LHASA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Right after obtaining his driving license, Dainzin went to Lhasa, the regional capital city, to buy a car.
"Now that I have more spare money, I'm going to own a car and enjoy my life," said the farmer from the Township of Zhaxoi, Tibet Autonomous Region, southwest China.
Combo photo shows a 24-year-old Jamba (R2) and his brothers posing for a photo on a Dongfeng truck in Ali Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, in 1994 (top) and 48-year-old Jamba (R2) and his brothers posing for a photo in front of their private car in Gonggar County, Nov. 26, 2018. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
After Dainzin's children graduated from college and began to work, the annual per capita income of this family has exceeded 20,000 yuan (3,094 U.S. dollars).
Dainzin's family is one among 3.44 million people in Tibet who have seen their incomes increase and lives improve. Last year, the region's GDP surpassed 190 billion yuan (around 29.2 billion U.S. dollars); the per capita disposable income for rural residents grew 12.7 percent to 14,598 yuan, while that for urban residents rose 10 percent to 41,156 yuan.
People go shopping in a market in the Township of Zhaxizom, Tingri County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Increasing incomes have transformed consumption habits on the plateau. According to data released by the regional government, per capita consumption of grains decreased 126 kilograms from five years ago, while vegetables increased 23 kilograms; the spending on transportation and communication nearly doubled; spending on health grew 160.9 percent, and cultural and entertainment service saw a 165.6 percent increase in spending.
People go shopping in the Chomsigkang Market in Lhasa City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng)
The boom of e-commerce has also changed how people shop on the "roof of the world." During last year's Singles' Day, the online volume of transactions in Tibet on e-commerce platform Tmall reached 412 million yuan (64 million U.S. dollars). Winter coats and cellphones were among the most popular items for Tibetan buyers.■
