Since the commencement of civil aviation services in Xizang 60 years ago, the region has seen major development in its civil aviation infrastructure, with flights now connecting Lhasa with many cities across China, allowing same-day arrival.
The year 2025 marks the 60th founding anniversary of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region as well as the 60th year of civil aviation operations in Xizang.
Over the past six decades, the number of airports in Xizang has increased from one to eight, and runways from one to 10. The number of terminal buildings has also grown from one to 10, with the total area expanding from 1,661 square meters to over 150,000 square meters.
Today, Xizang's civil aviation network has extended across the whole country, with a significant expansion in transport scale.
The number of flight routes has reached 193, scheduled flights have increased from just two per month 60 years ago to over 200 per day, and the number of cities served has grown from two to 81.
The extensive air route network allows Xizang's specialty products to rapidly reach both domestic and international markets.
Last year, the region's passenger throughput exceeded 7.6 million, with cargo and mail throughput reaching 52,000 tonnes.
According to official data, Xizang's civil aviation sector ensured a total of 34,000 transport flights, and handled 3.7 million passenger trips and 26,000 tonnes of cargo and mail in the first half of 2025.
Xizang's civil aviation infrastructure makes true leap over 6 decades
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
