Nyima Tsondru (left), a Tibetan language and calligraphy teacher, works with students in a classroom at Lhasa Bejing Experimental Middle School in Lhasa, Tibet autonomous region. [Photo by Palden Nyima/China Daily]

The Tibet autonomous region is preserving traditional culture while seeking high-quality development, overseas visitors have found.

As part of the 2023 Forum on the Development of Xizang, China (Xizang is the name of Tibet in Chinese), which is scheduled to be held this week in Beijing, a group of diplomats and other international visitors paid a visit to the region's Nyingchi city and other places last week.

They had an opportunity to observe natural landscapes, cultural practices and the development outlook of the region.

An important event in the region, with the participation of diplomats and experts internationally, the forum facilitates cultural and economic exchanges between the region and the rest of the world.

Fiji's Ambassador to China Manasa R. Tagicakibau, one of the overseas guests on the field trip, spoke highly of China's efforts to preserve traditional Tibetan culture while boosting economic development in the region.

Tagicakibau said he had never been to the region before. He had only read about Tibet's religious practices and high altitude.

"What I was most astonished about in Tibet was the preservation of culture here, during this process of economic development, the locals continue to preserve their cultures," Tagicakibau said.

Students at Nyingchi Second Primary School in Nyingchi, Tibet autonomous region, study the Tibetan language. [Photo by Palden Nyima/China Daily]

He said that in most countries, when development comes, traditional culture and language tend to be diminished. When people come in, they lose the way they dress and the way they prepare food.

"Now there is a modern way to do it, but they continue their traditional way of heating the house, and they maintain their traditional dress. These are things that can be lost easily during development processes," he said after visiting many communities.

Adham Sayed, a Lebanese researcher at the Institute of East Asian Studies at Zhejiang Gongshang University, also hailed the preservation of Tibetan culture in the region.

Adham said he had a lot of misinformation about the region from Western and American media in the past.

"It's an amazing place where the culture is still alive. You can see the Tibetan language everywhere, and you can see people wearing Tibetan clothes. I saw people in the temple praying and learning their culture," he said.

Adham said by visiting Tibet University, he learned more about Tibetan culture and how the language continues.

"We saw in the schools that they still teach this language. Students read and write very well in their native tongue," he said.

Students at Nyingchi Second Primary School in Nyingchi, Tibet autonomous region, take a class on musical instruments. [Photo by Palden Nyima/China Daily]
 

Yangla, a specialist from the Tibetan Ancient Documents Restoration Center at the regional library in the Tibet autonomous region, examine a page of Tibetan scripture. [Photo by Palden Nyima/China Daily]

Young Tibetan opera performers perform in Norbu Lingka Park in Lhasa, Tibet autonomous region. [Photo by Palden Nyima/China Daily]


By Daqiong and Palden Nyima