Imagine a mountain village straight out of a fairy tale – pink peach blossoms framing snow-capped peaks, traditional homes nestled among terraced fields. This is Galai Village in Xizang, now making headlines after President Xi Jinping praised its transformation in a heartfelt letter to residents. 📮
From Ancient Fable to Modern Marvel
Dubbed Xizang's 'First Peach Blossom Village,' Galai has turned a 1,600-year-old Chinese literary metaphor into reality. Inspired by Tao Yuanming's tale of an idyllic community, this once-remote settlement now welcomes tourists through improved infrastructure and sustainable tourism. Visitors flock here each spring when 150,000 peach trees burst into bloom – a scene President Xi called 'a gift from ancestors' during his 2021 visit.
🚄 Twin Engines of Progress
Galai's success rides on two key developments:
The 'Sky Road': High-speed Fuxing trains now connect Xizang through the Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway (opened 2021), part of a transport network that's doubled in size since 2012
The 'Prosperity Road': Per capita income skyrocketed to ¥40,000 ($5,579) in 2024 through eco-tourism and organic farming partnerships with coastal provinces
Xizang's Growth in Numbers 📈
GDP increased 155x since 1965
Farmers' incomes up 199x since 1965
183 flight routes connecting 78 cities globally
100% of villages with 4G/fiber-optic internet
As President Xi noted in his letter: 'Better lives and preserved ecology go hand in hand.' With its blend of cultural heritage and modern development, Galai stands as a blooming example of Xizang's harmonious progress.
