Workers prepare for winter irrigation in Shannan section of afforestation project in China's Xizang-Xinhua

Maintenance and protection workers carry out pest and disease control operations in the Shannan section of an afforestation project covering mountainous regions between Lhasa and Shannan, in Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2026. In various areas of the Shannan section of this afforestation project, staff members have carried out forest and grassland fire prevention patrols, cleared flammable materials, opened firebreaks, and checked and repaired irrigation facilities to prepare for this year's first winter irrigation.

The Shannan section of the project, which kicked off in 2022, has completed a total of 317,500 mu (about 21,166.67 hectares) of afforestation and generated more than 2.15 million jobs opportunities as of 2026. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Maintenance and protection workers maintain an irrigation facility in the Shannan section of an afforestation project covering mountainous regions between Lhasa and Shannan, in Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2026. In various areas of the Shannan section of this afforestation project, staff members have carried out forest and grassland fire prevention patrols, cleared flammable materials, opened firebreaks, and checked and repaired irrigation facilities to prepare for this year's first winter irrigation.

A maintenance and protection worker carries out pruning operations in the Shannan section of an afforestation project covering mountainous regions between Lhasa and Shannan, in Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2026. In various areas of the Shannan section of this afforestation project, staff members have carried out forest and grassland fire prevention patrols, cleared flammable materials, opened firebreaks, and checked and repaired irrigation facilities to prepare for this year's first winter irrigation.

A maintenance and protection worker builds a water retention pit in the Shannan section of an afforestation project covering mountainous regions between Lhasa and Shannan, in Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2026. In various areas of the Shannan section of this afforestation project, staff members have carried out forest and grassland fire prevention patrols, cleared flammable materials, opened firebreaks, and checked and repaired irrigation facilities to prepare for this year's first winter irrigation.

Maintenance and protection workers check for signs of fires and wild animals in the Shannan section of an afforestation project covering mountainous regions between Lhasa and Shannan, in Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2026. In various areas of the Shannan section of this afforestation project, staff members have carried out forest and grassland fire prevention patrols, cleared flammable materials, opened firebreaks, and checked and repaired irrigation facilities to prepare for this year's first winter irrigation.

Workers have lunch at a maintenance and protection station in the Shannan section of an afforestation project covering mountainous regions between Lhasa and Shannan, in Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2026. In various areas of the Shannan section of this afforestation project, staff members have carried out forest and grassland fire prevention patrols, cleared flammable materials, opened firebreaks, and checked and repaired irrigation facilities to prepare for this year's first winter irrigation.

A train runs past the Shannan section of an afforestation project covering mountainous regions between Lhasa and Shannan, in Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2026. In various areas of the Shannan section of this afforestation project, staff members have carried out forest and grassland fire prevention patrols, cleared flammable materials, opened firebreaks, and checked and repaired irrigation facilities to prepare for this year's first winter irrigation.

A maintenance and protection worker clears a drip irrigation pipe in the Shannan section of an afforestation project covering mountainous regions between Lhasa and Shannan, in Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2026. In various areas of the Shannan section of this afforestation project, staff members have carried out forest and grassland fire prevention patrols, cleared flammable materials, opened firebreaks, and checked and repaired irrigation facilities to prepare for this year's first winter irrigation.

A maintenance and protection worker clears weed for fire prevention in the Shannan section of an afforestation project covering mountainous regions between Lhasa and Shannan, in Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2026. In various areas of the Shannan section of this afforestation project, staff members have carried out forest and grassland fire prevention patrols, cleared flammable materials, opened firebreaks, and checked and repaired irrigation facilities to prepare for this year's first winter irrigation.

A maintenance and protection worker patrols in the Shannan section of an afforestation project covering mountainous regions between Lhasa and Shannan, in Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2026. In various areas of the Shannan section of this afforestation project, staff members have carried out forest and grassland fire prevention patrols, cleared flammable materials, opened firebreaks, and checked and repaired irrigation facilities to prepare for this year's first winter irrigation.

A maintenance and protection worker clears weed to create firebreaks in the Shannan section of an afforestation project covering mountainous regions between Lhasa and Shannan, in Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2026. In various areas of the Shannan section of this afforestation project, staff members have carried out forest and grassland fire prevention patrols, cleared flammable materials, opened firebreaks, and checked and repaired irrigation facilities to prepare for this year's first winter irrigation.

A maintenance and protection worker maintains an irrigation facility in the Shannan section of an afforestation project covering mountainous regions between Lhasa and Shannan, in Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2026. In various areas of the Shannan section of this afforestation project, staff members have carried out forest and grassland fire prevention patrols, cleared flammable materials, opened firebreaks, and checked and repaired irrigation facilities to prepare for this year's first winter irrigation.