"The operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway catches the passion of Japanese citizens which is that they go to visit Tibet in groups as units by train," said a lady named Qian Chuan from Tokyo on the Train K917 to Lhasa. It is her first time to Tibet.

She also said, "Many tourism agencies such as JTB have had full quota of people in Tibetan tourism, and it need earlier reservation. It is not easy for me to have this chance to go sightseeing to Tibet."

Qian Chuan joins a Japan tourism group which is made up by 19 people with an average age of 65 and the eldest people of the group is over 80 years old. There are people who come to China for the first time in this group as well as people who have been familiar with China for several years and come specially for viewing Tibetan beautiful scenery, according to Qian Chuan's introduction.

Zhongcun Zhishu is a free-lancer of a Japanese railway magazine with experiences in traveling to over 30 countries of the Northern Hemisphere, who has been to China with a civilian group of Sino-Japan amity before 30 years. He decides to see this magic railway by himself with rich interest in railway after he knows the operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

Zhongcun Zhishu said, it is unexpected that the soft seats and the sleepers on the train are clean and the services on the train are excellent as well as the hermetical establishment that is usually used on the plain is equipped on the train. The consciousness and measures of environmental protection have been strengthened. It is unexpected that China has built a "world highest railway" in a so short time.

"China is much more open to the world. The construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway brings much more opportunities to foreigners to see Tibet," said Zhongcun Zhishu.

When it comes to the impression on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and Tibet, Dalin Keji who has been to China for sightseeing for seven times said, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway makes him be able to visit the Potala Palace with religionary charm that has been listed in World Heritage List. The instrument supplying the oxygen on the train makes him adjust himself to the plateau reaction.

He also said he hopes that the railway can add more sightseeing platforms on the travel which will give them more chances to enjoy Tibetan natural view in the close distance.

Tibet Autonomous Region has received 16,700 overseas tourists from July 1st to 31st which is 47 percent more than the same period of last year. The foreign exchange revenue of Tibetan tourism is US$ 9.78 million that is 23.8 percent more than the same period of last year.

(People's Daily Online August 15, 2006)