Trainscarryover2,500peopletoTibetin3days
TheQinghai-TibetRailway,thehighestrailroadintheworld,carried2,569passengerstoTibetAutonomousRegioninthefirstthreedaysofoperation.
Threepassengertrains,startingfromBeijing,LanzhouandChengdupulledintotheLhasaRailwayStationoneafteranotheronMonday.
Beforetheopeningoftherailway,flightsfromBeijing,ChengduandseveralotherChinesecitiescarryhundredsofpeopletoLhasaeveryday.
"Icametotheplatformeverydaytopresenthada(awhitesilkscarfsymbolizingrespectandblessings)topassengerswhentheygotoffthetrain,"saidZhoima,18,astudentatLhasaTeachersProfessionalSchool.
ZhoimawasoneofthevolunteergroupsorganizedbytheLhasaYouthLeagueCommitteetoparticipateinactivitiescelebratingtheopeningoftherailwayonJuly1.
"Ifeeltired,butexcited,andIwilltakepartinadanceperformanceinthesquareinfrontofthePotalaPalaceTuesday,"Zhoimasaid.
AyoungwomansurnamedChen,arrivingfromBeijing,said,"Ienjoyedthejourneyandthebeautifulscenery.It'sapitythatIcanonlystayinLhasaforaweekbeforeIhavetoreturntowork."
"Weneverexpectedtomakeaprofitfromsinginganddancing,"saidCeringWangdu,headofthecommitteeofSangmuVillageinDoilungdeqenCounty,whichisadministratedbyLhasa.
Lastyear,thevillagebeganperformancesofTibetandanceandsongsandotheractivitiesshowcasingTibetanfolkloretoentertainvisitors.
"Therailwaybringsusguestsandbusiness,"CeringWangdusaid.
TheQinghai-TibetRailwaystretches1,956kilometersfromXiningtoLhasa.About960kilometersislocated4,000metersabovesealevelandthehighestpointis5,072meters,atleast200metershigherthanthePeruvianrailwayintheAndes,theformerworld'shighesttrack.
ThefirsttrainfromtheChinesecapitalstarteditsjourneyof4,060kilometerstoLhasaonSaturdayeveningandarrivedlateMondayaftermorethan48hours.