Photo showsthe press conference for Chinese and foreign journalists. [Photo:scio.gov.cn]

Now our village, Gala, has clean, paved roads and water reaching every household. We have truly put into practice the vision that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.

On May 20, at the press conference "Strivers on the New Journey" held by the State Council Information Office, Nyima Dorje, director of the committee of Zhenba Village in Nyingchi Town, Bayi District, Nyingchi, Xizang, moved the audience with stories from Gala.

Gala, which means "the village beneath the white rock" in Tibetan, sits along National Highway 318, backed by Mount Sejila and facing the confluence of the Nyangchu River and the Yarlung Tsangpo River. At an average elevation of 2,900 meters, it has long been known as Xizang's "No.1 Peach Blossom Village."

Every spring, over a thousand wild peach trees burst into bloom, with a dazzling cloud of pink. Traditional Tibetan houses are tucked among the flowers, and the mountain landscape brims with life.

Nyima Dorje, as a native, has witnessed Gala's entire transformation — from a village that once simply lived off the mountains to one that prospers through green development.

In the past, more than 30 households were scattered in a mountain. Though the peach blossoms were beautiful, the fruit was unpalatable and fetched little money.

Later, under the guidance of the Party and the government, Gala revitalized its economy related to peach blossom, turning the wild peach trees into a cash cow for the villagers.

Photo shows Nyima Dorje, director of the committee of Zhenba Village, Nyingchi Town, Bayi District, Nyingchi, Xizang Autonomous Region.[Photo:scio.gov.cn]

"Since becoming a member of the village committee in 2017, I have been guiding villagers to protect the environment — picking up trash with them along the river, leading efforts to improve the living environment, developing eco-tourism, and sharing the Party's good policies so that everyone understands how important ecological protection is," Nyima Dorje said.

"Follow the Big Dipper and you will not lose your way; follow the Communist Party and you will find happiness."

"In 2021, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPCCC visited Gala for an inspection tour and spoke highly of our achievements," said Nyima Dorje with pride. "Last year, we wrote to update him on developments in our village, and he wrote back, encouraging us to preserve the natural beauty of the snowcovered plateau and further polish the brand of our 'Peach Blossom Village'. We keep his earnest instructions firmly in mind, protecting the wild peach groves and the ecological environment as carefully as we protect our own eyes."

These earnest instructions have injected powerful momentum into Gala's green development.

Over the years, Gala's officials and villagers have tried things out step by step — improving the village environment, protecting the wild peach forest, revitalizing ecological resources, and developing rural tourism. This has encouraged residents to open guesthouses and sell local agricultural products.

At the press conference, Nyima Dorje introduced the "Green Bank" in Gala. Villagers voluntarily collect trash along National Highway 318 to earn points, which they can exchange for daily necessities or raise their credit rating for agricultural loans. "What's deposited is not money, but the villagers' environmental actions," Nyima Dorje explained.

Today, over 20 hectares of wild peach forest with more than 1,250 trees spreads across Gala. The annual Peach Blossom Festival brings in over 3 million yuan in revenue. In 2025, the village's per capita disposable income reached 44,300 yuan. An old saying — "When living beings care for the mountains and forests, the mountains and forests protect them" — has transformed from simple folk wisdom into an ecological pact honored by the village.

At the end, Nyima Dorje extended a warm invitation: "Welcome to Nyingchi, Xizang, to see the snow-capped mountains and peach blossoms, enjoy a bowl of butter tea, and taste our delicious yak meat."

Reporter: Gawa Pema

Translator: Dan Zhen, Liu Fang

Review: Hu Rongguo, Drakpa Wangchen,Pan Lu