Sidewalks in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in west China, have witnessed changes in the lives of local people.
Sidewalks using different materials best illustrate the changes, as some adopt modern techniques and colorful designs while some still retain the original flavor of the ancient stone plates.
In the past, there were no sidewalks in Tibet, only rough roads running parallel to slots emitting a bad odor.
Nowadays, every sidewalk in Lhasa is crowded with billboards and booths, where local businessmen show tourist their unique Tibetan-style crafts.
Tourists from home and abroad, who have come for sightseeing or pilgrimage, present a makeshift fashion show on the city's sidewalks, with many people with different dressing styles and languages.
Girls dressed in fashionable styles, Lamas wearing cassocks and foreigners with big traveling bags are often seen on the sidewalks.
Local people also set tables to play traditional Tibetan card game and drink highland barley-made wines.
Shops often play Tibetan music for passing visitors, which is sometimes mingled with singer's singing.
(People's Daily 05/05/2001)
