Recently, many worldwide reports regarding the unrest in Tibet has launched, as a Chinese who has been to Tibet, I really feel indignant and disappointed with their false stories, it is my responsibility to stand out and tell you some real things honestly. Today I want to show you a real Tibet in my eyes, as a friendly Chinese, also as an eyewitness.
In August,2006，we stepped on the sacred land of Tibet and spent ten days there after Qinghai –Tibet railway had been open to traffic for one month. What I never forget is the beautiful scenery of Tibet , the passionate and simple Tibetans, and their carefree, content life. Even until now, I still remember that when our bus drove past the mountain area, there were always Tibetans by the road in twos and threes laying out a blanket in the grass at random, sitting down to bask in the sunshine and greeting us with friendly waves…
I like Tibet, especially the Tibetan children; I love to see their tan face, and their naive smile with pure white teeth…their limpid eyes always make me think of my cheerful childhood same as them and that time when we were as free as birds…
Look at today’s Tibet, how can we just sit by and let some people and media make free with facts? How can we look on miserably and watch the separatists destroying Tibetan’s peaceful life and then telling the whole world a big lie? Why do they want to impose their dirty political aims on our innocent Tibetan compatriots?
Look at these lovely kids, don’t you feel ashamed of what you have done? What kind of future do they want to give the kids?
Now there are some foreigners who have never been to China also join in the group of the Tibetan Separatist, wave flags ludicrously, protest Chinese government and call for “Free Tibet”. I want to ask you, do you know the accurate location of Tibet in China? Do you have any idea of the history of Tibet and the reason why Tibet is an inalienable part of China down the ages? Have you ever talked with any one of Tibetans? Have you ever seen their life by your own eyes? If the answer is “NO”, what qualify you for interfering in our China’s internal affairs, declaring your so-called” Human rights and Independence”?!
Today I just want to share my own experiences in Tibet with you all. Politics is a kind of instrument which I am short of comments. But there is one thing I want to tell the Tibetan Separatist, if you really respect and promote freedom and human rights, please respect the fact and make it be the proof, please let me show you the reality rather than becoming the tool of someone innocently!
My journey to Tibet began on 12th August in 2006. We set off from Beijing by Qinghai-Tibet train. The train is very modern and well available in service and facilities. All marks on the train are in Chinese, English and Tibetan. In the morning of 14th, August, after we passed Golmud , supplemental oxygen provided in all carriages, where the sea-level is above 3000 meters.
besides dispersion oxygen supply, there are also oxygen outlets beside each seat
We also met many Tibetans on the train, I especially remember one old man and his two daughters, they looked excited because it was their first time to go home by train.
We went to the dining carriage at lunch time, which was when the train arrive Tanggula Mountain Pass, outside, we were passing the highest railway station in the world with altitude of over 5000 meters, but at the same time inside the train, we were enjoying our lunch comfortably, this is incredible in the past!
When the train passed by Hohxil area, we found groups of Tibetan antelopes running after our train, everyone feels excited when we see the harmonious coexistence scene of people and wild animals.
American modern train traveler Paulo has ever written down in his book “Travel in China”: "As long as the Kunlun mountains range exists, the railway could never reach Lhasa.” But at present, from horse to automobile, from automobile to train, Tibetan’s dream for generations has become true today.
We have build Qinghai-tibet railway at such an uninhabited
When we passed by a station, the workers there waved hands to us friendly
Sheep on the grass seem like pearls
After 48 hours’ train trip, we arrived at Lhasa on the evening of August, 14th. On our way to the hotel, our tour guide introduced us that in Lhasa, there are some roads named after Beijing and Jiangsu, that is because after liberation from Tibetan serfowner, a large number of Beijing and Jiangsu people come here to help the Tibetans with the construction. Those people settled down here and lived with Tibetan people harmoniously since then, until now they have had 2~3 generations.
Now Tibetan and other ethnic groups people in China are already mixed and living happily together. Our guide is a Han from Xi’an, his girlfriend is a Tibetan, and as other Tibetans, she is also good at singing and dancing. I still remember her beautiful singing at our party.
milestone beside the road, the beginning of No.109 national highway is Beijing, and its end is Lhasa. The total length of this highway is 3901 kms, this picture was taken at the point 100 kms away from Lhasa
The second day after our arrival, we started our trip in Tibet. Our first destination is the Potala Palace, and at the liberation square opposite of Potala Palace, we met many Tibetans who were doing morning exercise.
Frankly speaking, before I came to Tibet, I was also curious because I knew little about the Tibetan’s life, I was afraid that they may feel distant, reserved or aloof from us, however actually, after I went there and saw everything by myself, Tibetan people’s warmth and hospitality moved me. When they saw us taking pictures of them, they smile to us naturally and friendly.
I am glad to see they are living a happy life just as what we have. I remembered that day when my mother saw their morning exercise, she was also surprised,” Their morning exercise is the same as ours, and so is the music!”
morning exercise
After our visit to Potala Palace, we walked down from the mountain. By the roadside, we were attracted by some Tibetan workers, they sang as they worked. When they saw us passing by, they stopped working, waved to us and asked where we are from. Some of them didn’t speak good mandarin, but our communication was not hindered, with the help of gesture, we still enjoyed our chatting.
The most enjoyable time was when I was at Lake Namtso, at this wonderland I met one lovely Tibetan boy, and he gave me one Tibetan dZi bead which he has been wearing for long time.
Tibetan dZi bead is regarded as the “stone from heaven” by Tibetans. The ones worn by them are more precious because some has been passed down by generations.
I am very grateful when I receive such a rare gift and I have preserved it very well until now. How I wish I could go to Tibet to meet him again and give this picture to him.
Today when I am writing here, when I look at those pictures, when I see their smiles, I suddenly feel blue, I don’t know whether they are living happily now or not. I wish I could meet them again and tell them again: thank you, my friend!
*Tibetan girl and her horse
At Nyingchi, Bayi Town is a developed and modern place, busy streets, various shopping malls, and hotels…tall buildings and beautiful urban landscaping; everything impressed me on my memory. When we were sitting in the bus traveling around the city, we cannot tell it apart from another modern city in the southern part of China.
One of our colleagues caught a cold and because of altitude stress he felt worse during our trip, and he was sent to the local hospital as soon as we reached Nyingchi. We were surprised by the perfect and convenient medical facility there. Our colleague had got good treatment and was recovered the next day.
*one common living district at Bayi Town, same as in other cities in China
Xigaze is the second largest city in Tibet, one of my father’s friends has been living here for 8 years, and nowadays this city has experienced great changes and developed to a certain large scale.
We arrived at Xigaze at dusk and drove to Tashilhunpo Monastery directly. On our way we passed by a school and that is just the time for students finishing classes. Groups of Tibetan boys and girls came out from school with satchels, some were lingering in front of the school gate and talked leisurely, that familiar scene reminds us of our schooldays.
If some people insist saying our government doesn’t respect human rights, then it was who that give those Tibetan children the right to receive compulsory education??
*monks in Tashilhunpo Monastery, look at their smiles
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