Xizang celebrates 65th anniversary of abolition of serfdom

People from all walks of life across the Xizang autonomous region held activities on Thursday to mark the 65th anniversary of the abolition of feudal serfdom and celebrate the liberation of a million serfs.

It is the 16th year that March 28 has been celebrated as the Serfs' Emancipation Day since 2009, the annual commemoration recalls the democratic reforms of 1959 in the region that ended feudal serfdom.

A flag-raising ceremony was held at Potala Palace Square and art and cultural performances and other forms of activities were conducted in different parts of the region on Thursday to mark the event.

Since the democratic reform, the region has seen dramatic changes under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, with long-term support from provinces and cities throughout the country.

Thanks to the efforts made by the government in the last few decades, the overall aspects of the society have seen rapid growth, with its people have been benefiting from all these positive changes.

According to the latest data provided by the government, there are 172 domestic and international air routes in the region, linking 74 cities with air services, enabling traveling much more convenience compared with decades ago, when the region was rather an isolated place from other parts of the world.

The total mileage of roads has reached 120,000 kilometers, most places with residential points are now accessed with paved roads.

All the region's 74 counties and districts have been connected to the State power grid, transforming from adopting oil lamps for light in decades ago to electric lights today.

The number of students at school has reached 960,000, accounting for 26.3 percent of the total population in the region, the government pays for school meals, lodging and tuition for children from rural and some impoverished urban families studying in schools ranging from kindergarten through senior high school.