The Qinghai-Tibet Railway made its way into Nagqu County, an important
center in the northern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, on Saturday. It
is the area's first railway line.

With an average altitude of 4,500 meters, Nagqu is located between the
Tanggula, Gangdise and Nyainqentanglha mountain ranges, all sacred areas
regarded by locals as "insurmountable even by eagles."

The county contains 34 million hectares of grassland on which some 7.7
million head of livestock graze. Eighty percent of the area's 387,000 people
make their living by raising livestock.

"It's been our long-cherished dream to have a railway in Nagqu County," said
Duan Xiangzheng, a local official. He said the railway will help promote the
animal husbandry industry and improve the people's living standards.

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway will wind through Nagqu County, connecting 11
townships and 11 freight or passenger stations.

Local governments in the area have been working with experts to map out
strategies for sustainable economic development and environmental protection
along the railway.

Northern Tibet's abundant mineral resources are worth an estimated 6
trillion yuan (US$722 billion), about 60 percent of the total mineral value
in Tibet.

"Construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway will improve the local people's
earnings and help them learn new work techniques and modern technology,"
said Duan.

Since the Qinghai-Tibet Railway broke ground three years ago, over 40,000
Nagqu locals have participated in the project. It has brought them 23
million yuan (US$2.8 million) in additional income.

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway entered Tibet at Amdo County last June and nearly
half of the railway has now been completed, according to Shen Yubin, an
engineer working on the project.

With an investment of 26.2 billion yuan (US$3.2 billion), China began
building the line from Golmud City in Qinghai Province to Lhasa in 2001. It
will serve as a bridge connecting Tibet -- long isolated by its rugged
terrain and high altitude -- with the central plains.

The project is part of the central government's campaign to develop China's
western region, strengthen its economy and help the local people to improve
their living standards.

The 1,142-kilometer Qinghai-Tibet Railway is scheduled to be completed in
2007.