Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, Galai Village has become a living embodiment of Xizang's modernization story – one where ancient cultural symbolism meets contemporary economic progress. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently praised this 'Peach Blossom Land' in a letter to villagers, acknowledging their achievements in boosting incomes through tourism and ecological industries.
From Mountain Isolation to National Connection
The village's transformation mirrors Xizang's infrastructure revolution. Since 2012, road networks have nearly doubled to 124,900 km, while railway lines expanded to 1,359 km by 2024. The 2021 opening of the Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway brought high-speed trains within reach of peach orchards, enabling Galai to welcome 346,000 tourists last year alone.
Economic Blossoming Through Strategic Partnerships
Galai's success stems from China's paired assistance program, with Fujian Province supporting Nyingchi City since 1994. This model helped develop organic agriculture alongside cultural tourism, achieving per capita disposable incomes exceeding 40,000 yuan ($5,579) – nearly double the national rural average.
A Regional Transformation
Xizang's GDP reached 276.5 billion yuan in 2024, with urban incomes growing 121-fold since 1965. All administrative villages now have 4G connectivity, enabling digital commerce in even remote areas. As President Xi emphasized in his letter: 'Protecting plateau ecology while developing tourism brands creates prosperity that honors both heritage and progress.'
