For Fang Shanzhi, an employee of State-owned builder China Railway No 4 Engineering Group Co Ltd, building an expressway in the Xizang autonomous region has made his life fruitful and rewarding over the past few years.

In June 2018, Fang and his colleagues arrived in Rinpung county to help construct the Lhasa-Shigatse Expressway — part of the east-west artery Yaan-Yecheng Expressway — whose main construction was completed on Dec 5.

As Party secretary of the CREC4 project department in Rinpung, he has worked with more than 400 Tibetan farmers and herdsmen on the CREC4 task, and leased more than 300 sets of machinery and equipment from the local people, offering them an opportunity to earn more than 20 million yuan ($2.73 million).

In June 2021, Fang received a phone call from Pasang Gyatso, government head of Chewa township where his project department is based, requesting him to join Thubten, then government head of Rinpung county, on the rostrum for a local celebration.

Seeing the Tibetans dance and sing wholeheartedly, Fang thought the work that CREC4 staff members had done to help the local residents had been rewarding, and that they would be happier after the fully opened expressway offers an easier mobility option.

According to Zhang Zhengrong, Fang's colleague who is the chairman of the project department's trade union, during the local Saga Dawa Festival and Sho Dun Festival (yogurt festival) each year, the local residents would invite them for a grand gala to enjoy the folk performances and taste the local cuisine.

By presenting Khata — an auspicious ceremonial silk fabric marking a show of respect — to CREC4 employees, they would express their warmest welcome and gratitude to the guests.

Zhang said that while celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the Xizang autonomous region, villagers at Chewa township also invited the CREC4 builders, helping to solidify their friendship.