#China #Tibetan Culture #Lhasa #Xizang #75 years

Celebration of 75 Years of Peaceful Liberation in Xizang

This year, Xizang (Tibet) celebrates the 75th anniversary of its peaceful liberation, an event that has fundamentally transformed not only the region's landscape but also its cultural heritage. Liang Junyan, a researcher at the Institute of Historical Studies, has spent two decades examining the impactful changes in Xizang, offering a unique lens through which we can understand this metamorphosis.

Liang's first trip to Xizang in 2007 revealed a landscape riddled with remnants of the past. The journey from the airport to the city was fraught with bumpy roads and dilapidated houses. Fast forward nearly twenty years, and the transformation is nothing short of astounding.

Development as a Miracle

Since the peaceful liberation and subsequent democratic reforms, Xizang has experienced profound economic development. The region’s GDP soared from merely 327 million yuan (approximately 47.87 million USD) in 1965 to an impressive 303.2 billion yuan (about 44.39 billion USD) in 2025. Notably, extreme poverty has been eradicated, and the average life expectancy has risen to 72.5 years. Xizang was among the first regions in China to implement 15 years of public education, marking a significant step forward for its citizens.

In terms of infrastructure, the region boasts a road network exceeding 120,000 kilometers. The strategic 'Five Cities, Three Hours' highway network connects key economic hubs around Lhasa, the regional capital, allowing for efficient travel and commerce.

Protecting Cultural Heritage

Alongside development, the rich and diverse culture of Xizang is undergoing systematic protection. Essential elements such as the Epic of King Gesar, Tibetan opera, and the Lum medicinal baths of Sowa Rigpa are now recognized as UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. Between 2012 and 2024, considerable government funding amounting to 473 million yuan (approximately 69.25 million USD) has been allocated to safeguard Xizang’s intangible heritage.

The promotion and education of the Tibetan language have reached unprecedented levels, with all primary and secondary schools now offering courses in both Standard Chinese and Tibetan. Furthermore, Tibetan media has expanded across various platforms, ensuring cultural narratives are not only preserved but also actively communicated.

Economic Development and Cultural Preservation

There is a common perception that the charm of Xizang lies in its secluded nature, distanced from industrial civilization. This belief often positions modern infrastructure and education as threats to traditional culture. However, Liang argues for the opposite view: without a robust economic foundation, cultural preservation remains fragile.

An elderly thangka painter remarked to Liang that the greatest challenge in recruiting apprentices was not a lack of skill but rather the families' preference for the immediate financial benefits of herding over the long-term commitment required for learning. Better infrastructure and reliable services stimulate cultural preservation by allowing individuals to choose education over immediate income.

However, economic development alone does not guarantee cultural richness. Continued government investment—exemplified by the aforementioned funding dedicated to intangible cultural heritage and modern educational facilities—demonstrates a reinvestment in culture stemming from economic growth.

Liang highlights that Xizang has entered a new phase of development, driven by a clear national governance vision. This vision acknowledges and respects the diversity within the ethnic fabric of China while cultivating shared values. Each infrastructure project, cultural documentation effort, and ecological protection plan reflects this holistic approach.

The interdependence of economic development and cultural preservation has resulted in what can best be described as a miracle on the Tibetan Plateau. The foundations laid by robust economic growth provide the bedrock for cultural conservation, while the richness of culture, in turn, grants spiritual cohesion to this development journey. Together, they not only tell the story of Xizang's past but also herald a hopeful, prosperous future.