By China correspondent John Taylor
China expects to start controversial passenger rail services into Tibet from the beginning of July.
It will open up the disputed territory to the rest of China like never before.
State media reports that as many as 4,000 travellers are expected to arrive in the capital Lhasa by the railway every day.
It says over 400,000 more travellers will visit Tibet annually, posing challenges to the region’s fragile environment.
No-one has ever operated a railway so high above sea level – some sections are more than five kilometres up.
Authorities believe the rail link will help the economic development of the poor region.
Human rights groups fear it will only further the Chinese Government’s repression of Tibetan people and culture.
