In summer, the snowy plateau is covered with lush vegetation and brims with vibrant vitality. The Sichuan-Xizang Highway (G318), stretching across eastern Xizang, sees an endless stream of vehicles traveling smoothly along its entire length. Like a golden ribbon extending for thousands of miles, it connects snow-capped mountains, deep canyons, hidden riversand the warm daily life of villages.

As the busiest and most core "golden passage" for entering Xizang, this sky-road has long gone beyond its single transportation function. It has transformed from a bumpy dirt pathinto a road that enriches the people and boosts industries. Restaurants, inns, auto repair shops and specialty stores are scattered all along the route, with new business forms thriving rapidly. In particular, Rumei Town in Markam County leverages its geographical advantages to ensure every household enjoys a stable "tourism income", turning the smooth highway into a real happiness road that helps local people increase their earnings and get rich.

In April this year, Rinchen Nyima opened Donglai Homestay by making use of his own Tibetan-style residence, turning the idle house into a warm rest stop. The homestay has a total of 10 guest rooms, including 5 king-bed rooms and 5 standard rooms, with a neat layout and a clean and tidy environment. Relying on the mild climate of Rumei Town at an altitude of 2,600 meters, the homestay provides 24-hour hot water, full-coverage free WIFI and air conditioners in every room, offering a comfortable and reassuring resting space for self-driving tourists who have traveled a long distance. Different from highly commercialized operation modes,RinchenNyima always adheres to the original intention of treating guests sincerely. He insists on changing and strictly disinfecting all bedding after each guest's stay, and also provides tourists with authentic buttered tea for free. During casual chats, he introduces Tibetanfolk customs and shares plateau life culture, making travelers from afar feel the warmth of Tibetanvillages.

"The highest room price in the peak season of July is 200 yuan per night, and online bookings are more affordable, only around 160 yuan," Rinchen Nyima said honestly. He insists on operating in good faith according to market conditions, never driving up prices or engaging in deliberate marketing. With its clean environment, thoughtful services and people-friendly pricing, Donglai Homestay has won muchpraise from tourists across the country. After returning home, tourists actively share their experiences and recommend the homestay. This small inn maintains a stable flow of customers, generating a net profit of 6,000 to 7,000 yuan per month, which reliably supports the livelihood of the whole family.

Rinchen Nyima, 54 years old, is a veteran Party member who joined the Communist Party of China in 2008. He has witnessed the changes of the towns along the G318, and personally experienced the transformation of his hometown from being isolated and poor to prosperous and thriving.

"In the past, Rumei Town had bumpy and difficult roads, weak water and electricity facilities, so few tourists would stop here. Villagers could only rely on traditional animal husbandry to make a living, with narrow income channels and tough living conditions," Rinchen Nyima said with deep emotion. At that time, some sections of the G318 were in poor condition and hard to pass through. The plateau towns were isolated from outside information, with a single industrial structure, so local people could hardly get rich even though they were surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Smooth roads boost all industries and bring wealth to thousands of households. Over the years, with continuous investment and targeted support from the Party and the government, the Sichuan-Xizang Highway(G318)has been continuously upgraded. The roads are flat and unobstructed, water, electricity and network coverage is available across the whole area, and infrastructure is improving day by day. This smooth sky-road has completely opened up the external access for the snowy plateau. A steady stream of self-driving vehicles and tourists pour into Tibetanvillages, fully activating the cultural and tourism resources along the route, and spawning diverse new business forms such as homestay accommodation, characteristic catering, auto repair and plateau specialty sales.

The once little-known river valley town has now become an important transit and rest destination on the Sichuan-Xizang Highway. The once idle Tibetan-style residences have been transformed into distinctive homestays that help increase income. The once locally produced and sold mountain specialties now go out of the mountains along the G318 and sell well across the country. More and more local people like Rinchen Nyima start businesses and get employed near their homes, living and working in peace and contentment, truly realizing the goal of increasing income nearby and getting rich by developing their careers at home.

Facing the increasingly favorable development momentum, Rinchen Nyima is full of firm determination and bright expectations. He says he will always stick to his original intention, operate the homestay in good faith, run it with great care, tell the stories of Tibetanvillages well, take root in his hometown for a long time and deeply develop the cultural and tourism industry.

The sky-road leads to a broad path, with blooming flowers along the way bringing prosperity to villages in Xizang. The winding Sichuan-Xizang Highway(G318) carries the expectations and dreams of the people on the snowy plateau, continuously releasing strong momentum to enrich the local people. Smooth roads, thriving industries and prosperous lives are writing a brand-new chapter of rural revitalization and enriching people through cultural tourism in Qamdo, turning the lucid waters and lush mountains of the plateau secret land into invaluable natural assets that enable people of all ethnic groups to live and work in peace and contentment.

Source: Xizang Daily

Reporter: Wen Kai, Wan Hui

Translator: Peng Qing, Zhi Xinghua

Reviewer: Hu Rongguo, Drakpa Wangchen