More and more residents on the Tibetan Plateau in western China are shifting from their traditional production mode to embrace a market economy and turning to a new livelihood the economy is bestowing on them.
"We used to build Tibetan-style adobe homes with our own hands, but now we move into bright, cozy and spacious condos," Purbu Canjoi, an adept businesswoman of almost 50 years of age, said at a real estate bureau in Xigaze City of Tibet Autonomous Region.
Purbu Canjoi has paid 450,000 yuan (more than US$54,200) in one lump sum for a three-story apartment in a compound.
The new home the Tibetan businesswoman bought is located in a residential quarter named Haijiayuan, which is one of the first condo divisions developed in Tibet.
There are arrays of modern apartment buildings in the Haijiayuan community, which is also equipped with patches of grass, green trees, gyms, parking lots and security arrangements.
"We thought it would be hard to sell the flats, as they were priced high," said Qin Jigang, head of the real estate bureau.
"But only seven out of the 158 flats put on the market remain unsold," Qin said. "About 80 percent of the home buyers were local Tibetans."
"Some of the flats sold are to be used by the buyers themselves, while some are for investment purposes," Qin added.
Included among the home buyers were two business partners of Purbu Canjoi.
In the 1980s, the three women of Tibetan ethnicity came to downtown Xigaze from the city's northern suburban area and began to make a living together, first as construction workers, then as peddlers of melon seeds, and eventually, proprietors of enterprises. They have experienced the process of China's reform and opening-up during the past two decades.
"Thanks to the 'aid projects for Tibet', their region has fortified ties with other parts of China," said Purbu Canjoi.
Since 1994, the central and some provincial and municipal governments have launched 62 aid projects for Tibet, involving energy, transport, telecommunications, agriculture and water conservancy sectors as well as education and cultural undertakings and medical and health care. The total investment has amounted to 2.38 billion yuan (about US$290 million).
Purbu Canjoi said she tried to purchase beer and beverages from south China's Guangdong province and Wuhan city, in central Hubei province, on local bank loans and started a wholesale business.
To survive in the increasingly acute competition, she has teamed up with two partners and launched a limited liability company.
"Now our business is quite good," said Purbu Canjoi excitedly.
Excitement is also hardly concealed with Purbu Canjoi's partner Degyi Zhoigar, who is ready to move out of her old-fashioned dried clay house and reside into a modern apartment.
"Numerous adept enterprises have entered Tibet since the 'aid projects' were launched," she said.
"The enterprises have taught us to shackle off the 'old mindset ' and value the law of market. We have a lot to learn from them," she added.
According to statistics, out of the total population of 130,000 in Xigaze city, there are 15,000 business people like Purbu Canjoi and Degyi Zhoigar, who are operating their own stores and enterprises.
The market economy has reportedly permeated almost every corner of the city, which is the second largest in Tibet. Besides retailers and wholesalers, enterprises each with an investment of over 10 million yuan (US$1.2 million) have set foot in the city.
Over the past decade, local economy has developed rapidly. In 2003 alone, construction started on 387 projects each with an investment of at least one million yuan (US$120,480) in the city, with the combined investment at 2.776 billion yuan (US$334. 5 million), according to the local development and planning commission.
(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2004)
