The Ascent: The railway that changed the Roof of the World

Editor's Note: The builders of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway endured extreme cold, high altitudes, and immense hardship to complete what is now the world's highest-altitude railway. Two decades later, this engineering landmark has brought communities closer together, expanded access to travel, and reshaped life across Xizang. In this special episode of The Hub: The Ascent, Wang Guan and South African influencer Lara Netherlands travel from Xining to Lhasa aboard the iconic railway as it marks 20 years of operation. Along the way, they meet the people whose lives have been transformed by its legacy. Among them is Huang Hairong, a railway technician from Qinghai, who has witnessed firsthand how the railway has changed her hometown and is now helping maintain its future through innovation and technical expertise. They also meet Norbu Samdup, a music creator from Xizang, who reflects on the new opportunities the railway has brought to the region. As a new generation builds on the legacy of those who came before, The Ascent explores how one railway continues to shape lives, connect communities, and inspire the future.