Twenty Years of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway: A Path Toward Harmony Between People and Nature

Lhasa, China (ANTARA/PRNewswire)- 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway. Spanning nearly 2,000 kilometers and reaching altitudes of over 5,000 meters, this railway traverses the "roof of the world." By overcoming formidable challenges like oxygen deficiency and harsh climate, it remains one of the most remarkable feats in the history of engineering.

To build the Qinghai-Xizang Railway, the engineers had to face a series of challenges rarely seen in the history of railway construction worldwide. About a quarter of the railway passes through permafrost regions. In some areas, ice accounts for more than 80 percent of the permafrost, while soil accounts for less than 20 percent. Permafrost is unstable as season changes. It can thaw and sink when temperatures rise in summer, while in winter it will freeze and shrink. So it is easy to crack during construction. Under the combined challenges of high altitude, low temperatures and oxygen deficiency, it was a global engineering challenge for Chinese engineers to ensure the long-term stability of the railway bed.

Faced with such extreme conditions, Chinese engineers and technicians adopted a range of innovative technologies. Along both sides of the railway, tens of thousands of heat-conducting pipes extend deep into the permafrost, draining underground heat to the surface and helping keep the permafrost frozen and stable. The 111-kilometer-long railroad bed with crushed rock ventilation can promote air circulation, carry away heat and reduce subgrade temperatures.

The construction of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway focused not only on engineering safety, but also on ecological conservation throughout the project. A total of 33 wildlife passageways were built along the railway, preserving migration routes for animals on the plateau. The Wudaoliang Bridge alone allows more than 5,000 Tibetan antelopes to pass through each year. Since the railway opened, students in remote mountainous areas have the better access to sound education. Herders can reach markets more easily. Over the past 20 years, the Qinghai-Xizang Railway has transported more than 100 million tons of freight.

The animated video China's New Pulse: How did China build a railway spanning the roof of the world? produced by China Matters, tells the story behind the Qinghai-Xizang Railway. Today, this railway serves as a crucial transport infrastructure for local people with a balanced development between economic growth and ecological conservation.