Tibet Hiking Tour

"This trip may only last for fifteen days, but the experience of Tibetan cultural shock and memory of beautiful mountain scenery will last for a lifetime."

Tibetan farmers' income grows faster than national average

www.chinaview.cn 2004-04-14 10:03:44

LHASA, April 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Farmers in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region had their per-capita income grow at a quicker pace than the national average for rural areas last year, thanks in part to industrial restructuring and development of diversified businesses.

In 2003 the per-capita income of farmers and herdsmen in Tibet reached 1,690 yuan (203.61 US dollars), an increase of 11.1 percent over the previous year's level of l,570 yuan (189.16 US dollars), according to the regional statistical bureau.

The growth rate was 6.8 percentage points higher than the national average of 4.3 percent for the per-capita income of rural areas, the bureau says.

Analysts from the bureau attributed the income growth to readjustment of planting, expanded production of animal products and farm produce and more infrastructure facilities constructed in the rural areas.

Meanwhile, scientific progress, development of township economy and diversified businesses and industrialization of agriculture also contributed to the income growth.

Last year, the regional government spent over 200 million yuan (24.09 million US dollars) on infrastructure construction projects, including irrigation facilities and grassland fences, for the rural areas. Based on the input, the region turned out 966,000 tons of grain, roughly the same as the previous-year level; and harvested 49,400 tons of rape and 257,900 tons of other vegetables, up 9.3 percent and 10.8 percent respectively.

According to statistics provided by the regional agriculture and animal husbandry authority, Tibet's output of pork, beef and mutton amounted to 190,100 tons in 2003, up 10.4 percent from the previous year.

Last year Tibetan township enterprises realized 1.25 billion yuan (150.6 million US dollars) in gross industrial output and garnered one billion yuan (120.48 million US dollars) in revenues, up 19 percent and 16 percent respectively over the year-earlier level. The income from diversified businesses reached 1.78 billion yuan (214.46 million US dollars), up 31.8 percent, the authority says. Enditem

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-04/14/content_1418276.htm

Tibet's economy surges in 2002

CCTV.COM 2003-01-04 10:01:25

Following China's national drive to speed up the development of western China, the Tibet Autonomous Region recorded rapid economic growth last year. The results were announced at a recent national conference on Tibet's economy.

Statistics from the national conference on Tibet's economy indicate GDP in the region last year reached nearly 16 billion yuan, or nearly 2 billion US dollars. That's up 12 percent on the previous year. The government's massive campaign to develop its western regions is a major engine for economic growth. Last year, the central government invested more than 1 billion US dollars in the region's transport projects. With railways and highways built, tourism and trade flourished.

Li Guoyong, director of Development and Planning Commission, Tibet Autonomous Region, said: "Investment from the central government and other provinces has helped the region's economy grow quickly. In the year 2003, investment to Tibet will continue and the figure is expected to reach 10 billion yuan."

In the next three years, over 100 infrastructure projects including a hydro power station, two airports and a broadcast and television network will get underway. Infrastructure investment is not the only contributor to economic growth. Tourism has become a key industry in Tibet, generating more than 100 million dollars last year, hitting a historic growth high of 29 percent. A series of cultural and tourism events were staged at home and overseas to attract more visitors to the region. The local government is also giving priority to developing industries like Tibetan medicine and green food. As these products flow into the market, more money can reach Tibetan farmers' pockets.

Tibet reports double-digit economic growth rate

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Xinhuanet 2003-01-12 10:54:42

LHASA, Jan. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The Tibet Autonomous Region, southwest China, has witnessed an average annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 10.9 percent over the last five years, a senior official of the regional government said Saturday.

The region's GDP for 2002 was expected to reach 15.9 billion yuan (1.92 billion US dollars) and fiscal revenue to reach 730 million yuan (88.27 million US dollars), Legqog, chairman of the regional people's government, told the on-going first session of the Eighth Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress.

The two figures were 2.5 times and twice respectively those of 1997, Legqog said in his work report delivered at the meeting.

Big growth was also reported in bank savings deposits, retail sales, industrial value added, tourism, foreign trade and private businesses.

Fixed assets investment totaled 35.6 billion yuan (4.3 billion US dollars) in the past five years, 2.5 times the figure for the previous five-year period.

Legqog said the total length of highways opened to traffic in the region reached 35,538 kilometers by the end of 2002, an increase of more than 13,000 kilometers over 1997. The installed capacity of power plants totaled 376,000 kilowatts, 26 percent more than that of 1997.

The telecommunications industry also developed rapidly. There were 15.4 telephones to every 100 people in the region by the end of last year, 13 more than in 1997, and 80 percent of the region's counties had access to a national program-controlled long-distance telephone network. Enditem

Eight universities train graduates for Tibet

CCTV.COM 2003-01-06 15:01:19

China's Ministry of Education has decided to establish postgraduate training centers in

eight universities dedicated to training Tibetan personnel. It's the first ever project

launched to benefit Tibet by providing graduate training.

The selected universities are China University of Political Science and Law, Renmin

University of China, Beijing Normal University, Jilin University, Sichuan University,

Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Tianjin University and Northwest

Sci£&endash;Tech University of Agriculture and Forestry.

The bases train personnel in the fields of public security, procuratorial work, court and

some other governmental departments. The training fees are paid by the central

government and the period of study is two to three years.

The eight universities will set up special exams and enroll 120 people every year. The

examinees will be recommended by the region's government. After finishing their studies,

they must go back to work in Tibet. The enrollment begins this year. One special feature of

the program is that Tianjin University will enroll 10 to 12 graduate students free of charge.

At present, the central government has established bases in inland cities for Tibet at

different levels including middle schools, secondary technical schools, and universities.

Editor: Han Ling CCTV.com

Tibetan talents back to school at famous universities

CCTV.COM 2003-01-12 11:01:35

Tibetan citizens who crave for more than the meager education they received will applaud a recent move commissioned by the Ministry of Education.

Starting from 2003, eight national pillar universities will offer guided graduate courses to Tibetan working staff of all stripes. The move makes for only a fraction of the whole project to give Tibet a region-wide educational aid.

Among the eight key universities are the China University of Political Science and Law, China Renmin University, Beijing Normal University, Jilin University and Tianjin University.

Tibetan on-the-job talents who deplore the paltry schooling received due to the scarcity of good educational institutions in their region will be surprised to find they can choose among a comprehensive pool of majors which range from education, law and management to economics and biology, to name just a few.

One hundred and twenty students will be enrolled annually and supported financially by the country.

The temporary brain drain means great intellectual gains after a spell of two or three years until the students finish their studies and return to Tibet.

The graduates will soon fill up the talent shortage in the Tibetan public security, courts of justice, procuratorial organs and government bodies.

Photos from hikers in the past
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Temperature in Lhasa

Month

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

The Highest [ºC]

6.8

9.2

12

13.7

19.7

22.5

21.7

20.7

19.6

16.4

11.6

7.7

The Lowest [ºC]

-10.2

-6.9

-3.2

0.9

5.1

9.2

9.9

9.4

7.6

1.4

-5

-9.1

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An Impression

From Pat Camenzend

In October 2000 I joined a tour group to hike China's Great Wall from Beijing to the China Sea. The tour was an absolutely fantastic two weeks spent with five other single women, the tour coordinator, and a local Chinese guide.

Before I describe the highlights of the trip, I need to explain my background. I am not a hiker by profession or hobby. I walk! And I do not walk in the mountains or any major hills, if they can be avoided. I am in my mid-fifties and not as slim as I was in my twenties. Now, with that said, I decided to join this hiking tour because it sounded exciting and adventurous with an opportunity to see more of the 'real' China outside the normal major tourist stops generally found in tours.

I did my homework before leaving for the trip and studied travel books, visited internet sites on China, and talked to others who had been to the country. Even with this preparation, I was not ready for the truly awesome sight of the Great Wall when I saw it for the first time in person. With photographs showing only two dimensions, it is hard to appreciate the immense size of the wall as it snakes over and around the mountain peaks. Although the steps are steep (and there are many), the hiking is done at your own pace. There are no marathons to win and the time allocated to the actual hiking is sufficient to enjoy the sights and to stop and take pictures...

The tour is well coordinated and offers the chance to see ten different aspects of the wall. The first stop is a day's trip outside of Beijing. Because of the wall's proximity to the city, it is the section most visited by tourists and, therefore, the most crowded. Since it has been restored by China to accommodate the millions of visitors every year, it gives a perspective of the wall as it originally looked. As we traveled East following the wall as it winds its way toward the China Sea, we saw a mixture of restored sections as well as portions still in ruins. And the crowds thinned so, at times, we were the only ones walking. It was great hiking the wall without the jostling of a crowd.

One great opportunity on this trip was to walk on a section generally submerged under water. A lack of rain in the area lowered the reservoir 20 meters exposing the wall. While this provided us a once in a lifetime chance to see this section, the country is desperate for rain.

The food was another pleasant surprise. Course, I am not sure what I expected, but I certainly was not prepared for three banquets a day. The food was excellent. The menus were varied, artfully served, and simply delicious. The group chose to continue to Chinese experience by having Chinese breakfast rather than a Western menu. And I even learned to use chopsticks proficiently.

Accommodations were agreeable as many of the hotels were rated three star. One fun place was a restored military garrison that was located at one of the entrances to the wall. This gave us the opportunity to see how the army guarding the wall actually lived.

In between our hiking jaunts on the wall, we visited some Imperial tombs, toured a Summer palace, walked through villages, viewed some Buddha temples, saw the Forbidden City, and shopped at local markets. I especially enjoyed the experience of watching two Chinese artists demonstrate their skills with watercolors and a pair of scissors. They each produced beautiful images.

The tour was very well planned and diverse in its offerings. The local guide was excellent. From him we learned much about the Chinese culture. He was patient, considerate, and knowledgeable. The country is very clean and the people gracious.

I would not hesitate to recommend this tour. The hiking can be exhausting, but well worth the effort. I did learn a lot about the Chinese culture and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the countryside. I am ready to return to China to learn and see more of this vast country.

The above was written by a participant in the Great Wall Hiking Tour. For more information about our tours, please browse our website or e-mail us at e-mail info@china-hiking.com.

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My Inspirational 'High'…. Hiking The Great Wall

By C. Brown

On Wednesday, October 29, 1999 our hiking began in the morning at a section of the Great Wall in Jiumenkou near the city of Qin Huang Dao and in Shuizhong County. It was a bright sunny morning and after an hour or so of hiking the Great Wall I wandered off with our guide Li to investigate a small and what appeared to be interesting Buddhist temple.

After walking through the main entrance we realized we had come during their prayer hour. It was a special holiday, which is celebrated to mark the time when their Buddha, the Goddess of Great Mercy, became a follower of Buddhism. I became very taken with their repetitive chanting that sounded something like: "O Mi Tuo Fo."

We attempted to fade into the background of this impressive temple while totally taken by a tremendous Buddhist figure in the center of the room. However within minutes of our arrival, we were approached by one of the Nuns, the Mistress of the Temple. Shi Rong Ci spoke in Chinese to Li asking us to partake in their special ceremony. She felt it was a very lucky occasion for me to appear that day and that the Goddess would bless me.

I lit some incense, representing fortune and happiness. Shi Rong Ci suggested I bow down to pray to the Buddha while she stroked a large gong placed in her lap. Taking heed to her rhythm, I soon found myself rising and falling to her 'up' and 'down' commands. At the worship close I was asked if I would sign their signature book and in return felt it appropriate to offer them a small donation. They all thanked me profusely and it was not until we were leaving that I realized my 10 yuan donation amounted to a little more than $1.00.

I suggested through Li's good guidance and interpreting that we ask to take a group picture! Shi Rong Ci was most receptive and excited at our suggestion and excused herself to change into her special Buddhist robe. As you can see we not only took group pictures but at Shi Rong Ci's suggestion Li took separate poses of Shi Rong Ci and me together!

We all hugged and kissed and with mixed smiles and tears bid each other goodbye.

As we were walking out of the gate the nuns asked me for my business card. In return, they handed me praying beads telling me they would bring me on-going good luck!

Tibetan King Songtsan Gambo and Princess WenCheng
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Temperature in Lhasa
Month	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
The Highest [ºC]	6.8	9.2	12	13.7	19.7	22.5	21.7	20.7	19.6	16.4	11.6	7.7
The Lowest [ºC]	-10.2	-6.9	-3.2	0.9	5.1	9.2	9.9	9.4	7.6	1.4	-5	-9.1