirs at around 4,000 meters, drawing water from higher elevations to irrigate the saplings — a solution that has successfully resolved the issue.

The use of drones to transport soil and saplings has been an innovative application of the project. According to a responsible person from Lhasa Digital Economy Industry (Group) Co., Ltd., "Each drone flight can carry six to eight trees and takes only six minutes round trip — safe, time-saving, and labor-saving."

The impact of technology is most keenly felt by those working on the front lines. Phurjung, a villager from Qangtang Village, Qangtang Town, Gonggar County, has worked on the Gyinag section of the project for three years. Recalling the early days of planting trees, he said, "I used to carry three saplings on my back. I would climb for a while, then slip on the sand and slide back down. Now, all afforestation areas use drones to transport saplings — we no longer have to climb the mountains with saplings on our backs."

Technology has also extended to the seedling cultivation stage. "Seeds used to be screened manually one by one, requiring seven or eight steps including soaking, shelling, and sand storage — time-consuming and cumbersome. Now, with intelligent color sorters, we can automatically identify good and bad seeds. Combined with the use of container seedlings and water-retaining agents, the survival rate has increased from 30% to 75 %," said Dawa Yangdron, general manager of Xizang Zangjian Wusheng Greening Co., Ltd. The seedlings, once ready, are placed in biodegradable containers, transported by truck to the foot of the mountains, then carried up by drones over steep cliffs to take root on the mountains.

Eco-benefits for all: A win-win for greening and development

"This place used to be all white and barren — when the wind blew, the sand would hit you in the face." Sonam stood on a once-desolate slope that is now showing signs of green, his voice full of relief. "After five months of work, it's now green as far as the eye can see. The air is better, it's not as dry anymore, and our quality of life has noticeably improved."

Sonam is an afforestation worker on plot No. 11 of the Gonggar section of the project, which follows a "plant first, subsidize later" model. "The technicians told us that planting trees is like raising children — you have to care for them for them to thrive," Sonam said with a smile. He has now not only mastered the techniques of high-altitude tree planting but has also found stable employment close to home. "I can take my children to school in the morning and still take care of the elderly and the livestock. My family is very supportive of me working here."

Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. The ecological improvements are steadily translating into public well-being. In the northernafforestation area, Tsering Baxi, a maintenance worker, was holding a hose to water saplings. She said cheerfully, "Working close to home, I can earn over 200 yuan(RMB) a day, and watching the barren mountains gradually turn green is truly reassuring."

According to statistics, the North-South Mountain Greening Project has provided over 10 million workdays of employment, generating over 3.3 billion yuan(RMB) income for local people through equipment rentals and labor.

Green is the defining color of beautiful Xizang and the hallmark of its drive to become a national leader in ecological civilization. From "rocks rolling in the wind" to "green mountains embracing the city," the North-South Mountain Greening Project has not only reshaped the plateau's ecological landscape but has also profoundly changed people's way of life and development philosophy. The once barren mountains are now sprouting greenery; the people who once sighed at the encroaching sand are now flourishing because of it.

Reporter: Geng Ruixian, Tang Yanping

Translator: Zheng Yujie, Liu Fang

Review: Drakpa Wangchen, Hu Ronggu