"The Motuo Highway is expected to open to traffic in June this year. We are planning to develop high-end tourism in Motuo, transforming the former 'isolated plateau island' into a 'tourism treasure island'," said Zaxi, the head of Motuo County in Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet.
Motuo County is located in Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet, and is regarded as the "sacred lotus land" of Tibetan Buddhism, often referred to as the "mysterious snowland paradise." It is one of the areas in Tibet with the lowest altitude, most beautiful environment, and best-preserved ecology.
In the 1970s and 1990s, the state attempted to build the Motuo Highway twice, but due to frequent geological disasters and special climatic conditions, the highway could only be partially opened seasonally and in sections, with very limited annual traffic periods. To this day, Motuo County remains the only county in China without a standard-grade highway, earning it the nickname "isolated plateau island."
Motuo boasts unique natural scenery and folk culture, but the road conditions leading into Motuo are extremely harsh, often encountering landslides, mudslides, and storms. Travelers even have to hike through virgin forests and leech-infested areas to reach Motuo. "Inconvenient transportation has long been the primary factor restricting the development of tourism in Motuo, with only a handful of tourists able to enter each year," Zaxi remarked with emotion.
To completely solve the problem of Motuo's lack of a highway, in 2009 the state invested 950 million yuan in constructing the Motuo Highway. After more than two years of construction, 70% of the work has been completed. Currently, the project between the Galongla Tunnel and Motuo County town is under intensive development, and it is expected to be completed and open to traffic in June this year.
"After the Motuo Highway opens, we will develop high-end tourism in Motuo while fully protecting the ecological environment," said Zaxi. The Motuo County government plans to make eco-cultural tourism the main industry of the county, further intensify promotional efforts, enhance the visibility of Motuo tourism, and attract more domestic and international tourists to visit Motuo.
"Entering Motuo allows you to experience the dramatic transition from alpine snowfields to tropical rainforests, especially the subtropical landscapes, as well as the unique cultures of the Monba and Lhoba ethnic groups," said Zaxi. The entire stretch along the Motuo Highway is covered with virgin forests, and visitors can come to Motuo for exploration, leisure, and tourism, fully experiencing the mystery and grandeur of Motuo.
"If the road opens smoothly in June this year, we will welcome tourists in August. This year, we plan to receive around 8,000 tourists, with numbers increasing year by year, reaching 30,000 visitors by 2015," Zaxi told reporters.
The opening of the highway is a crucial opportunity for the development of tourism in Motuo. Currently, Motuo County has taken measures such as building star-rated hotels, training tour guides, and encouraging local villagers to open agritainment businesses to prepare for the upcoming influx of tourists. The expected 8,000 tourists this year are projected to bring over 30 million yuan in revenue to Motuo County.
Zaxi reminds tourists that Motuo receives abundant rainfall, with annual precipitation reaching up to 2,700 millimeters. The best time to visit Motuo is from July to November each year.
