"The move will end the history of Meto having no access to the outside world. It is a milestone in China's highway construction," said Gyaco, director of the Tibet Regional Communications Department.

Meto lies on the southern slopes of the Himalayas. As the county has no access to other parts of the country, local residents have to transport goods on horseback. It takes four or five days for a trip at least to the nearest destination. Many villagers never leave their hometown.

The local government poured a huge sum of money and great manpower into building a highway to Meto in the 1970s. However, the endeavor ran aground due to difficult geological features, such as landslides, mudflows and earthquakes.

In drawing up the 10th five-year development plan, the regional government offered seven routes for the highway and will choose the best one among them. Preliminary preparations will be done in one year. Road construction will be completed in five years.

As a state-listed nature reserve, over 80 percent of the land in Meto County is covered with virgin forest. It is a major habitat of Bengal tigers, the world's most endangered species.

"Meto is an ideal place for growing sub-tropical vegetables and fruits. Mangos planted in our village are as big as the Hami Melon. But, great amounts of fruit rot in the fields as a result of a lack of transportation," said the village head Gyaim.

"Though villagers are now able to see the colorful world on television, they want to go out and have a look with their own eyes even more," he said.