GOLMUD, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Buchung Laga, a 48-year-old herder, was born in a village near the Tuotuo River. Sitting at an average altitude of over 4,500 meters, the village once had poor access to transportation.
The opening of the Golmud-Lhasa section of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway in 2006 marked a turning point in Buchung Laga's life.
He took advantage of the railway to transport yak meat, mutton and dairy products from his hometown to Golmud and beyond, gradually building a thriving business.
In 2011, he moved from the grasslands to Golmud in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, about 420 kilometers from his hometown, ending years of nomadic life and establishing a livestock products company there. The railway has connected his hometown with his new life in the city, and also boosted market outlets for local products.
Today, Buchung Laga still frequently takes the Qinghai-Xizang Railway back to his hometown to visit relatives and check on his livestock. The railway has not only made his journeys home easier, but also improved both the villagers' income and quality of life.
