Known as the "Roof of the　World," the Tibet Plateau, formerly difficult and inefficient in communications, is now covered with　a network of highways stretching　throughout its length and breadth.

Before liberation, under the criminal rule of the feudal serf-owners, not one kilometre of highway was　built in Tibet which extends over an　area of 1,200,000 square kilometres. Transport depended entirely on manpower and animals.

After Tibet's liberation in 1951, Chairman Mao issued the call: "Defy　difficulties and work hard to build　the highway in order to help our fraternal nationalities." With this as an　encouragement, a road-building unit　of the Chinese People's Liberation　Army, together with people of Tibetan and Han nationalities, surmounted　untold difficulties and dangers to　complete the Szechuan-Tibet and　Chinghai-Tibet highways in four　years. After the overthrow of feudal　serfdom in the democratic reform of　1959, the emancipated serfs together　with P.L.A. men, in a new upsurge　of highway-building, widened the　main lines and branches and kept extending them. There are now 91　highways in the region, totalling　over 15,800 kilometres in length. A　highway network with Lhasa as the　centre has been completed in the　main, connecting 99 per cent of the　counties and most of the towns directly under the county administration　and also linking up neighbouring　Szechuan, Chinghai, Yunnan and Sinkiang.

The building of highway network in Tibet has played an important role　in strengthening unity　between　various nationalities, consolidating　border defence in southwest China　and accelerating Tibet's socialist revolution and construction. Since 1965, the year before the Great Proletarian　Cultural Revolution began, over 130　small and medium-sized industrial　and mining enterprises have been installed by the state with machinery　and equipment transported to Tibet　on the Chinghai-Tibet and SzechuanTibet highways.

(This article appears on page 22, No. 11, 1975)