A settlement of Tibetan herders in Hongyuan County of Sichuan. (Xinhua/Xie Hongcheng)

　　Tibetan legends go that King Gesar had to lead his tribe to flee unceasing heavy snowstorms that swept his homeland for years.

　　Such an exodus would be totally unnecessary if the legendary warrior and his people were struck by a similar scenario today, said Garlo, a herder in Tazi Township, Seda County of Sichuan Province in southwest China.

　　Snowy winter is no longer a tough season for Garlo. Thanks to a settlement project initiated in 2009, Garlo moved to a new house subsidized by the government. He spent 30,000 yuan (about 4,600 U.S. dollars) for the new housing.

　　"There is heating device even in the stable for my cattle. Big snow is no more a matter," Garlo said. "My previous residence of a mud-brick house could not keep out winter cold at all."

　　A Tibetan woman working with a milk separator in her tent home in Hongyuan County of Sichuan. (Xinhua/Xie Hongcheng)

　　However, cozy homes never mean settled hearts. When summer comes, nomads leave their homes herding their cattle on green pastures. They bring with them waterproof tents provided by the government, with folding beds, solar lights and milk separators among others. Their traditional black tents woven of yak hair were not rain-proof or cold-resistant.

　　"Televisions on horse backs," or portable satellite TVs supported by solar energy, offer nomads good pastimes if they feel tired of the monotonous life on vast pastures. More than 50 satellite channels are accessible with the TV.

　　A nomad tries a portable satellite TV. (File photo)

　　The tents and modern utensils like the portable TV are part of a package the government has provided nomads for free to make their life easier in a campaign called New Life in Tents.

　　"How could King Gesar imagine using all these modern things!" said Rigzin Dorji, a herdsman in Garze.