Witnessing 20 Years of Changes on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Plateau Transportation and Livelihoods Upgraded in Step

As the starting point of the QinghaiTibet Railway, Xining Station used to have a limited station building scale, and during the Spring Festival travel rush, it was often crowded, making ticket buying and boarding inconvenient for passengers. With the completion of the renovation and expansion in 2014, the station's building, platforms, and train operation capacity have all been significantly improved, and travel conditions have improved accordingly. The article reviews the changes brought to the Qinghai and Tibet plateau over the 20 years since the QinghaiTibet Railway opened to traffic. The railway has not only made "taking the train to Lhasa" part of everyday travel, but has also driven tourism development along the route. Tourist trains connect attractions such as Qinghai Lake, Kekexili, and Tanggula Mountain, boosting spending on homestays, local specialties, and cultural and creative products. At the same time, the plateau freight system has also changed. The volume of inbound and outbound freight to and from Tibet has increased significantly compared with two decades ago, forming a more stable twoway logistics network. Materials such as building materials and grain are transported into the plateau, while Tibetan medicine, yak meat, and handicrafts are also shipped across the country by rail. The article believes that this railway has become an important corridor connecting the plateau and the inland areas, and has promoted local integration into a broader market.