Tsering Dorje and his three friends near the finishing line of a five-legged race. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Tsering Dorje and his three friends laugh as they complete a five-legged race together.

They didn't win the 20-meter race, but the happiness of the four visually impaired youngsters is obvious.

The sports event was one of the many activities for students at the Tibet Special School in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Students at the Tibet Special School in Lhasa take part in a sports event.(Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Tsering Dorje, 15, was born in Nagchu Prefecture, northern Tibet. When he was small, he suffered from cataracts and, without proper treatment, he gradually lost his sight.

But his new life began in 2012 when he enrolled at the Tibet Special School. Founded in 2000, it is the first school in Tibet dedicated to children with special needs and it charges no tuition fees.

Tsering Dorje (middle) , who is visually impaired, takes a moment to rest during a sports event. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Despite missing his family at first, Tsering Dorje made many friends at the school and learned to care for himself.

Last year, his teachers and fellow students started to teach Tsering Dorje how to play guitar. Now he often plays it in his spare time, and would love to teach others.

Tsering Dorje plays guitar during a break at the sports event. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

The school now has over 70 teaching and administrative staff serving more than 180 students with disabilities, particularly the blind, the deaf-mute and those with mental disabilities. It offers courses required in China's compulsory curriculum as well as vocational courses such as thangka, pastry-making and pottery.

Tsering Dorje (3rd right) with his friends. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)