On May 23, 1951, Tibet won peaceful liberation. Five-star red flags fluttered over Lhasa against the backdrop of blue sky. The ancient city finally entered a brand new era.

In 1959, when the Democratic Reform was conducted in Tibet, Tibetan serfs and slaves, totalling 1 million, were emancipated and won democracy, freedom, and human rights. As the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa saw fast progress in urban construction and various other undertakings. After the 1980s, Lhasa, under the loving care of the Central Government, experienced a construction boom. Lhasa is more beautiful and bustling today than it was in the past. It has become a State-class historical and cultural city in China, and a tourist city in the world at large.

Prelude to a New Era

Beginning with the signing of the 17-Article Agreement for the peaceful liberation of Tibet in May 1951, the Central Government undertook various efforts in Lhasa geared to improve the life of the citizens. The PLA men and the Tibetan people built the Sichuan-Tibet Highway and the Qinghai-Tibet Highway on "the roof of the world." The two highways met in Lhasa in December 1954. These highways made it possible for materials to be transported into Tibet from China's hinterland. Excited to see all of these changes, the Living Buddha Chazhol, then 75 years old, wrote a poem titled Jade Belt and Golden Bridge in praise of the historic moment.

A highway bridge was built across the Lhasa River to link the Sichuan-Tibet Highway with the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, putting an end to the days when the Tibetans had to rely on cow hide rafts or horse-head boats to cross the river.

When the highway bridge was opened to traffic, the Lhasans sang and danced. One of the songs they sang read: "A golden bridge has been built across the blue Lhasa River; A cross has been written on the mouth of a plump old lady whose name is Xasu.'' Xasu, a noble, was the owner of the Lhasa River Ferry. She is referred to as "a plump old lady'' in the song because she was robust.

In 1956, when the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region was set up, Lhasa saw the opening of Tibet's first modern hospital_the Lhasa People's Hospital, Tibet's first primary school_the Lhasa Primary School, Tibet's first middle school_the Lhasa Middle School, and Tibet's first theater--the Lhasa Auditorium. In 1955, the Todi Gully Hydraulic Power Station located in the northern suburbs of Lhasa was renovated, and efforts for the construction of the Nagqen Hydraulic Power Station in the eastern suburbs began. For over a thousand years, the Lhasans had used butter lamps. With the presence of these two hydraulic power stations, they soon lived in a brightly illuminated environment.