"We do hope the relative Central Government departments can give a thought to this and increase trains from Qinghai to Tibet," said the vice governor, claiming that number of cancelled trips posed a threat to the good image of tourism in the province.

Cultural exchange

"In my opinion, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is much more than a means of transportation. In a deeper sense the line is a culture exchange conveyer," said Bao Luo, a researcher with the Tibet Academy of Social Sciences.

Bao disagrees with critics of the line who say that it poses a threat to traditional Tibetan culture.

"The railway provides an opportunity for people from the rest of the world to get a closer touch and understanding of this almost locked and mysterious land. Mutually, the local people can take advantage to develop and promote their unique culture," he argued.

In 2006, Vice President of the Austrian State Council Anna Elisabeth Haselbach yearned for a trip to China's Tibet. On meeting a Chinese delegation attending the China Tibet Culture Festival, Haselbach said she hoped the Qinghai-Tibet Railway built on "the roof of the world" would help bring Tibet and the rest of the world closer.

According to Bao, the railway has achieved this. It has also made it easier for Tibetan scholars to reach and learn about other regions, he added.

"More domestic and international conferences and festivals are being held in Tibet due to the transportation convenience brought by the railway," Bao noted.

Folk arts are also benefiting from the train. Tibetan opera, dubbed a "living fossil" of Tibetan culture, boasts a history of more than 600 years. The performing art featuring vivid masks, earthy dancing, unvarnished singing and colorful costumes faces a challenge for survival in the modern era. However, in recent years, Tibetan opera has witnessed a revival as tourism in the region has developed.

The Jormolong Tibetan Opera Troupe, a performance group formed by farmers from Doilungdeqen County in 2001, where Tibetan opera originated, has seen its audience size increase since the railway was completed.

"Last year we only did a few performances and this year so far we have performed more than 20 times, the audience really enjoyed it," said Qoinda, 39, head of the Jormolong Tibetan Opera Troupe, adding that they are planning to stage the Tibetan opera in other places outside of the autonomous region in the future.

According to Chilai Qoisang, Deputy Director of the regional Buddhism association, religious activities have also been enhanced thanks to the railway. "The railway has facilitated access for pilgrims and believers in and outside Tibet, and we are seeing a major increase rather than decline in the number of pilgrims," he said.

Statistics from the regional government show 328,000 pilgrims visited the Potala Palace, Norbuglinkha and Johkang monasteries, the top three religious sites in Lhasa, last year, up by 62,000 from the previous year.