A train travels along the Qinghai-Xizang Railway. [Photo/China Xizang Online]

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway's full operation and the 75th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Xizang autonomous region.

Over the past two decades, the railway has transformed from a world engineering miracle into a vital economic lifeline connecting the plateau with the rest of China.

Since opening in 2006, the railway has transported more than 100 million metric tons of cargo and over 41 million passengers in and out of Xizang. Stretching 1,956 kilometers from Xining in Qinghai province to Lhasa, the line crosses breathtaking landscapes like Qinghai Lake, Hoh Xil and the Tangula Mountains, while also reshaping local livelihoods and industries.

For many railway workers, the line has become part of their lives. Former driver Li Jianming operated one of the first trains into Lhasa in 2006 and safely transported over 1.8 million passengers during his 18 years on the plateau route. Wang Zengcai, once a truck driver who spent 13 days delivering supplies to Xizang, later became a freight train driver capable of transporting 2,000 tons of cargo within just one day.

The railway has also boosted tourism, logistics and local businesses. Freight volume entering and leaving Xizang has grown rapidly, while tourism trains have brought increasing numbers of visitors to the plateau. Around stations such as Lhasa and Nagchu, once-remote areas have developed into thriving commercial hubs.

Today, the Qinghai-Xizang Railway continues to serve as a road of development, unity and prosperity, bringing new opportunities and a brighter future to the plateau region.