Tourism fires up Tibetan incense production

The villagers of Thonba in Tibet's Nyemo county have been producing Tibetan incense for more than 1,300 years. The tradition, which remains unchanged, has also served as a major income source for villagers for generations.

Most of the more than 200 households in the village engage in the production as part of their lives.

Thonba village is known as the birthplace of Thonmi Sambodha, the creator or innovator of the Tibetan alphabet who is also believed to be the originator of ancient Tibetan incense production, according to locals.

Sonam Norbu, a Thonba villager involved in the incense production business, said making the product is a family tradition and a main source of income for his family.

"I have spent 40 years of my life producing Tibetan incense and I learned the skills from my parents when I was 11 years old. Now my son and daughter-in-law continue the tradition in my family," said the 72-year-old.

Champa Trinley, a fellow villager of Sonam Norbu, said his family invests in one of the village's three cooperatives, which serve as a poverty alleviation project of the local government.

"I have learned how to make incense from my parents when I was a kid, and now I can produce incense all by myself," said the 20-year-old.