With China Tourist Visa Resumed,
Tibet Tours for All around the Globle are Available Right Now!

It is the best time to join our Tibet small group tour in 2024 at the best local price.
+ 86-28-81754631
TOP
listicon

Story of skyroad patrolmen in Tibet

Patrolmen are saluting the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
Patrolmen are saluting the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
In Tibet, there are over 2,000 herdsmen who safeguard the world's highest railway - the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, regardless of heat and coldness, storm and hail, driving their motorbikes for day and night patrols.
 
Early in the morning on the plateau with the altitude of over 4,500 meters, patrolmen began duty shifting. Twenty-six years old Tashi Phuntsok was one of them, who walked for over 10 miles in the piercing wind to take turn of his colleagues.
 
Walking into the tent of the patrolmen, a barely furnished room with a water boiler and several single beds was shown.
 
The main duty of these railway patrolmen, according to Tashi Phuntsok, is to prevent cows and sheep go onto the track and to make sure the normal status of roadbeds and tracks.
 
March is a season for breeding seeds, whereas for the north Tibetan plateau, it still suffers severe cold and reckless storm.
 
"Now it only blows, in winter, it is only -20℃ and the wind could turn over a running motorbike," said Phuntsok.

Patrolmen are having an outdoor lunch during the patrol.
Patrolmen are having an outdoor lunch during the patrol.
 
Manager of the railway patrol office Jing Xingchi said, the railway patrol team of Tibet Autonomous Region works in a dry, cold, oxygen-deprived, stormy environment with an average altitude of over 4500 meters.
 
Hostile conditions make a lot of patrolmen who always walk or drive motorbike outdoors suffer from stomach illness, high blood pressure and gall-stone, said one of the patrolman.
 
"The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is one important treasure for all Tibetan people which has brought dramatic changes to the local transportation and economy. Protecting it is like safeguarding our home," said Phuntsok.
 
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway with the highest altitude in the world was put into operation in July 2006. It is seen as the engine of economic development in Tibet after eight years of operation. Tibet's GDP has kept an annual increase rate of over 10 percent from 34.2 billion yuan in 2006 to 80.7 billion yuan in 2013. Tibetans alongside the railway made fortune by setting up transportation companies, hotels or souvenir shops.
Master Catherine Jigme

About the Author - Master Catherine Jigme

With exceptional passion and outstanding leadership, Mrs. Catherine has dedicated herself to Tibet inbound tourism and China tour for 15 years. As one of the handful females who see great potential of Chinese inbound tourism, Catherine has made great contribution to promoting Tibet tourism and enhancing the employment of Tibetans and prosperity of local Tibetan community.

Over the years, she travelled overseas with Tibet Tourism Bureau many times to promote Tibet tourism. Currently, Catherine works as the marketing director of Tibet Vista, an opinion leader behind the whole team of Tibet Vista.

Email me about your travel idea

Have a Question? Ask below or email our travel experts directly at inquiry@tibettravel.org

Question Summary*

Details*

SUBMIT

Please fill in your contact information, we will send you the answer by email

SUBMITCancel

0 Comment ON "Story of skyroad patrolmen in Tibet"

Check All Tibet Travel FAQs Here