For Nicoll Francis, a Belgian customs official, his
visit to Tibet has been one of the most unforgettable of his life.
As one of 100 photographers invited by the China Photographers
Association (CPA) and Tibet Information Office, he arrived on June
28 and began what he called the "most fascinating trip."
He said the tour, "Tibet in the Eyes of 100
Photographers," comprised amateur and professional photographers
from home and abroad, who were divided into four groups and sent to
different parts of the region to experience the true Tibet for
themselves and tell the world of their impressions through their
camera lens.
"I had watched many documentaries about Tibet,
mostly French and German, before I came to China, so I thought I
knew a lot about it. But now that I'm here, I'm very surprised at
what I have seen here. Lhasa is much more modern than I thought,"
said Francis, who had just said goodbye to a lama he had met on the
square in front of Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa, capital of southwest
China's Tibet
Autonomous Region.
"Everyday there is a new surprise waiting for me.
This is really a great place with great people," said Francis. "I
just chatted with a lama who can speak some simple English. He said
I'm very tall and greeted me. Although we didn't really understand
each other very much, from his smile and eyes and facial
expressions I knew he was as interested in me as I was in him."
He said that, after they return to Beijing, the CPA
will choose pictures taken by them for publication in a book. "I
can also send my pictures to other international exhibitions after
the CPA returns them to us."
When asked what impressed him most, Francis
answered, "Everything here is interesting, like the great scenery
and landscape, but I am really impressed with the smiles of
Tibetans, very pure and simple. I took many pictures of Tibetan
people, women, children, the pious prostrating themselves before
monasteries and lamas walking on the street."
His sentiments were echoed by Francesa Mole, a high
school teacher from Italy. "I am amazed at what I have seen here,"
said Mole, taking a rest on Potala Place square with her companion.
"We planned this tour for a very long time; I read a lot in books
and on the Internet. Tibet was much poorer than this in my
imagination.
"What worried me most before I came were transport
conditions, but it was unnecessary. I just returned from Nam Co
Lake, very beautiful, we enjoyed the trip very much. I think I have
a lot to share with my students when I return to Italy."
According to the
local government, Tibet received 1.22 million tourists last year
from both home and abroad. Of them, 95,800 were foreign tourists,
bringing a total tourist income of 1.5 billion yuan (US$181
million).
On April 3, the
biggest overseas tourist group in Tibet's history arrived in Lhasa,
the first batch of 107 Austrian tourists.
With rich tourist resources, visitors to Tibet are
surrounded by old castles, monasteries, ruins, and booming streets.
There are also gardens, markets, and emerald mountains in the
surrounding area. Many visitors are intoxicated by the beauty of
Potala Place, Nyainqentanglha Peak, Nam Co Lake, Lhasa River,
the Yarlung Zangbo River, Yumzhog Yumco Lake, the Yarlung Zangbo
Grand Canyon, Namjagbarwa Peak in Nyingchi and Yangbajain
Geothermal Power Station.
Local tourism
departments have encouraged farmers and herdspeople to take part in
the industry to help reduce poverty. In 2004, the number of farmers
and herdspeople who did this increased from 12,026 to 29,194. Their
total income rose from 31.21 million yuan (US$3.8 million) to 67.97
million yuan (US$8.2 million) that year, 2,328 yuan (US$280) per
capita.
Tourist departments have organized the Lhasa
Culture Tour, the Scientific Exploration Tour, the Mountaineering
Tour, the Festival Tour, the Worshipping Tour and the Trekking
Tour, making it possible for visitors to enjoy themselves in the
picturesque landscapes, with Tibet's folklore, culture and
religion.
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Wang Qian, July 12,
2005)
