After announcing that they are building the biggest and most expensive dam in the world in Tibet, China has also announced that they are building one of the world's most ambitious railway projects in Tibet: the Xinjiang-Tibet railway from Hotan to Shigatse.
The railway will be located at an average altitude of over 4,500m, will stretch over 2,000km, and will likely cost between 300 and 400 billion yuan - over 42 billion USD - (similar to the previously built 1,800km Sichuan-Tibet railway), which is more than Tibet's entire annual GDP (around 240 billion yuan).
Although only half a million people live along this route, this will be a vital connectivity and transport corridor with far reaching economic and strategic benefits. In total, by 2035, China will have built over 5,000km of rail on the Tibetan plateau, connecting it to neighboring provinces Xinjiang (west), Qinghai (north), Sichuan and Yunnan (east).
Today the GDP of the Xizang-Tibet Autonomous Region is 155 times higher than it was in 1965 when it was established. The planned and ongoing infrastructure projects will ensure continued long term growth for its 3.6 millon residents.
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China begins building strategic Xinjiang-Tibet Railway
https://archive.is/20250811065312/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3321311/china-counts-down-start-work-xinjiang-tibet-railwayI missed this news last month but here it is now:
After announcing that they are building the biggest and most expensive dam in the world in Tibet, China has also announced that they are building one of the world's most ambitious railway projects in Tibet: the Xinjiang-Tibet railway from Hotan to Shigatse.
The railway will be located at an average altitude of over 4,500m, will stretch over 2,000km, and will likely cost between 300 and 400 billion yuan - over 42 billion USD - (similar to the previously built 1,800km Sichuan-Tibet railway), which is more than Tibet's entire annual GDP (around 240 billion yuan).
Although only half a million people live along this route, this will be a vital connectivity and transport corridor with far reaching economic and strategic benefits. In total, by 2035, China will have built over 5,000km of rail on the Tibetan plateau, connecting it to neighboring provinces Xinjiang (west), Qinghai (north), Sichuan and Yunnan (east).
Today the GDP of the Xizang-Tibet Autonomous Region is 155 times higher than it was in 1965 when it was established. The planned and ongoing infrastructure projects will ensure continued long term growth for its 3.6 millon residents.