A local villager uses the methane-gas stove in Chamdo, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, photo from Xinhua.
Oct.19, 2010, a special day, marks the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Chamdo Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
Over the past 60 years, dramatic changes have taken place in economy, society, culture in Chamdo.
With a population of 640,000, Chamdo Prefecture reported nearly 5.8 billion yuan (872 million U.S. dollars) of GDP last year, 140 times the 1958 figure. The per capita net annual income of local farmers and herders amounted to 3,144 yuan.
The regional committee of the Communist Party of China and the People's Government of TAR have invested altogether 13.1 billion yuan in 47 construction projects in Chamdo in recent years.
A series of preferential projects concerning local people's livelihood and Chamdo's infrastructure are expected to be completed and put into use successively.
In line with the strategy of "giving priority to educational developments," a comparatively complete educational system has been gradually established, including nursery, primary, secondary, higher, adult, vocational and special education.
The regional government of Chamdo has sped up energy efficient and emission reduction projects by promoting clean energy, such as methane gas and solar energy, to develop "green economy".
