"In the next five years, Tibet will invest 238.8 billion yuan to basically solve the traffic bottlenecks which are holding back our economy and social development.” according to the Traffic and Transportation Bureau of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Due to harsh natural conditions, a weak economy, and other factors, transportation conditions in Tibet have been always been challenging. During the 12th Five-Year Plan, Tibet has accelerated its development of traffic and transportation, and demonstrated the first stage of a highway network.

According to Yong Ji, Deputy Director-General of the Traffic and Transportation Bureau of the Tibet Autonomous Region, during the 12th Five-Year Plan, Tibet has invested 67.9 billion yuan in basic transportation infrastructure, added 300 km of high-grade highways, and 78 thousand km in total highways. There are now highways for all of the 690 villages, 5,408 administrative villages, 11,759 natural villages, and 1,730 temples in Tibet.

For the 13th Five-Year Plan, Tibet Autonomous Region plans to invest 238.8 billion yuan to build a "Three-Hour Traffic Center” and a “Two-Hour Economy Center” around Lhasa. It is hoped that total highway in Tibet will reach 110 thousand km by 2020, with 1,200 km of first grade highway, and 2300 km of second grade highway.