Returning once more to the home where she had lived for decades, 55-year-old Tsering Dolkar found herself unaccustomed to it instead

Six years ago, her family left the pastoral area of Tuna Town in Yadong County, Xizang, at an altitude of over 4,500 meters, and relocated to Pangda Village, a new border village built with aid from Shanghai—at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, nestled among green mountains and clear waters, entirely different from the pastoral area.

No longer needing to burn yak dung for heating and cooking, and with the high-altitude illness that had plagued her for years gradually improving, Tsering Dolkarsmiled more often"Living in a new house, buying a new car—who would have dared to dream of such a life before?"

"Persist in safeguarding and improving people's livelihood through development, continuously improve production and living conditions in border areas, and accelerate efforts to shore up weaknesses in infrastructure and basic public services." The General Secretary's important instructions have found echoes on the ground in Pangda Village.

Within these echoes are explorations of developing new industries tailored to local conditions.

Inside a greenhouse, Drugyal bent down to inspect the growth of vegetables. In the pastoral area, he knew nothing about vegetable cultivation.

After relocation, the village developed a vegetable industry, and technicians taught seedling cultivation, fertilization, and pest control hand by hand. Drugyal spent all day in the greenhouses, carrying a small notebook in his pocket, "recording gains and doubts at any time." Today, he is the head of Pangda Village's vegetable cooperative and is called "Teacher Drugyal" by the villagers.

Pangda Village has limited available land, restricting industrial development. With the support of the county and township party committees and governments as well as the Shanghai aid-Xizang working group, Pangda Village revitalized idle resources in neighboring townships and built 62 vegetable greenhouses, developing a "flying land economy." At present, the vegetable cooperative's output has steadily increased, with more than 20 varieties.

The tourism industry is gaining momentum.

At first, lacking experience and confidence, the villagers hesitated. Party members and officials went door to door to do ideological work.

"The homestay business is better than expected." Despite ups and downs, Tsering Dolkar persisted. Currently, Pangda Village has one hotel and seven homestays in operation, with another nine homestays undergoing renovation and upgrading.

Sonam Tsering, who has expertise in fine arts, took the lead in establishing a cultural and creative studio, leading more than 20 villagers in making embroidered products and also painting Pangda Village's landscapes onto stones. "These stones were all picked up from the mountain forests, and each one is unique."

Purchasing tourist buses, developing a reservation mini-program, designing tourism routes... In 2025, Pangda Village received 19,500 tourist visits and generated tourism revenue of 940,000 yuan. As of the end of July this year, it has already received more than 16,000 tourist visits.

Within these echoes are the energies of young talent promoting revitalization.

Raising his phone, he recorded the village's new appearance and used the internet to promote his hometown. After studying for four years in Guangzhou, Guangdong, Tenpa Sichung had grown accustomed to city life and was determined to seek employment in Lhasa. At that time, he always felt that leaving the mountains was the mark of success.

What he saw when returning home during vacations deeply moved Tenpa Sichung. "I suddenly understood that using what I had learned to make my hometown better is also a mark of success." Upon graduation, he resolutely returned home to develop.

The surging vitality of Pangda Village has also attracted young people from beyond the mountains.

Yang Liu, a young man from Shandong Province, rode into the village in the winter of 2023 and loved everything he saw.

"The idea immediately popped into my head: open a hotel." On the advice of a tour guide, Yang Liu found Yadong County's investment promotion department, and the two sides hit it off immediately.

In May last year, the hotel opened to guests. Because it has only 10 rooms, whenever it is fully booked, Yang Liu introduces guests to the village's homestays.

"It hasn't been long, and reputation hasn't spread yet, so the flow of guests is unstable." Still, Yang Liu is patient. "Investment—what you're investing in is the future."

Within these echoes is the sense of responsibility of party members and officials taking the lead in solving problems.

After relocation, the villagers' modes of production and daily life changed abruptly, and certain problems and conflicts followed.

Pangda Village explored a six-step working method of "screening, analyzing, consulting, diagnosing, supervising, and governing": first investigate hidden risks, then analyze causes, then consult and discuss, assess severity, determine a handling plan and supervise its implementation, striving to resolve difficulties and disputes at the root.

Jian Zhiwei, a member of the 11th batch of Shanghai aid-Xizang cadres and executive deputy secretary of the Yadong County Party Committee, introduced that with organizational guidance and party members taking the lead, they are doing a good job in the four major tasks of stability, development, ecology, and border strengthening.

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

The courtyard of villager Phurbu Tashi is not large, yet it is spotless. Seeing someone approach, he welcomed them warmly. "In the past, in the pastoral area, we lived in mud-brick houses and walked on muddy roads. After moving here, we live in small multi-story buildings and walk on asphalt roads. In winter, the house is not cold either. Thanks to the Party's good policies!"

The young Pangda Village is like a Gesang flower deep in the mountains, full of vitality nourished by good policies.

"Adding streetlights, building a new cultural square, expanding the parking lot—there is still a lot of follow-up work." Shen Min is the head of the liaison group of the 11th batch of Shanghai aid-Xizang cadres and currently serves as deputy secretary of the Xigaze Municipal Party Committee and executive vice mayor. "From the 9th batch of aid-Xizang cadres improving infrastructure, to the 10th batch cultivating and strengthening industries, to the 11th batch promoting governance innovation and model innovation, we, together with local party members and officials, have worked tirelessly and continued the struggle to contribute to building a prosperous and stable motherland's border."

In the evening, the sky gradually darkened. On the square in front of the village committee office building, villagers of all ages danced the Guozhuang dance, and laughter echoed through the valley.

Reporter: Bian Minde, Yuan Quan, Xu Yuyao

Translator: Dan Zhen, Zhi Xinghua

First Review: Zhi Xinghua, Zhang Yiming

Second Review: Li Chengye, Drakpa Wangchen

Third Review: Hu Rongguo