The image of an oil painting on the glass against the actual scene outside the window creates a montage scenario, which echoes with people’s fantasy of Lhasa. [Photo/infzm.com]

According to the statistics of 2012, Tibet had received more than 8.6 million tourists, nearly seven times as much as that before the opening of Qinghai-Tibet Railway (QTR) in 2005. As a powerful economic engine, QTR brings the ancient city, Lhasa, massive changes; however, something existing a thousand years still keep the city's original flavor.

Compared with the old Lhasa, the modern city gives its citizens much finer, smoother and more complicate feelings on the way and pace of life.

On the one hand, there we see some disadvantages, such as the rocketing rent and commodity price.

In 2005, I met Tseji Baima, an owner of a small Tibetan jewelry shop then. The fast-developing transportation gave her much pressure on operation costs, and everything was getting faster and faster. She had to live and work just as people in the inland big cities. So she left, along with the loss of a "slow life" there.

People are dining together in a romantic restaurant with the night scene of the Potala Palace outside the window. Owing to such romance, Lhasa is also renowned as a land of happy encounters. [Photo/infzm.com]

A person is walking on the street in a hurry, passing by another sitting in sun. ‘Motionless’ and ‘dynamic’ are the two symbolic words for today’s Lhasa. [Photo/infzm.com]

On the other hand, QTR bridges the gap between the inland of China and Tibet. The products, which one couldn't see in Lhasa, are now on the market, making the local people's life more comfortable. Tourists are doubled and redoubled by the QTR, which increases the locals' income.

Besides, many livelihood projects have been implemented. For example, the heating project under construction will alleviate the cold winter for the local civilians soon as it is completed.

In addition, Lhasa has become a wonderful place for young people and inland "white collars" to travel and have adventurous self-exiles in an ancient exotic city with both changes and stable original temperament.

The wholesale market selling all kinds of goods is sprouting in Lhasa. The local material supply keeps pace with its inland counterparts owing to the railway. [Photo/infzm.com]

The Barkhor Street, which is the old center of Lhasa, still maintains its original look, and so does the lifestyle of its local Tibetans. The pious Tibetans and Buddhism followers from other Tibetan-inhabited regions come to the city and take ritual walk around the Jokhang Temple as usual.

When winter comes and tourists decrease, the bright sunlight still overshines the city no matter it is busy or not.

A barbershop is an index for Lhasa’s fashion, even it is simple decorated. [Photo/infzm.com]

The heating project, one of the livelihood programs, is under going. [Photo/infzm.com]

Four boys from Shigatse are posing for a picture in front of the Potala Palace. [Photo/infzm.com]