In the golden autumn season, the plateau is pulsating with a spirit of hard work everywhere. In the fields, qingke (highland barley) kernels are plump; in facility areas, fruits and vegetables are fresh and tender; and beautiful villages have taken on a new look. From fertile fields to villages, new harvests and new changes continue to emerge across the highland.

In the first half of this year, the region's agricultural and rural economy operated steadily while making progress, showing a sound momentum of stable production, increased income, and strong staying power. A magnificent picture of strong agriculture, beautiful rural areas, and prosperous farmers is unfolding slowly.

New harvests: improved fertile fields and full granaries

Dengqen County in Qamdo City has a high altitude, low temperatures, and fragmented plots of land. In the past, farming here depended entirely on the weather. After a series of high-standard farmland improvements, including field leveling, soil improvement, and water-saving irrigation, it has now been transformed into concentrated, contiguous, stable-yield fertile farmland accessible to agricultural machinery.

At harvest time, villagers who have finished their field work sit on the ridges of the fields, drinking tea and chatting and laughing, with the confidence of a good harvest written on their faces.

Storing grain in the land, with the foundation in the fields. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," the whole region has invested more than 8.4 billion yuan in building high-standard farmland. Up to now, a total of 4.5506 million mu (approximately 303,373 hectares) of high-standard farmland has been built, and the grain sowing area has been stably maintained at 3.0185 million mu (approximately 201,233 hectares). Scattered sloping plots have been turned into contiguous high-yield fields.

Storing grain in technology, with the core in seeds. Generation after generation of highland researchers have continued their efforts and bred a number of new high-yield, stress-resistant highland barley varieties, including Zangqing 2000, Zangqing 3000, and Himalaya No. 23, continuously promoting the renewal of qingke varieties.

New paths: developing industries and gathering strength to increase income

Entering the facility agriculture park in Gurong Town, Doilungdeqen District, rows of solar greenhouses are neatly arranged in the fields. Inside the solar greenhouses, strawberries bear bright red fruit close to the ridges, small tomatoes hang all over the trellises, and various green leafy vegetables are crisp and tender. New farmers shuttle back and forth, busy planting seedlings and harvesting fruits and vegetables, full of vitality.

Since the beginning of this year, our region has accelerated the categorized development and upgrading of assistance industries through the "four batches" approach. The whole region has cumulatively built 8 characteristic industrial clusters, 8 agricultural modernization demonstration zones, 11 modern agricultural industrial parks, and 35 strong agricultural industry towns.

A number of characteristic planting and breeding projects with foundations and potential have continued to tap production capacity and improve quality and efficiency. At the Gamma Agricultural Cherry Orchard in Linzhi City, cherries hang densely from the branches, with red fruit set off among green leaves, presenting a delightful scene of harvest.

In recent years, our region has adopted the "cooperative + farmers + livestreaming" model to bring agricultural products from the fields into livestreaming rooms, allowing farmers and herdsmen to enjoy the dividends of e-commerce at their doorsteps.

In Miri Town, Bayi District, Linzhi City, the livestreaming room has been moved directly into the orchard. "Family, look quickly! These honey-core apples are all grown at high altitude, naturally pollution-free, and very sweet and crisp in taste," the host said while promoting the fresh fruit to the camera.

Characteristic industries blossoming everywhere continue to release income-boosting effects. In the first half of the year, the per capita disposable income of rural residents in the whole region was 7,800 yuan, a year-on-year increase of 8%, ranking first nationwide in growth rate.

New look: harmonious and beautiful villages show a new face

In 2026, a central budget investment of 29.5 million yuan will be used for the construction of tourism infrastructure for Lake Pema Lintso in Tsoyu Village. Parking lots, visitor centers, tea houses, oxygen rooms, and other facilities have successively begun construction. The main road in the scenic area is being widened, and the hot spring renovation project is being advanced in an orderly manner. With its unique natural resources, the improvement of the village's appearance has further activated rural tourism. At present, the village has 52 homestays operating with differentiated business models. During the peak tourism season, it receives nearly 1,500 tourists per day, and the per capita annual income of villagers has reached 35,000 yuan, steadily increasing income through tourism.

At the same time, the action to establish a new outlook for farmers and herdsmen is being upgraded in an orderly manner. As of the end of June 2026, this action has covered 5,447 villages (communities) across the region, 4,514 villages (communities) have implemented "points system" management, and 466 typical model villages have been created. Small points leverage great civilization, guiding the masses to actively participate in village management and protection, and promoting civilized rural customs to take root in highland villages.

Reporter: Tenzin Namse

Translator: Dan Zhen, Zhi Xinghua

First Review: Zhi Xinghua, Zhang Yiming

Second Review: Li Chengye, Drakpa Wangchen

Third Review: Hu Rongguo