New height of world's railway born in Tibet

Governor of Qinghai province Song Xiuyan fastens a bolt for the world's highest railway on Aug 24, 2005 at Tibet's Amdo. The success of track-laying at 5, 072 meters above sea level at Tibet's Amdo set a new record in world railway contraction history. With an average altitude of 4,500 meters, the 1142-kilometer long Qinghai-Tibet railway is undoubtedly the world's most elevated railway, of which 960 kilometers locate 4,000 meters above sea level. The railway is world No.1 in terms of altitude, the total length built in high altitude regions, and length built on frozen earth.

Liu Zhijun (R), Minister of Railway shakes hands with Qinghai-Tibet railway constructors on Aug 24.

A machine is making preparations to lay tracks at the highest point of the Qinghai-Tibet railway.