Saturday, June 30, 2007
Country chosen – China [Tibet Railway]
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is a high-altitude railway connecting the Qinghai Province, to Lhasa. On 1st July 2006, President Hu Jintao initiated the section of railway between Golmud and Lahsa. The first of the passenger trains, were (Q1) which operated from Golmud to Lhasa and (J2) which was from Lhasa. It was established to connect China proper with the Tibet Autonomous Region. On May 1, 2006, testing of the line and equipments were carried out. Due to Tibet’s Autonomous Region’s altitude and terrain, the railway is the last province-level entity in the People’s Republic of China. Trains run from five inland cities: Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xining and Lanzhou. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway stretches 1,956 kilometers from Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, to Lhasa. More than half the length of the railway is laid on permafrost.
Map of Transportation
Qinghai-Tibet railway boosts its country’s economy by providing new opportunities for its tourism industry. Traveling to Tibet had once been a remote dream as its poor accessibility and daunting high altitude made people hesitant on stepping to this mysterious land. Due to the lack of transportation methods, tourism growth was restricted. There were only two means of traveling into Tibet, which were by highway or flight. Such were greatly inconvenient as aviation transportation was affected by the frequency and capacity of the aircraft, and its high cost wasn’t economically friendly. Likewise, the highways were comparatively dangerous for travelers. The local tourism development is promoted with its highly appealing new means of transport. Railway is convenient, comfortable and most importantly safer than the other two means of transport.
Tourist Development
The regional tourism administration forecast that Tibet is expected to host more than 2.6 million tourists in 2006, a rise of 44% year on year. Tourism income will reach 350 million U.S. dollars, up 45% over last year. Upon expectations, Tibet should notch up to at least 770 million U.S. dollars of tourism income in 2010, which is at least 12% of the region’s gross domestic product.
Foreign Tourist in Tibet
Tourism resources along the railways are rich, with different geography, biology and ethnic culture. During the formation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a distinctive highland eco-system comprising meadow, wetland, permafrost and desert has come into being. It is also the cradle of the Yangtze, Yellow, Lancangjiang, Nujiang and Yarlung Zangbo rivers. Tourists from home and abroad would be attracted by Tibet’s unique culture and scenery, as abundant rare animals and birds inhabit the world famous canyon, Snow Mountains, lakes and plateau, around the vicinity with 35% of rare wild animal species of the nation.
Fragile EcosystemTibetan Antelopes
Any misfeasance can cause negative effects to the eco-system there, for instance, the melting of the permafrost or desertification. Therefore, just after the decision on construction of the railway was announced by the central government, some foreign media published sensationalized claims that it would inevitably ruin the eco-system and even cause an “ecological calamity”. However China showed determination to protect the eco-system of the permafrost, highland vegetation, pasture land, water and wild animals. Tibet railway construction participating parties were required to sign a ‘responsibility pledge on environmental protection’ with the Bureau of Environmental Protection of Qinghai and Tibet. Detailed rules about construction and environmental protection were listed in line with relevant statutes on the environment, water and soil, atmosphere, wild animals and plants. Full and part time administrative staffs were employed to supervise the construction work throughout the overall process. Industries beyond essential transport services were rigidly restricted within the protected area. The total volume of the investment on environmental protection of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway reached 1.2 billion Yuan, much higher than any other railway in China.
4:32 PM;
