Yin Fatang [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Editor’s Note: Yin Fatang, 94 years old , served as the former First Secretary of the Party Committee of Tibet Autonomous Region and lived and worked in Tibet for 27 years. Even after leaving in 1985, he went back to Tibet for more than 10 times.

Every time he returned to Tibet, Yin Fatang could still feel the changes in Tibet.

"There were changes every year as all parts of Tibet were progressing." He believed urban and rural construction have seen the most progress. "Now the houses of ordinary people are better than those of some in the inland. From the past to now life here has really become heaven on earth, which in the past was unimaginable."

As always, Tibet receives a good amount of aids. "In the past Tibet also received aids, which, however, come from the central government most of the time.. Now there are more than 10 provinces and some large enterprises aiding Tibet," Yin Fatang said.

Now Nyingchi Prefecture is upgraded as Nyingchi City. What it was in the past is incomparable to what it is at present, he added.

Yin Fatang said, in fact, since the democratic reform in 1959, Tibet has experienced two "golden ages" which were widely hailed. Coincidentally, during both periods, Yin Fatang was in Tibet and personally witnessed these changes.

The first "golden age" came after the democratic reform lasting from 1959 to 1965.

After calming down the rebellion, Tibet begun to carry out democratic reform. Since then Tibet entered a stable period of development.

"In a manner of speaking, it is the first best period for Tibet after the peaceful liberation, and that is why it is recognized as the first ‘golden age’," Yin Fatang said.

The Economic and Social Development Report of Tibet, issued by the China Tibetology Research Center, confirmed Yin Fatang’s statement. The report states that the  democratic reform in 1959 abolished the feudal serf system, implemented reforms, and promoted rapid economic development. During this time Tibet began a period of unprecedented and rapid economic growth. During the six years from the democratic reform in 1959 to the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region in 1965, the region’s economic output quickly increased to 327 million yuan (52.7 million US dollars) with an average annual growth of 11.1 percent. Tibet’s economy entered a historic period of rapid development.

Gelek, first Tibetan with a doctor's degree, gave a detailed description of change in Tibetan society in a survey report: From before to after the democratic reform, Tibet’s rural areas have seen rapid growth in agriculture and food production and the  per capita livestock in pastoral areas has almost doubled.

Tibet’s second "golden age" occurred after China’s reform and opening up.

"1980 to 1985 is recognized as the period of Tibet’s second ‘golden fge’" Yin Fatang said.

Reform and opening up paired with modernization all began following 1980. During 1980 in particular, the central government convened the First Work Conference on Tibet.

During that time implementation of various advantageous policies facilitated rapid growth in Tibet better than that in other areas of the country. The per capita income of farmers and herdsmen in Tibet quickly caught up with the national average. Tibet’s total income and revenue ranked up to 20 from 28 in the whole country, Yin Fatang added.

According to the Tibet Daily in January 2009, from 1978 to 1985, the per capita net income of rural farmers and herdsmen in Tibet saw extraordinary growth, increasing at an average annual rate of 18.09 percent,  9.75 percent  higher than the average annual per capita disposable income of urban residents.