Qinghai-Tibet Railway opens to traffic

Tibetans celebrate the opening of the Qinghai-Tibet railway in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 1, 2006. The Qinghai-Tibet railway begins operation on Saturday.

From L to R: Li Jianming, He Haiqin and Shen Dezhi, three drivers of the train heading for Lhasa, wave in the cab at the Golmud Railway Station, Golmud, northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 1, 2006.

The first group of passengers wave before getting on the train heading for Lhasa at the Golmud Railway Station, Golmud, northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 1, 2006.

Tibetans celebrate the opening of the Qinghai-Tibet railway in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 1, 2006.

The driver of a train heading for Lhasa waves at the Golmud Railway Station, Golmud, northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 1, 2006.

A train heading for Lhasa is ready at Golmud Railway Station, Golmud, northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 1, 2006. The Qinghai-Tibet railway begins operation on Saturday.

A train stewardess prepares the dining car of the train heading for Golmud at the Railway Station of Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 1, 2006. The Qinghai-Tibet railway begins operation on Saturday.

Photo taken on July 1, 2006 shows the venue of the launching ceremony of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in Golmud, a start-off point of the landmark railway in northwest China's Qinghai Province.