Villagers living the high life on the road to prosperity

Tourism and tea

Yang Min, Party secretary of Wori township, has tried to raise living standards through the use of local resources.

In 2014, a 3-meter-wide road was built for pedestrians.

Last year, the government provided more funds, which allowed the road to be widened to 5 meters, meaning it became suitable for large vehicles, which resulted in an upsurge in tourism.

Every household has seen its annual income rise by 2,000 yuan since the road was widened.

The township is just 35 km from Mount Siguniang, a renowned tourist spot in the east of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Despite the close proximity, the poor roads around Wori made travel difficult, resulting in most visitors ignoring the township and paying most attention to the mountain.

However, after the road was sealed with asphalt, tourists began to flood into Wori to sample its distinctive Tibetan traditions and culture.

Nan Zhonghong has benefited from the influx of visitors.

The 74-year-old ethnic Tibetan used to make a living by growing apples in Wori, but after the road was sealed she found a new way to earn money by providing entertainment and traditional Tibetan food with butter tea.

"I am really happy that more people now come to visit us," she said. "The road has brought many new friends."

During the peak tourist season (usually July and August) around Mount Siguniang, Nan entertains about 30 tourists a day.

"Our income doubled to 50,000 yuan last year," she added.

Despite the improvements, life is still challenging for the people in this mountainous region.

One of the most important tasks is ensuring that the road remains open and is well-maintained, especially along the highest stretches.

"In winter, the road is usually covered by snow and mud, which makes it difficult to ensure it is clear," said Ma Quanfang, a 77-year-old in Wori.

"People come out to sweep away the snow, but the mud is much harder to remove," he added.

"Sometimes I have to spend four to five hours a day clearing away rocks and mud that have piled up."