2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the full opening and operation of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway. This skyward rail, running across the Roof of the World, has given wings to regional development and brought great convenience to people of all ethnic groups along its route. More than just a transport link, it carries memories of years spent overcoming formidable difficulties, honors the unwavering perseverance of generations of builders, and continues to write a legendary movement belonging to the new era.

In July—the same month the railway was officially inaugurated in 2006—we dedicate our July issue to this historic milestone under the theme “The 20th Anniversary of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway”. Through five selected articles, we invite you to discover:

the rapid development driven by the region’s evolving transport network in How Has Over 70 Years of Road Building Changed Xizang?

the dedication of the Beijing–Xizang train crews in Qinghai-Xizang Railway: 20 Years On;

the resilience and fortitude of the railway builders in We Built the Railway on Plateau;

harmonious coexistence between railway operations and plateau wildlife in Qinghai-Xizang Railway Coexists in Harmony with Thriving Tibetan Antelopes;

and appeal of modern high-tech highland railway systems with African professionals visiting the workshops and experiencing a train ride on the Qinghai-Xizang Railway in A Journey Across Continents to Experience Plateau Railway.

“Dunhuang before, Qutan after.” This saying speaks volumes about the Qutan Monastery, revered as a treasure house of fine traditional cultures and priceless relics. Nestled in the Hehuang Valley of Qinghai Province, this ancient Tibetan Buddhist monastery holds a profound history and tangible evidence of religious and ethnic integration. In the History column, we present Qutan Monastery: A Witness to Cultural Integration and Shared Prosperity—an in depth feature that unveils the enduring legacy of this remarkable site.

What does it take to truly know a place? For Michael Crook and his family, it took three generations. Born the same year Xizang was peacefully liberated, this foreign friend has spent a lifetime witnessing the plateau change. He has watched families grow, landscapes shift, and a region transform beyond recognition. Michael Crook: A Beijing-Accented Foreigner and Three Generations' Ties to Xizang, this is not just a story of one man’s memories—it is the living chronicle of modern Xizang, seen through the lens of unwavering kinship.

For the cultural relic poster of July, the issue presents you the Clay Bodhisattva Head of Aiwang Temple (11th-12th century).

Editor: Lucy Jiang