A complex highway network has taken shape in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, rendering better connections for the region with the rest of the country and the outside world.

The network includes 110 passenger transport routes within Tibet, and another 13 leading to other provinces and cities, local official sources said.

In Tibet, there are now 12 large terminals and more than 10,000 vehicles engaged in passenger transport, which can handle more than 120,000 passengers a year.

At present, most Tibetans can travel easily from their hometown to Lhasa, the capital city of region, as well as to many large cities in neighboring provinces, such as Chengdu and Xi'an.

In addition, more tourist routes have also been created in Tibet to boost local tourism.

Tibet will take further measures to ensure that passenger transport can develop in a healthy manner, and to expand the transport services to more rural areas, said Xu Gongguo, director of the Tibet Regional Communications Department.

(Xinhua 03/29/2001)