Sichod Wangmo and her great-granddaughter greet each other at Jiagen Village in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Sichod Wangmo (C) celebrates the Tibetan New Year with her family at Jiagen Village in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Sichod Wangmo's daughter-in-law cooks for the family at Jiagen Village in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)
Soinam Nordar (R), Sichod Wangmo's son, hands his mom a cup of barley wine at Jiagen Village in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)
Soinam Nordar tends to a herd of yaks in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)
Sichod Wangmo (R) eats chema, roasted barley and fried wheat grain in a two-tier rectangular wooden box, at Jiagen Village in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)
Sichod Wangmo's great-grandchildren are going to send festival greetings to their neighbors at Jiagen Village in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)
Sichod Wangmo (C, front) poses for a group photo with her family at Jiagen Village in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)
Sichod Wangmo celebrates the Tibetan New Year with her family at Jiagen Village in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Sichod Wangmo's daughter-in-law (L) serves family members with food at Jiagen Village in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)
This aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 10, 2024 shows Sichod Wangmo's home at Jiagen Village in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Soinam Nordar shops with his granddaughters at a New Year fair in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Family members of Sichod Wangmo pose for photos in festival costumes at Jiagen Village in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)
Sichod Wangmo's daughter-in-law cooks for the family at Jiagen Village in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)
Soinam Nordar drives a herd of yaks in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2024. Sitting in her spacious and bright living room, 85-year-old Sichod Wangmo, a resident in Damxung County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, can not feel more content and happier when her loved ones filled her cup with barley wine and gave her hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf that symbolizes purity and auspiciousness) one by one, wishing her all the best.
Saturday marked the Tibetan New Year, which coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival this year, the most important festival in China for reunions of family members.
In Xizang, there is no exception. Days before the Tibetan New Year, Soinam Nordar, Sichod Wangmo's seventh son, has been preparing food, candies and butter sculptures, welcoming his other ten brothers and sisters home with each of their families.
Sichod Wangmo feels she is now living a life she could never think of.
In old Xizang, Sichod Wangmo was a serf, making a living with her grandma on pasturing for a serf owner. Her mother passed away when she was very young.
"We had nothing. We worked all year long for the serf owner but we still had no way to fill our empty stomachs. So we even begged for food to live on," Sichod Wangmo recalled. "Winter was the hardest for us as it was so cold and we were unfortunately in rags. However, winter was also full of hope for us as we may have the chance to have a full meal during the Tibetan New Year."
It was not until the year of 1959 when democratic reform was launched and feudal serfdom was finally abolished in Xizang, that Sichod Wangmo felt her life was turning on a new page. She was allocated five yaks by the government and she could finally feed her family.
Now, after more than 60 years, Sichod Wangmo's family has grown into a big one with four generations of over 100 members.
Looking at her loved ones chatting, laughing and having a good time together for the New Year, Sichod Wangmo hopes days like this can be more, and more. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)
