Xizang’s Nagqu City grows trees at 4,500 meters after decades of practice
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
A staff member trims saplings at a tree cultivation base in Nagqu, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, April 25, 2025. Nagqu City has an average altitude of 4,500 meters. Due to the unfavorable conditions for tree growth, such as permafrost, low temperature, frequent strong wind throughout the year, it was once the only prefecture-level city in China without trees used for urban greening.
In 1998, people of Nagqu started the trial of planting trees. After more than 20 years of continuous practice, Nagqu has gradually established a trial planting system, with trees of many varieties being planted in the city. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
Students take part in a voluntary tree-planting activity in Nagqu, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, April 25, 2025. Nagqu City has an average altitude of 4,500 meters. Due to the unfavorable conditions for tree growth, such as permafrost, low temperature, frequent strong wind throughout the year, it was once the only prefecture-level city in China without trees used for urban greening.
In 1998, people of Nagqu started the trial of planting trees. After more than 20 years of continuous practice, Nagqu has gradually established a trial planting system, with trees of many varieties being planted in the city. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)
People take part in a voluntary tree-planting activity in Nagqu, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, April 25, 2025. Nagqu City has an average altitude of 4,500 meters. Due to the unfavorable conditions for tree growth, such as permafrost, low temperature, frequent strong wind throughout the year, it was once the only prefecture-level city in China without trees used for urban greening.
In 1998, people of Nagqu started the trial of planting trees. After more than 20 years of continuous practice, Nagqu has gradually established a trial planting system, with trees of many varieties being planted in the city. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
This photo taken on April 25, 2025 shows a trial base for tree planting in Nagqu, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, April 25, 2025. Nagqu City has an average altitude of 4,500 meters. Due to the unfavorable conditions for tree growth, such as permafrost, low temperature, frequent strong wind throughout the year, it was once the only prefecture-level city in China without trees used for urban greening.
In 1998, people of Nagqu started the trial of planting trees. After more than 20 years of continuous practice, Nagqu has gradually established a trial planting system, with trees of many varieties being planted in the city. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)
This drone photo shows people taking part in a voluntary tree-planting activity in Nagqu, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, April 25, 2025. Nagqu City has an average altitude of 4,500 meters. Due to the unfavorable conditions for tree growth, such as permafrost, low temperature, frequent strong wind throughout the year, it was once the only prefecture-level city in China without trees used for urban greening.
In 1998, people of Nagqu started the trial of planting trees. After more than 20 years of continuous practice, Nagqu has gradually established a trial planting system, with trees of many varieties being planted in the city. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)
Staff members inspect the growth of trees in Nagqu, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, April 25, 2025. Nagqu City has an average altitude of 4,500 meters. Due to the unfavorable conditions for tree growth, such as permafrost, low temperature, frequent strong wind throughout the year, it was once the only prefecture-level city in China without trees used for urban greening.
In 1998, people of Nagqu started the trial of planting trees. After more than 20 years of continuous practice, Nagqu has gradually established a trial planting system, with trees of many varieties being planted in the city. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)
Staff members inspect the growth of saplings in Nagqu, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, April 25, 2025. Nagqu City has an average altitude of 4,500 meters. Due to the unfavorable conditions for tree growth, such as permafrost, low temperature, frequent strong wind throughout the year, it was once the only prefecture-level city in China without trees used for urban greening.
In 1998, people of Nagqu started the trial of planting trees. After more than 20 years of continuous practice, Nagqu has gradually established a trial planting system, with trees of many varieties being planted in the city. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)
Staff members inspect the growth of trees in Nagqu, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, April 25, 2025. Nagqu City has an average altitude of 4,500 meters. Due to the unfavorable conditions for tree growth, such as permafrost, low temperature, frequent strong wind throughout the year, it was once the only prefecture-level city in China without trees used for urban greening.
In 1998, people of Nagqu started the trial of planting trees. After more than 20 years of continuous practice, Nagqu has gradually established a trial planting system, with trees of many varieties being planted in the city. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
Students take part in a voluntary tree-planting activity in Nagqu, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, April 25, 2025. Nagqu City has an average altitude of 4,500 meters. Due to the unfavorable conditions for tree growth, such as permafrost, low temperature, frequent strong wind throughout the year, it was once the only prefecture-level city in China without trees used for urban greening.
In 1998, people of Nagqu started the trial of planting trees. After more than 20 years of continuous practice, Nagqu has gradually established a trial planting system, with trees of many varieties being planted in the city. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)
A man transport saplings in Nagqu, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, April 25, 2025. Nagqu City has an average altitude of 4,500 meters. Due to the unfavorable conditions for tree growth, such as permafrost, low temperature, frequent strong wind throughout the year, it was once the only prefecture-level city in China without trees used for urban greening.
In 1998, people of Nagqu started the trial of planting trees. After more than 20 years of continuous practice, Nagqu has gradually established a trial planting system, with trees of many varieties being planted in the city. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)
Reference Link:- https://english.news.cn/20250426/acf5fda95a4c4e2aba6499dba6b133bf/c.html
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
