Qinghai-Xizang Railway pictured against the Potala Palace in SW China's Lhasa

A train crossing a bridge over the Lhasa River on the Qinghai-Xizang Railway is pictured against the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

LHASA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- In July 2006, the Qinghai-Xizang Railway linking Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, and Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, went operational, ending Xizang's history of no railway access.

A train crossing a bridge over the Lhasa River on the Qinghai-Xizang Railway is pictured against the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A train crossing a bridge over the Lhasa River on the Qinghai-Xizang Railway is pictured against the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A train crossing a bridge over the Lhasa River on the Qinghai-Xizang Railway is pictured against the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A train crossing a bridge over the Lhasa River on the Qinghai-Xizang Railway is pictured against the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

A bridge in the morning glow over the Lhasa River on the Qinghai-Xizang Railway is pictured against the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

A train crossing a bridge over the Lhasa River on the Qinghai-Xizang Railway is pictured against the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

A train crossing a bridge over the Lhasa River on the Qinghai-Xizang Railway is pictured against the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

A train crossing a bridge over the Lhasa River on the Qinghai-Xizang Railway is pictured against the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

This file photo taken on July 1, 2006 shows a train crossing a bridge over the Lhasa River on the Qinghai-Xizang Railway with the Potala Palace in the background in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Sonam Norbu)