As tourism grows, transport in Nyingchi has improved continuously, even though roads need further upgrading to draw more tourists, particularly those with their own vehicles.[Photo by Liu Xiangrui/China Daily]

What these monuments to human engineering have in common is that they will inevitably help nourish a blossoming tourism industry seen as a ticket out of poverty for many of the city's 230,000 inhabitants.

Even before adding ingenuity to the mix in this quest for a better life, Nyingchi, about 3,000 meters above sea level, is well ahead of the game, endowed with rich natural resources and well known for its superb landscape, natural wonders, historical sites and biological diversity.

The majestic Namjagbarwa Peak, lush Lulang Forest, Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, the longest canyon in the world, and Basum Lake, which holds a special place for the religious, are just four of the jewels in its fine crown.

The area is also special for its ethnic groups, such as Tibetan, as well as Lhoba and Menba, which are among the smallest ethnic groups in China.

"We are developing the economy around tourism, and aim to associate all industries, all departments and every citizen with that," says Tenzin Sangdrub, director of the local tourist department.