Medog, the last county in China to gain road access, has undergone a remarkable transformation thanks to the Medog Highway.
Winding through snow mountains and tropical rainforest, this "lifeline" connects remote ethnic communities in Xizang with the outside world, fueling economic growth and lifting living standards for the Menba and Luoba people.
The road, completed in October 2013 after more than five decades of surveying and construction, cut travel time by over 90 percent from Medog to Nyingchi, the city that administers Medog.
The highway has brought unprecedented opportunities. In Badeng Village, residents of Menba ethnic group relocated from dangerous cliffside homes to new Tibetan-style houses by the roadside. Traditional bamboo weaving has also turned into a profitable business.
"Before, we sold them (bamboo weaved baskets) for only 4-5 yuan (about 0.56-0.7 U.S. dollars) each, now they go for 140-150 yuan (around 20 U.S. dollars), and after repackaging, some sell for 400-600 yuan (about 55.7-83.5 U.S. dollars). We sell to Nyingchi or Lhasa, and they then sell to other places," said villager Sonam Phuntsog.
Xinsheng, another Badeng villager, recalled the days when he was a porter, carrying heavy loads over mountain paths.
"This is the strap on the shoulder, and this is on the head. We had to carry like this every day, from childhood. Our heads got deformed," he showed the way he used to carry loads.
Today, the younger generation is seizing new opportunities. In Dexing Village, Norbu Tsering, a university graduate returned to home, is rewriting the story of local agriculture with dragon fruit.
Upon his return in 2018, he learned cultivation techniques online, and started with 100 plants. Now, with 5,000-6,000 plants, he earns 100,000 yuan (about 13,900 U.S. dollars) annually and works with seven other households.
"I want to develop some guesthouses and local specialty dishes. For example, the flower buds of the dragon fruit can be used for soup," Norbu Tsering said.
Tea, too, has become a pillar industry since the road opened.
Gelin Village lies at the end of Medog Highway. Tea-growing was introduced seven years ago with a "company + village collective + farmer" cooperative model. Now tea growing has boosted new businesses like tea-picking experiences and mountain homestays.
"[During peak season,] there are at least 2,000 [visitors] per day. The more than 100 [guesthouse] beds are never enough. Most [visitors] camp with tents," said Dorje Phuntsog, village committee director of Gelin Village.
In 2024, Medog welcomed over 600,000 visitors, generating nearly 400 million yuan (about 55.7 million U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue. Tea leaf picking brought in more than 15 million yuan (about 2 million U.S. dollars) for locals.
With further road expansion, the once-isolated place is now connected to the rest of the nation, its prosperity still unfolding.
Medog Highway transforms once isolated county into thriving border town in Xizang
