Life of Guangzhou - Rail Link to be Extended to Guangzhou

Guangzhou will offer rail service to Lhasa, Tibet, the "roof of the world" from October 1, with the trip expected to take three days and two nights.

The railway linking Lhasa to neighboring Qinghai opened July 1 amid much fanfare in China with the government describing it as an engineering miracle. However, enthusiasm has been reduced by last week's reports of exterior cracking of concrete structures and sinking of the railway into the permafrost. (See accompanying story.)

The government also sees the rail line as an important tool in modernizing and developing Tibet, which has been part of China since Chinese troops "liberated" the region in 1950.

However critics argue the line will allow the national majority Han Chinese to flood to Tibet, leading to the devastation of the local Tibetan culture, as well as accelerate environmental degradation of the pristine region.

The region's vice chairman, Wu Yingjie, said the launch of the railway would not bring an influx of permanent settlers to the plateau.

"Tibet's unique natural conditions make it impossible for Han people and people from other ethnic groups to settle down here," Wu said.

Xinhua said that Chinese insurance companies will begin offering travelers on the line an 88 yuan (US$11) altitude sickness policy.

The policy will pay out 10,000 yuan in hospital charges for those who fall sick from Tibet's high altitude.