Palbar's family celebrate the Water Snake Losar. [Photo/Guangming Daily]

The reporters of Guangming Daily came to the Xinyuan Township of Qinghai Province to experience the Water Snake Losar on Feb. 17, 2013, which falls on Jan. 7 of Tibetan calendar. It is unexpected for the reporter that every Tibetan family has a beautiful and large house, just like a villa.

Palbar has a 140-square-meter house and is furnished with stylish and elegant modern furniture, including a 34-inch LCD TV. Potted flowers, joyous New Year pictures, bright red lanterns, and various kinds of fruit on the table are all full of new year's atmosphere.

Palbar has a big family consisting of 11 people and 4 generations. His 86-year-old father, Tseten, talks to the reporter about their family's big changes through years.

"In the past, it is common for us to be in lack of foods and clothes. We walked on the muddy road and steep slope to herd sheep for the serf owner. We didn't have anything to eat or drink, just looking forward to the night when we could return home and take a rest without light. Years ago, we didn't have cell phones or telephones. If we wanted to find someone, it took us several days to pass on a message. The pasturing area was sparsely populated and we had few neighbors at a distance."

"Now things are different. The delicious food and beautiful clothes we used to wear only in the big festivals are now very common. Riding motorbikes on the wide cement roads extending in all directions, we herd cattle and sheep for ourselves. Every family in our town has tap water supply. At night, our big family get together to have a dinner while watching TV. We no longer have the days without light. We have much more neighbors in one community and often use cell phones to communicate with each other. Nowadays, we apply for the medical reimbursement and free physical examination. Cars are essential for every family. I never dreamed about the current happy life when I was young," said Tseten, with happiness and joy.

Palbar's daughter-in-law also told the reporter: "In the past, our local women always have a bad skin condition because of the awful weather and strong ultraviolet ray on the plateau. Nowadays, we have free time and enough money to do skin care like the girls in the big city." This 30-year-old Tibetan woman smiles with confidence, dressing in a fashionable way.

In 2012, the total income of Palbar's family was 260,000 yuan ($41652). Palbar said: "Thanks to the good policies, we have a much better life than before!"

There are a lot of Tibetan families like the Palbar's, and every Tibetan wants to have such a happy and wealthy life.