Tibet: A Journey Through Time: Isolated border town sees revitalization

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In today's edition of our ongoing Tibet series. We take you to a remote area at Tibet's border with India and Bhutan, which has transformed from an isolated town into a modern tourist attraction. CGTN reporter Yang Jinghao has more.

62-year-old Guru from Tibet is a lot busier since moving into his new home early last year. Here he started his own business – a homestay, something he never thought he could do in this remote town in Cona County, a major hub for Monba people, one of China's smallest ethnic groups.

GURU TIBET RESIDENT "My former residence was very simple. It was dark, and the wooden roof leaked when it rained. It was very inconvenient to live there, not to mention host guests."

And this is pervasive in Le Township, located some 400 kilometers from Tibet's capital Lhasa.

YANG JINGHAO CONA COUNTY, TIBET "Bordering India and Bhutan, the small town used to be isolated and impoverished. Everything changed though in 2016, when a program aiming to improve people's livelihoods was launched."

It was an overhaul of the town with only some 140 residents in total. Subsidized by local government, the shabby wooden houses were all replaced by well-equipped buildings.

BODOR HEAD OF CONA COUNTY "During the planning and construction of the project, we tried to keep the unique cultural elements of the Monba ethnic minority. As for the safety level, we made sure that the architecture can withstand a magnitude-8 earthquake."

Now nearly half of the families run homestays as a growing number of tourists flock to the area during peak seasons. Hosts can earn some 5,000 to 7,000 US dollars each year. The promising business also attracts more young people back home like Tsring Lhamo, who used to seek living in urban areas by doing laborious work.

TSRING LHAMO TIBET RESIDENT "Benefiting from preferential policies, now I can make a better living just at home by operating my home inn and teahouse."

A great leap forward, local officials say what also matters is how to reinforce management by engaging residents.

BODOR HEAD OF CONA COUNTY "For example, how to properly handle the garbage and sewage and how to provide quality services to tourists, these are all important for sustainable development."

A main battlefield of the self-defensive counter-attack against India in 1962, the town has remained tranquil over the past few decades. While doing their part to safeguard the homeland at the border, the villagers continue to explore more ways for a better life. YJH, CGTN, Tibet Autonomous Region.