Since 2006, Tibet Autonomous Region has pumped 17 billion yuan into its largest housing project, benefitting 1.4 million farmers and herdsmen of 274,800 households across the region.

Local herdsman Sonam Phuntsok moved to his new home by the Namtso Lake, over 4,000 meters above sea level, before the new year of 2011.

"The new home is quite different from the old one," Sonam Phuntsok said. "I would never afford such a nice house, and it's grateful for the government to undertake most of the housing building expense."

Rural Tibetans used to live in low houses on dirty streets but their living environment has improved thanks to the implementation of the housing project and its supporting-facility project, including water and power supplies, roads, communications, gas, radiated television, post and beautiful environment.

In the next three years, Tibet will continue with the housing project for another 185,500 rural households, according to source from the regional Finance Department.

Tibet plans to grant a total of 2.92 billion yuan in housing subsidy, said Ai Juntao, director-general of the regional finance department.