New Tibet

Tibetans celebrate the coming new year

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-22 21:36

A Tibetan woman selects the "festival necessities" at a local market in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, February 22, 2009. [Xinhua]

The government expects to resettle all farmers and herdsmen into safe and affordable houses within two years.

While rural Tibetans like Degyi and her neighbors decorated their new houses, urban residents were busy with a shopping spree before the festival.

Granny Kelsang in Zetang Town, 150 kilometers southeast of the regional capital Lhasa, is preparing to buy "enough" things for the new year with subsidies from the government.

"My husband and I used to depend on our children for special purchases for the new year, but this year we can depend on the government," she said.

The regional government distributed a 800-yuan (about US$117) coupon to each low-income urban resident who is qualified for basic living allowances, and retirees from stateowned enterprises.

"We have 1,600 yuan to spend. And it's more than enough for the New Year," smiled the granny.

As the most important traditional festival draws near, many Tibetans are planning to travel, including Losang Cering in Lhasa.

"I spent the week-long Spring Festival holiday a month ago for sightseeing in Chengdu. Now I'll have another seven-day holiday in my hometown Shannan with my family. I'm really happy," said the 27-year-old factory worker.

There will be a four-hour TV gala on the new year's eve. The show will be available to 87 percent of Tibet's 2.88 million population.

The broadcast will include nearly 800 performers from Beijing and the Tibetan communities in Tibet and Sichuan, Yunnan and Gansu provinces.