SICHUAN
NGABA
Yesterday in Zoige I couldn’t even send text messages, People’s Armed Police are all around me, wearing helmets and bullet-proof vests.
2011
Staying in Darlag, the atmosphere is similar to Ngaba, I’m a little nervous. But it isn’t as forceful as Ngaba, on the way over there my documents were inspected several times, in the town there are police on duty every hundred meters or so, there are People’s Armed Police with explosive-broof barricades. In the town and the surrounding area you can make calls but there’s no mobile network, in the town you can’t take any pictures. There are very few pedestrians or vehicles on the road. It was the first time I’ve been in a situation with such high requirements.
2011
This is what I witnessed in the Ngaba county town, for more than three years, there are only assault rifles and riot clubs, the people’s army!
2011
Regarding Nianbao, yesterday I updated half, the reason is, last night I arrived in the Ngaba county town, here there are throngs of People’s Armed Police, armored vehicles are patrolling the streets, all internet access is blocked, including text messages, going out to eat there are still police asking questions, there isn’t much on TV, after ten o’clock there wasn’t even any cell phone service, I don’t know if there’s a curfew or not, all I can do is take a shower and go to sleep.
2011
Last night I arrived in Ngaba, it’s a Tibetan area I like, because the local Tibetan culture has a strong flavor, the people are simple and honest. Unfortunately they’re also subjected to some pain and sorrow, there’s a large number of People’s Armed Police on the local streets!
2011
I’m still in Ngaba, here you can see People’s Armed Police and Special Police and Riot Police vehicles everywhere on the street, there are even checkpoints behind the Buddha statues on the hill, here you can’t receive text messages or use the internet, the only way of communicating with the outside world is by talking on the phone. There’s a martyrs cemetery here, the Red Army came through three times.
2011
I left Sungchu for Zoige not even half an hour ago, I’ve already been inspected by People’s Armed Police and the regular police once.
2011
Huh, I have to tell you all about this, I’ve emerged from Ngaba which didn’t have any cell network, on the streets there were so many heavily-armed People’s Armed Police, in numerous lines, you aren’t allowed to take pictures, making me so nervous I couldn’t go to the toilet, I’ve suffered for two hours now.
2011
In the Ngaba county town every fifty or so meters there’s a guard post, staffed by People’s Armed Police wearing protective gear. SMS and GPS are blocked. Now I’ve arrived in Jigdril, and cell signal is finally restored! Snow is fluttering down!
2011
Cell service is blocked in Ngaba, and the streets are full of heavily-armed People’s Armed Police carrying shields, clubs, and automatic weapons. PetroChina and SinoPec stations have a bunch of People’s Armed Police standing guard. Stores close in the evenings, people are afraid of being robbed, Ngaba! You’ve become so chaotic. Armored vehicles fill the streets, every three steps there’s a guard post, every five steps a sentry.
2011
On vacation I passed from Tangkor to Nyenpo Yutse, on the way I passed Ngaba town. On these small streets there are countless People’s Armed Police, Public Security, and Riot Police, all with live ammunition, guns, clubs, and shields at the ready. Every fifty meters there’s a roadblock, every thirty meters there’s a guard. I started to focus my camera in my car, but the police instantly spoke over the loudspeaker and recorded my license plate. Their car wasn’t slow, I stopped in front of the roadblocks. The police inspected my camera, and made me delete the pictures. He warned me, saying that now is a special period.
2011
Ngaba County, a little town only opened to foreigners and people from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan in 2006, in Sichuan Province’s Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, here there are more than 40 temples associated with the Gelug school, Jonang school, Nyingma school, Bon, and others. The streets are full of lamas wearing all kinds of clothes, and it’s a seemingly quiet and peaceful town, but in reality there are strong undercurrents, at ever intersection there are indeed People’s Armed Police with guns and blast shields, phone service is blocked and you can only make and receive calls, you can’t send or receive text messages.
2011
Single women shouldn’t go to Ngaba… the streets are guarded by People’s Armed Police, I heard they specifically target women… sigh…
2011
I’m in Barkham county town… Woke up this morning to find countless cops and special police… All very well armed… Took a picture with my camera but they forcibly deleted it… But I’ve still got my cell phone… Haha…
2011
Upon entering Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Barkham, your car is searched, you must register, there are People’s Armed Police standing guard. They carry assault rifles.
2011
I’m so happy, finally left Ngaba and arrived in Dzamthang, I have cell phone service again, in Ngaba county you can only call other phones, you can’t use the internet or send text messages, the streets are full of People’s Armed Police, if you take out your camera on the street they’ll interrogate you for a long time, the reason they’ll tell you is only somewhat relevant.
2011
Last week I went to Barkham, early in the morning I saw a People’s Armed Policeman standing in the sunroof of his car, the rest of the car was full of boxes, I quickly tried to take a picture, the result was that the policeman noticed, he got out of the car and came over to delete the picture off of my phone, I thought he was going to confiscate the phone….
2011
Entered Ngaba, there are so many police and People’s Armed Police, has there been an incident here recently?
2012
意为红军走过的草原，这里已经是藏区了，从不时看到的警用防暴壁障和紧握枪支全副武装的武警战士可以看出最近这里不是很太平，街上三三两两晃来晃去的藏民让我们有些担心安全问题，不过问过执勤的警察，说现在安全，没有问题。。
I’m in Marthang County, which refers to the prairie the Red Army crossed, this is a Tibetan area, but from the riot police barricades and People’s Armed Police patrols clenching their guns you can see it isn’t very peaceful. The number of Tibetans going back and forth on the streets made us worry about our safety, but when we asked the officer on duty they said it was safe, no problem.
2012
On the morning of the third day I departed from Ngaba, first I saw four armored vehicles parked inside the county government complex, while refueling my car I unexpectedly ran into a squad of armed police stationed in the gas station itself, in front of barricades there are soldiers holding heavy weapons. Going around a bend in the road last night to get directions I saw a platoon of People’s Armed Police gathering, a lot of firepower on the cement by the side of the road. Fuck me, this place is so chaotic, after seeing this we felt we were in danger last night, but nothing happened. Really lucky.
2012
Arrived in Ngaba yesterday, I don’t know what kind of incident happened here, there are police and People’s Armed Police all over the place, I even saw two People’s Armed Police armored vehicles last night. People at the hotel told us that we shouldn’t go out at night. Woke up today to see everything looking normal, the control points on the road seem to have ended.
2012
Barkham County is bustling… but there are more police and People’s Armed Police than civilians… Strange.
2012
Accidentally ran into the Communist Army transferring a large number of tanks and armored vehicles on the railway, I remember this time last year in Ngaba I encountered a whole lot of soldiers, the situation me leave Dzamthang overnight. Is that ethnicity celebrating National Day again? (The picture is a bit blurry)
2012
Today I left the Ngaba county town. It’s a very peculiar place, a town with 42 temples, a town with no 3G access, a town with armored vehicles parked in the County Party Committee courtyard. Full of dust. It’s a somewhat ragged town, even though their clothing was obsolete the Tibetans had smiling faces, an auspicious town.
2012
Ngaba county, the entire county is overrun by People’s Armed Police and Public Security, the gas stations are guarded by heavily-armed troops from the People’s Armed Police, cell phone internet access is blocked. The situation is the same as what my friends told me before, I’m getting out of here quickly.
2012
Arrived in Barkham, the streets are filled with People’s Armed Police and cops.
2012
Spent an unforgettable night in Ngaba. I recovered my purse, outside the gas station there are armored vehicles, armed soldiers on sentry duty, this is a Tibetan enclave, Tibetans have a very strange look in their eyes, especially at night. It’s best not to do anything on the street by yourself. I ate a bowl of noodles, it was a black day because I was unable to get a taxi on the way back to my hotel, walked a few miles on my own, it felt endless, the lights were low, clutching a swiss army knife in my hand.
2012
Ngaba, on the road I met a lot of lamas, and very amiable cart drivers. But here in the middle of the night and in the morning a lot of armored vehicles were sent out, and the place is full of gun-toting People’s Armed Police! Now, traveling on towards Qinghai!
2013
若尔盖县城座落草原之中，全城都是二三层藏式建筑，很有特色。藏区又封网了，掩耳盗铃。夕阳下街道冷清，除了警车就是几支武警巡逻队，全副武装，还有铁钗钢圈，谁在害怕?早起吃碗抄手上路，350k到阿坝州首府马尔康。路平无车，疾行山间草原湿地中，干枯的荒草地点点黑牛白羊。
March 11th, 2013, sunny skies. Zoige county town is located in the middle of the grasslands, the entire town is 2 or 3 story buildings with Tibetan architecture, very unique. The internet has been cut off in Tibetan areas again, we’re burying our heads in the sand. As the sun sets the streets are deserted, the only people out other than police vehicles are People’s Armed Police patrol squads, heavily-armed, driving cars with steel rims, who’s afraid of this? Got up early and had a bowl of wontons on the street, 350 kilometers to the capital of Ngaba prefecture, Barkham. No other cars on the street, moving quickly through the mountains, grasslands, and wetlands, dry wastelands with black cattle and white sheep.
2013
I uploaded a picture onto Weibo: Leaving Bazhong on the way to Chengdu on the highway I ran into some People’s Armed Police units rushing towards the Tibetan areas…
2013
KARDZE
Tawu, in the square some people are doing a Tibetan dance, a bunch of Special Police came up to them, assault rifles and riot shields in hand, forming to rows in the square, silently watching them for about ten minutes… It looked like it could become a massacre.
2011
People’s Armed Police on patrol in Dartsedo county town!
2011
In Kardze prefecture’s Sershul town I was surprised to see a unit of armed Special Police, it was unexpected.
2011
Important intersections in the Kardze county town are guarded by soldiers with guns, China Mobile can’t connect to the internet. A lot of beggers. Other than that all is well.
2011
Kardze prefecture streets are patrolled by People’s Armed Police! The Tibetan areas still aren’t peaceful!
2011
Left Kardze county, where the police are full of Special Police standing guard and the wireless and 3G networks are all completely blocked, the destination today is the hometown of King Gesar, and the eastern cultural capital of Tibet, Derge. To see a ranbow one must first go through wind and rain, and I, an old lady, bravely challeneged the highest elevations of the southern Sichaun-Tibet highway, the altitude is over 5 kilometers at the Tro-La pass. Last time I experienced extreme oxygen deprivation, headaches, and drowsiness, this time I don’t know what will happen.
2011
To summarize the last two days, Kardze streets are full of People’s Armed Police with guns, you aren’t allowed to take any pictures; Manigango’s largest hotel is very poor, at 10 PM the dogs are let loose, and the town is totally dark, the only sound is Tibetan mastiffs barking all night. Altitude sickness is setting in, with constant headaches and sleepless nights, crossing the most dangerous mountain in the Sichuan-Tibet highway, Tro-la, was very terrifying. In short, these two days have been very hard, pictures will follow.
2011
While I was in Kardze county, the government has already had the network cut off for two months, arrived in Manigango, my imported phone had no signal. Now I’m in Derge, the network has been restored. Kardze is very safe, every intersection has a Special Police patrol armed with live rounds, preventing any kind of incident. It’s possible that Route 318 will be blocked, many people appeared for Route 317, tomorrow we take a shuttle to Jomda and then change busses for the trip to Chamdo, too many people. Tomorrow we enter the Tibet Autonomous Region.
2011
Got to Kardze yesterday… Found that internet access is being blocked… Went out to buy some fruit… Tibetans on the side of the road directly ask you for money… If you don’t give any they’ll even tug on you!! This morning as I left… Along the road there were three gun-toting riot police wearing bullet-proof vests every 50 meters!! Making such a fuss!! Then… On the road to Derge… My driver left his coat on another car… The moment he started washing the car… Someone walked off with the coat… He had more than 10,000 RMB inside! These awful Tibetans!
2011
Arrived yesterday in Kardze after a 14 hour drive and found that I couldn’t get online, and the hotel dropped my reservation, but the good news is that I found a local 5-star hotel, with an individual standard room, there are really a ton of People’s Armed Police and Special Police in Kardze, over the last two days I’ve only been able to eat one hot meal, but today has really softened me, at 9 o’clock I’m leaving for a three-hour drive and we’ll have three hot meals, the driver has lost his Tibetan song USB stick, so we won’t listen to Tibetan songs, now on to Manigango.
2011
Special Police in the streets of Dartsedo! I started taking pictures! A policeman shouted “No pictures!”
2011
Kardze. My cell phone can’t access the internet, there are no internet cafes, the network is completely censored, is this place very sensitive?
2011
I don’t understand why people here are so warlike, ay, in Dartsedo two days ago I saw an SUV with a PLA soldier holding a machine gun protruding through the skylight, huh. Really great places, from Lhagang to Danba there was a stretch of green mountains and clear water, really awesome, huh, I didn’t bother to take a picture.
2011
In 2007 there was the “Nongge Hill incident” in Tawu county, you can look it up on the internet. That side of the mountain is rich in mineral resources, but the local Tibetans regard it as a holy mountain. The Tawu county government has increased its mining efforts every year, seriously damaging the surface of the mountain, and local Tibetans are very upset by this. There are frequent clashes. When I drove back through Tawu I saw heavily-armed People’s Armed Police deployed in the area.
2011
Dartsedo is the first stop when you enter the Tibetan areas, the commercially prosperous big streets and little alleys are full of parked tourist buses, but these prosperous and peaceful streets are patrolled by bullet-proof armored vehicles. For safety we’ve chosen to stay in the Kangding Hotel, which sits next to the government offices!
2011
I’ve spent a month traveling in the Tibetan areas of Qinghai and Sichuan. I was startled to see the Police Association in Sershul carrying automatic weapons, and later when I arrived in the county town, I found that across the street from my hotel there’s a People’s Armed Forces department and a battalion of People’s Armed Police, it feels safe here.
2011
I’ve arrived in Ra-ngakhar, there weren’t any robbers in Lhagang, there were a lot of People’s Armed Police, inspecting cars, cameras, and photos.
2011
Yesterday I drove along the Xianshui River fault line from Luhuo to Chengdu, Tawu county was like a war zone, People’s Armed Police and Public Security standing along the street, heavily-armed Special Police at each door! We were told you can’t stay overnight in the county town, and you can’t stay on these streets!
2011
When I first arrived in Tawu, I had to get out of the car and register with the police, and two lines of People’s Armed Police stood in front of the car, two of the kids were holding riot shields, it’s a puzzling phenomenon wherever I go, government buildings are always built in a totally different style than nearby residential buildings, two things come to mind, if the styles were the same it would keep the government and the people closer to each other, and it would be helpful for tourism, and it also changes your outlook.
2011
Men in black on the street in Tawu, teams on patrol. Because there were activities within 100 km of Tawu this afternoon, I was cut off from the world up until now. Getting to Danba soon, finally able to use the internet!
2011
I understand that here People’s Armed Police officers and soldiers are responsible for the task of maintaining stability, in accordance with the principle of “Guard key points, keep everything connected, provide direction, be conducive to development,” troops are deployed in every corner of Tawu county in Kardze prefecture, their main duties in Tibetan areas include keeping people cowed into submission, providing mobile strikes, combating terrorism, monitoring the monasteries, tactical reinforcement and working with other stability maintenance organs to cure the root problem, ensuring that Tibetan areas remain stable and protecting the livelihood of the people.
2011
A spicy little episode from my trip- In Dartsedo some Special Police suddenly inspected my room. We were lying in bed in our pajamas when the Special Police led by a member of the hotel staff wanted to inspect our ID cards, suddenly the room filled with a bunch of heavily-armed Special Police. They caused a pretty big fuss, I asked them why they were doing this, a handsome policeman smiled helplessly, maybe they thought my question was very cute.
2011
Dartsedo’s special police. Look at that! Cool.
2011
Got to Dartsedo, the scenery along the way made me incessantly say that Sichuan is a good place. But after listening to the driver talk about Tibetan issues, and combined with the sight of People’s Armed Police patrolling with guns, I decided not to go out after dinner. Tibetan people are too rough!
2011
Special police in Dartsedo.
2011
Monks in Kardze Prefecture are causing trouble, the situation is very tense, streets in Dartsedo are filled with special police, a cabbie warned us not to provoke Tibetans.
2012
The road is full of People’s Armed Police with guns, arriving in Dartsedo there’s a police car every two steps… really dangerous!
2012
On the street I saw a lot of People’s Armed Police, returned home safely. Goodbye Dartsedo, stay safe until next time, we’ll return to see you again!
2012
Yesterday the road I took to Dartsedo had armed inspections, at the last checkpoint there was a super handsome policeman holding a shotgun, at the time I didn’t think much about it, in the morning as I left the hotel I saw two armored vehicles and so many People’s Armed Police, only then did I realize something was wrong, it is said that several police were sacrificed (picture taken stealthily).
2012
I bought a sheepskin coat in Serthar, it was made of four lamb pelts, very heavy, it weighs about ten kilograms, I can’t control it. I had my picture taken of the outside of the People’s Armed Police department, about twenty meters across from it there’s a local police station, on the second day of Chinese New Year there was an incident, the boss’s wife downstairs from the unit said that Tibetan independence activists are very fierce, and she says she saw them shooting guns into the police station. As I was walking down the street I saw a lot of armored vehicles in the square, but I was still talking and laughing with some Chongqing friends.
2012
The Dartsedo of the Love Song of Kangding, the Tibetan area cultural landscape, People’s Armed Police patrols with real guns have stolen the spotlight from the monks. If it wasn’t surrounded by Tibetan words, I think I would have walked right through the square. The second picture is Muge Tso, a very high altitude lake, beside the lake is a range of snow-capped mountains. What impressed me most in Dartsedo was the Tenpa Inn, just 5 yuan a day, so cheap I was embarrassed to pay. Thank you Haizeng Jie and Xiaosan.
2012
The Tibetan areas are having trouble again! I remember going to Kardze County in June last year, I took some pictures through the window of the bus, when the bus arrived at the station People’s Armed Police came onboard to interrogate anyone who took pictures. There was no way out, so I deleted the pictures, an officer still took my camera and looked at every single picture. At the hotel after dinner, someone started crying out on the street all of the sudden, I opened the door and took a look, in the yard a dozen people were standing by their doors, everyone was silent. The screaming stopped after a few minutes.
2012
Can anyone tell me what kind of car this is? Just now on the way back to Chengdu from Kangding I passed a good number of them heading out of Chengdu, and there were more than ten vehicles full of People’s Armed Police. A friend said that from Yajiang to Lithang, the internet and SMS messaging have all been disabled.
2012
This afternoon about 4 or 5 regiments of People’s Armed Police entered the Kardze region, I took this picture stealthily as they were leaving Erlang Shan, it is said that some trouble has started in the Tibetan regions. It’s no wonder that there are so few travelers on the way, and no foreigners at all.
2012
I spent the night in Lithang last night, the 4,000 meters of streets in this small town were full of People’s Armed Police, it gives you a sleepless night.
2012
I left Gusan at 2:30 and arrived at Dartsedo at 3, the weather is sunny and windy, the city area is pretty, there are a lot of Tibetans, on the street you can see People’s Armed Police carrying shields, I was thinking about going out to wash my car, but forget about it!
2012
There are People’s Armed Police patrolling the new town in Dartsedo today, and People’s Armed Police guards outside the city, completely safe!
2012
Armored vehicle on the street in Serthar.
2012
I’ve entered the real Tibetan areas, it seems my phone still has service, but I can’t send text messages or use the internet, I heard that these are special restrictions for this area. So I couldn’t send anything to Weibo, delayed until now. Entering Serthar, Drango is more of a traditional Tibetan area, along the way there are inspections at police checkpoints, in Drango there are People’s Armed Police sentries on the streets, in Serthar county town I saw armored vehicles patrolling the streets.
2012
On a constantly winding mountain dirt road full of potholes, couldn’t stop to see a village because it was undergoing a crackdown, the atmosphere in the car was very strange, in the middle of one stretch of road it started to hail, we all assumed some robbery could happen, finally we made it safe and sound. After that a restaurant owner told us that Route 318 is very safe now, because it’s guarded by a lot of People’s Armed Police and special police, many driver soliciting fares in Dartsedo say there’s unrest in Lithang.
2012
Today I arrived in Lithang, I had heard people saying that law and order had collapsed into chaos, but after getting here, I found that the streets of this little county town are full of People’s Armed Police holding assault rifles and regular police, there are all kinds of riot control vehicles parked on the streets, it reminds me of what you see when they show the streets of Iraq on TV.
2012
The border between Sichuan and the Tibet Autonomous Region is the Jinsha River, the actual boundary line is in the middle of the river. There are two bridges just a few hundred meters away from each other, one old and one new. On the bridge there are flags along the dividing line, at each end the bridges are guarded by People’s Armed Police, you aren’t allowed to take pictures of them, on the Tibet Autonomous Region side they need to check your ID card. Laughing as I look blankly out the window, giving a thumbs up and saying “Let’s go!” from time to time inside the car.
2012
A group who took the northern route told me that when they arrived in Serthar they couldn’t find a place to stay, because thousands of police or People’s Armed Police have arrived, it’s said that Serthar has recently had a religious activity.
2012
Rushed directly from Daocheng and Yading to the high-altitude town of Lithang, on the streets there are a lot of blast-proof police vehicles and armored vehicles, it is said that it’s kinda chaotic around here. Tomorrow I’m taking some terrible roads on highway 318 to Dartsedo. Sending a picture I took yesterday of snow-capped mountains!
2012
Not long out of Bathang I came upon a bridge, on the middle of the bridge is a sign with three characters, “Boundary of the Tibet Autonomous Region.” Valiantly, full-spiritedly, I stepped into Tibet! In front there’s actually a People’s Armed Police checkpoint, it’s like a customs post at a border, every person was inspected.
2012
The tenth day, last night the entire town was left without cell phone internet access, all of Lithang is full of armored vehicles, police cars, Special Police, and a large crowd of lamas and Tibetans, I didn’t dare to make eye contact with them, a few people went to get cash but turned back before they made it 30 yards and sprinted back to the hotel! People’s Armed Police stand in the turrets of armored vehicles holding rifles. It’s like a powderkeg. Last night we discussed our big escape from here, today four people had already left… Latecomers, you shouldn’t stay in Lithang!
2012
White Stupa park in Lithang, although there are People’s Armed Police on the streets, Public Security are still on patrol, the restaurant owner kept asking me not to go out, but impulsively I went out anyway. Feeling nervous!
2012
There are barricades at the entrance to Serthar town, soldiers with guns are ready for combat. The square in the center of the town is also on military alert. But in county towns like this, I look to the buildings on the street, but water and electricity outages are commonplace. Right now the gas station has no gas, very calm and collected in this panic, that should be the approach to life in a place like this.
2012
Entered Drango county, it’s heavily fortified! There are People’s Armed Police at each entrance to the county town, and anti-riot vehicles, and barricades. Just now a plainclothes police officer came to deliver something in a police car, as he turned, I saw a pistol strapped to his waist.
2012
I arrived in Tawu at 2 PM and ate lunch, when the front left time starts leaking, or you run into a People’s Armed Police inspection station, you suffer delays.
2012
Sharing this picture of police patrolling the streets in Tawu county, Kardze prefecture, maintaining peace! There are also two army regiments stationed outside town. There’s great strength fighting against the separatists, a vanguard group. Orderly military strength, how mighty!
2012
Lithang is so chaotic, whenever you see People’s Armed Police holding assault rifles, then Tibetans will quickly leave the area, I took a ride in a Security Supervisor Department Prado, and ignored the bad roads, official vehicles are so fucking cool, you can make military vehicles give you the right of way…
2012
Ate some noodles in Yajiang, then went on to Bathang. There are People’s Armed Police patrolling the streets of the county town from time to time. The entrance to the county government is guarded by police with heavy weapons.
2012
I’ve arrived in Sershul, the farthest northwest county town in Sichuan. The atmosphere is strange: gas stations are closed, People’s Armed Police are standing guard. There are police vehicles everywhere. I found the county People’s Armed Police guesthouse. A few days ago the lamas caused some trouble, fighting people with knives. There’s no other place to stay, I’ll just have to stay here, apprehensively.
2012
四川甘孜藏族自治州乡城县
After dinner I rushed back quickly, there are a lot of Special Police outside
Sichuan province, Kardze prefecture, Chatreng County
2012
四川省,甘孜藏族自治州,康定县,环山南路
An armored vehicle suddenly appeared in the county town, cool
2012
In Serthar the religious atmosphere is thick and strong, but in the square in the county town there are many heavily-armed People’s Armed Police standing guard.
2012
On the streets of Dartsedo I ran into armed special police, even men in their prime look askance at them- that’s what I call handsome!
2012
Golden Horse square in Serthar, yesterday was a Wuming Buddhist Institute holiday, many lamas on the street, the square was surrounded by fifty cent plainclothes police, on the opposite side there were military vehicles on sentry duty. Today, less people, the fifty centers are on holiday.
2012
There are People’s Armed Police patrolling the streets of Lithang county, there were a lot of police gathered in Xianhe Square… They were holding big guns… The streets are full of explosives-proof vehicles and police cars, there are people wearing Tibetan clothes everywhere, and there are non-stop police car patrols on the streets… Repression is in the air… There’s a pervasive feeling like the White Terror… Could something happen? I’m really terrified.
2013
The Bathang county town is really stable, it really doesn’t require so many People’s Armed Police out on patrol every day…
2013
There are a lot of People’s Armed Police patrolling the streets of Dartsedo today, I still didn’t know why there were so many, but then suddenly remembered that today is 3.14. Friends, I understand. We really picked a good time to come here, I’m really scared!
2013
Dartsedo isn’t the romantic city I imagined. Rather it’s a place cluttered with traffic, with streets full of Tibetans, People’s Armed Police everywhere. We went out last night, but got frightened and returned to the hotel after we thought some Tibetans were following us, too bad about my hotpot! We’re leaving in two hours, goodbye Love Song of Kangding, goodbye Paoma Mountain, goodbye lovely Muge Tso.
2013
TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION
LHASA
Jokhang square in Lhasa, what kind of device is that sniper on the rooftop using?
2009
This is the blue of a pure sky in Lhasa. Under the sky are stately monasteries, devout believers, there are also armored vehicles rumbling past, one soldier on sentry duty every ten steps, patrols shuttling by, humorless snipers on the rooftops… When I came in 2005 there weren’t as many of such things under the blue sky.
2011
Drinking sweet tea in Lhasa during the afternoon, basking in the sun, looking at the Jokhang, please ignore the People’s Armed Police sniper on the rooftop.
2011
Lhasa. From the Potala I went to the Barkhor street, at each intersection at least 8 fully-armed People’s Armed Police stood by, key areas have additional Special Police patrols. On the streets of the Barkhor, People’s Armed Police with steel helmets, bulletproof vests, and walkie-talkies, carrying assault rifles, patrolling in teams of four, I don’t know, I still felt like I’d arrived in Baghdad. There are snipers stationed on the roof of Makye Ame.
2011
Many areas in U-Tsang require permit checks, until I came to Tibet I didn’t know how much fear Tibetans generate, but after 3.14 law and order in Tibet is still good, at each intersection as you walk through the Barkhor you can see People’s Armed Police sentries with pistols, local Tibetans don’t have the passion of Khampas or the simplicity of Amdowas, but they’re rarely hostile to Han Chinese, but they’re more comfortable speaking in English than they are in Chinese.
2011
Sharing some pictures of the Lhasa train station, People’s Armed Police are everywhere, there are snipers lurking on the rooftops.
2011
Really, this is the complete story… Lhasa is really safe, the heights are all held by snipers!!! It makes me into a person with bad taste, I love it when people start fights, and everyone is exposed. Sigh… Sorry, I’m an undercover photographer, click click click…
2011
At the entrance to the Jokhang. You can see People’s Armed Police troops everywhere in Lhasa. A guard post every ten meters…
2011
At half past six in the morning I was ready to go to Lake Namtso, there are so many People’s Armed Police along the side of the road!
2011
The Tibet Autonomous Region really is heavily guarded! Highlight the eaves on the right-most rooftop… is that a sniper?
2011
The situation in Lhasa is stable at the moment, but our government doesn’t dare to relax even a little bit, on the Barkhor there are still a lot of heavily-armed People’s Armed Police on duty, they’re also on the rooftops, very honorable People’s Armed Police troops, guaranteeing our safety and security! Just now I took some pictures of them, they waved their hands away to show that they didn’t want us to photograph them, perhaps, I’m afraid that we’ve accidentally leaked military secrets!
2011
Entering Lhasa I got a false impression, it resembled a mainland Chinese city. People are getting off work, waiting for the bus at bus stops, mostly pale-skinned Chinese, fashionably dressed. But there was another silent scene that made me realize that this, this is Lhasa. Emerging from military compounds along the road from time to time, on duty, are Special Police, all driving mighty armored vehicles.
2011
Lying on a rooftop in the Lhasa old town, snipers pointing their guns in the direction of the Jokhang temple.
2011
Tonight I arrived in Xining. Lhasa is very safe, in the Jokhang and other important areas there must be a patrol of six to eight People’s Armed Police every fifty meters, and countless plainclothes police.
2012
I’ll show you the truth… Six years ago when I came to the Jokhang, other than worshippers it was just tourists. Now there are few of either. There are even less foreigners. Every three steps there’s a heavily armed People’s Armed Police checkpoint, there are armored vehicles and tanks which you wouldn’t dare to photograph. The People’s Armed Police aren’t a threat to visitors like me, they still give you friendly greetings, but the poor Tibetans aren’t the same in their eyes.
2012
At the Barkhor. Going against the crowd of pilgrims. The stores are almost all run by Chinese people from Sichuan… Special Police and Public Security are everywhere.
2012
Walking the streets of Lhasa, seeing team after team of People’s Armed Police, Special Police, People’s Police, police, Criminal Police, all with heavy weapons, snipers on the rooftops, downstairs there are armored vehicles everywhere, the state of law and order here is really good, there’s also a feeling that there could be a storm coming, I don’t remember how many times I went through inspections this morning.
2012
The city is full of armored vehicles, the city is full of machine guns, the roofs are full of snipers! During sensitive periods there isn’t any city as safe as Lhasa! “ID card” is the most common sentence you’ll hear!
2012
Lhasa really does a great job with security work. You can see police, People’s Armed Police, and People’s Liberation Army everywhere. Heavily-armed at each turn. Yesterday I even saw two People’s Armed Police pacing on the rooftops of the homes near the Jokhang, were they snipers? But every time you ask them for directions, you’ll find that these heavily-armed soldiers are really honest, exposing silly smiles as they answer your question seriously. Compared to the police in the mainland, I don’t know how many times stronger they are.
2012
My first day in Lhasa, like ruffians loitering beside the Jokhang, you’re surrounded by various People’s Armed Police, Special Police, and Public Security uniformed personal. Tibetans face all kinds of disdain radiating from political shackles and repression.
2012
The streets of Lhasa are full of People’s Armed Police, Special Police, regular police, plainclothes cops… For young Tibetan men it’s basically impossible to get a passport or a permit to travel to Hong Kong or Macau. There are guards stationed every ten meters along the rooftops beside the Jokhang… On the way back to Lhasa from the lake my ID card was inspected multiple times… If you take a picture of a fire truck they’ll make you delete it… Think again about taking a picture of Special Police vehicle… What is wrong with this society? The cost of maintaining stability truly is high!
2012
The place where we’re staying is really safe, on the Barkhor there aren’t just a few Special Police patrolling, and this is outside the door of our hotel:
2012
I’m at Ramoche temple. In Lhasa, the most common sight is People’s Armed Police patrols. And every intersection has police.
2012
Unite with the central Party, remain highly consistent with the ideology of the central Party, and create a harmonious Lhasa.
2012
Passing through Damshung, several Special Police boarded the train, they’ve begun checking ID cards, asking people why they’ve come to Tibet, their attitude is very friendly, their Mandarin is very standard, haha~
2012
开心宝贝mimi的每一天：不知为何八角街的旅馆全部不许入住，应该又发生什么大事了吧，街上到处都是武警，问人也没人敢说，西藏真是奇怪，还好我的边防证拿到了，赶快走人，我们顺利到了山南
I don’t know why hotels on the Barkhor aren’t allowing people to book any rooms, there must have been another major incident, the streets are full of People’s Armed Police, the people we asked wouldn’t dare to say why, the Tibet Autonomous Region is really strange. Fortunately I got my border permit card, left quickly, we’ve successfully arrived in Lhoka.
2012
The Jokhang is surrounded by heavily armed, fire-extinguisher toting People’s Armed Police, it seems that the security situation in Tibetan areas isn’t optimistic!
2012
Who says Lhasa isn’t safe? Look at these heavily-armed Special Police, People’s Armed Police, and Public Security Bureau armored vehicles.
2012
Right now there are very few pilgrims at the Jokhang, they’re outnumbered by People’s Armed Police and Public Security.
2012
Entered Rutok, the inspection station had Special Police with guns on their backs . The mountains here have yartsa gumbu, and a lot of Tibetans digging for it.
2012
Take a look at law and order at the Jokhang in Lhasa. The streets are full of armed Special Police patrols, but you’re forbidden from taking any pictures, whoever takes a picture will have their phone crushed or thrown out.
2012
Damshung station, Special Police are inspecting the train.
2012
Damshung! I came up on a group of People’s Armed Police inspecting ID cards. This is a new concept of security in Lhasa, right? Have you ever seen someone inspect your ID card in Beijing or Tianjin? Even the capital doesn’t have this level of security!
2012
The Jokhang square is very safe, very harmonious, it has a lot of security, it has the People’s Army, it has police, it as Special Police, and it has soldiers from the People’s Armed Police, there are even police dogs.
2012
It’s the 60th Anniversary, there are very few tourists, on the streets of the Barkhor there are a ton of Special Police.
2012
The streets are full of Riot Control and Special Police, wandering into the Barkhor, you still have to be inspected, they’ll open any bags you have, look at your criminal history, similar to a performance you see in a drama on television.
2012
I recently went traveling in Tibet, it was great, I have one regret though, in the door of the Jokhang I saw several Special Police vehicles. I became curious and took a few pictures from a distance, resulting in a policeman walking up to me and making me delete the pictures in front of him. I don’t understand why, because the police vehicles were in the open, so what’s wrong with photographing them? In Guangzhou the Public Security Bureau has state-of-the-art equipment that’s open and on display, the policeman asked what I said, I therefore call upon our leadership.
2012
Sitting in the square beside the Jokhang, watching the heavily armed, sunglass-wearing People’s Armed Police, and uniformed police patrols! I’ve been in Lhasa for two days, and regardless of whether you’re talking to a cabbie or to pedestrians in a market, Tibetan people are all so welcoming, honest. Very different from other ethnic groups which are fighting for independence! What they want is their faith, respect for their culture, without insults or blasphemy! Perhaps, even if they return to serfdom, it has nothing to do with them.
2012
If I didn’t make it to the Potala Palace I would regret it for a lifetime, but after going I’ll also regret it for a lifetime. There are only People’s Armed Police inside the Potala, there aren’t any lamas. If you want to see prostrating worshippers, go to the Jokhang.
2012
There’s still a Jokhang, and there are still People’s Armed Police patrols.
2012
Nothing in the Tibetan area can compare to the radiance of the Potala Palace. Stability in Lhasa is maintained by force. In Potala Palace Square I put my bag on the ground while I was taking pictures, within a minute or two Special Police came running over, perhaps he was afraid I had placed a bomb on the ground!
2012
Lhasa Station is way more formal than Xining Station, I just don’t understand why the entire square in front of the station is surrounded by People’s Armed Police, you aren’t allowed to take any pictures, everyone went to the wrong door and suddenly the atmosphere was tense, but the beautiful scenery immediately dispelled these thoughts, I successfully got a reservation with the first group of tourists allowed in to the Potala Palace tomorrow morning, the management is very strict, you have to apply one day in advance, only 2,500 people are allowed in each day, and there’s a limit of one hour per person, if you go one minute over that time your tour guide will be fined 500 yuan, if you’re five minutes over their license will be revoked.
2012
Only in Lhasa can you experience such a tense atmosphere, everywhere you can see People’s Armed Police standing guard, the Police Association, Auxiliary Police, the People’s Militia, plainclothes police, whether you’re at the Potala Palace, the Jokhang, or the train station, how it feels like living through an era of war! (There’s an armed policeman on the roof next to the red flag)
2012
Secretly took this picture at Ramoche temple, real guns with live ammunition. It’s said you aren’t allowed to photograph them. On the big streets I saw so many People’s Armed Police and Police Association members, had a strong desire to stealthily take a picture.
2012
From #109 National Highway 3857 I headed north for one hour, arrived in Yangpa Chen, ate lunch 4100 meters above sea level, came across troops heading back to Lhasa after finishing troop exercises, saw uncountable numbers of cannons, tanks, and armored vehicles.
2012
I visited the Jokhang this morning, just in time for the local Shoton festival, and met with some extremely devout believers. Inside the square there were a lot of weapons: People’s Armed Police, Special Police, snipers, police, troops standing at the ready, it felt like a war was about to start. Tour guides say, you can’t wear revealing clothing, keep your eyes open when your visit, but keep your mouth shut! Has life here always been like this?!
2012
The Shoton festival is tomorrow, in previous years Tibetans would get up early and go to Sera monastery and Drepung monastery to see the annual exhibition of the Buddha, and then go to the Norbu Lingka to see Tibetan Opera and have a picnic. But now after going through so many security checks, under the guard of hardworking People’s Armed Police, Special Police, and regular police, who is in the mood for a picnic?
2012
Security at Drepung monastery is a hundred times stricter than at the Olympics! Armored vehicles are rolling in!
2012
On the road from Yangbar Chen to Lhasa I saw so many troops, military vehicles, and tanks.
2012
In Lhasa heading towards Lake Namtso, encountered a fleet of tanks on the road, Type 96, with groups of 40 vehicles ahead and behind, I expect that they’re preparing a battalion, here it’s a very common sight.
2012
There are armed patrols of People’s Armed Police in front of the Jokhang. Chill out, aren’t you trying to be cool!
2012
The Barkhor doesn’t seem that dangerous at night! Each alley has People’s Armed Police! Entries and exits are strictly controlled! People’s Armed Police surround the Jokhang and the Barkhor! I’m absolutely safe!
2012
The police at the door of the Jokhang all have weapons, there are People’s Armed Police everywhere.
2012
People’s Armed Police are maintaining order at Drepung monastery, and regulating the flow of the crowd to see the great Buddha.
2012
Contrasting Lhasa and Lijiang, although both cities have been commercialized, Lhasa is a bit more pristine. Waking up early in the morning there are a lot of people worshipping at the Jokhang and turning prayer wheels, because today is the 15th, which is an important day in the Tibetan calendar. The People’s Armed Police patrols which fill the streets are incompatible with all this, border posts and security checkpoints, I don’t know with respect to what the Tibetans say, have they really become the masters?
2012
After seeing natural wonders like Gang Rinpoche, Metok, Lhokha, and Tongmai Tianxin, I could die with only slight regrets. In the Potala Palace, the Jokhang, and Tashi Lhunpo monastery I felt the mystery of Tibetan culture, but there I was yearning for death. In most areas the scenic places have been exploited for commercialization, and that isn’t cool. I saw an invasion of Chinese culture, Tibetan culture is gradually disappearing, it’s such a pity. I saw police everywhere, People’s Armed Police, inspection points, sick to death of safety, in short I hope it’ll still have a next time.
2012
The law and order situation in Lhasa isn’t as bad like my friend said, each intersection in the downtown area has People’s Armed Police, patrols, and traffic police stations. At the Jokhang from time to time heavily armed officers and soldiers from the People’s Armed Police go on patrol, ready to resolve incidents at any time.
2012
In Lhasa there are really so many checkpoints. Any car entering or exiting will have its documents checked multiple times, around the sides of the Jokhang within the city, each intersection has a security station, where Special Police will inspect your ID. The clouds of 2008 are still with us, the atmosphere in Lhasa was somewhat unsettling.
2012
There are too many People’s Armed Police at Drepung! I don’t like this panic-stricken tense atmosphere. It gives the monastery the environment of a maddening crowd.
2012
At night in the square in front of the Jokhang, there are more People’s Armed Police and regular police than other people combined. Is that really necessary?
2012
I’m at Drepung monastery, there are too many People’s Armed Police! My ID card isn’t leaving my hand.
2012
The square in front of the Jokhang is full of People’s Armed Police, armed to the teeth, standing guard, each one also has an iron bar, whoever bothers them is going to get hit by that bar…
2012
Well, in the Jokhang square there are more People’s Armed Police than regular people.
2012
Today is the Gaden Ngamchoe, all the shops on the street closed their doors early, the Tibetans were all dressed up to go out, the streets were full of People’s Armed Police, they wouldn’t allow me take any pictures.
2012
I took pictures of a People’s Armed Police patrol at the Jokhang square, but one of them came over and deleted the pictures, but his attitude was OK.
2013
This afternoon I took a stroll through Potala Square, at night I loafed along the Barkhor outside the Jokhang, it happened to be Tibetan New Year’s Eve, pilgrims were lined up in a circle around the Jokhang, every three steps there was one People’s Armed Police, one regular police, and one Special Police, more than during the Spring Festival. Restaurants are all pretty much closed, the roast lamb kebabs are really delicious.
2013
Luckily, this year Tibetan New Year and our New Year were only a day apart, unfortunately, when they opened the doors for pilgrims at the Jokhang at 7 AM, the lines were even longer! We arrived at 6 in the morning, after lining up, there are three Special Police every meter! Tibetans came from all over the country, there are really so many people!
2013
The old group lined up to enter the Jokhang, running into an uncountable number of People’s Armed Police brothers. For the sake of ethnic unity, I didn’t say a thing. How could a terrorist do anything?
2013
Today is the first day of the Tibetan New Year, the worshippers are exceptionally numerous, arriving at the Jokhang and walking a circuit through the Barkhor, from Jokhang square to Jiangsu Street is normally less than 100 meters, the teams last for three hours, can this go on for two or three days? There’s a giant fucking Special Police van parked in front of the Jokhang square.
2013
I went to the Jokhang under the guard of masses of People’s Armed Police. I told the panda that there’s no need for this, causing such a big spectacle is bad.
2013
Ganden monastery, the most famous temple in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Going along the winding mountain road, cattle and sheep look like white clouds. At the top of the hill you see the magical circulation of nature, you can see for miles when the sun suddenly dispels the clouds, feeling like the clouds could disintegrate in my hands. Walking quietly through the monastery, seeing the solitude of the monks in the great hall, I seem to have realized something. Just at the edge of the monastery are stationed teams of people in black clothing, they’re all People’s Armed Police.
2013
I’m on the Barkhor outside of the Jokhang. I almost forgot that you have to walk clockwise, haha. There are really a ton of police here, all kinds of People’s Armed Police and Special Police, almost all heavily armed with real guns, and there are all kinds of police vehicles, the Special Police vehicles look the coolest!!! It’s like something from a big-budget American movie!!! Too cool!!!
2013
Arrived in Lhasa station, everyone disembarking here has to produce their ID cards, which are scanned and registered, when you leave you have to walk straight forward, you can’t stop, and if you do stop for a second Special Police will shout at you to move on… There are a variety of Special Police vehicles, troops, and there’s even an explosives removal guy.
2013
Lhasa is still Lhasa, there are Special Police security checkpoints everywhere.
2013
At the Jokhang in addition to Tibetans there are People’s Armed Police.
2013
I’ve arrived in Lhasa, my first impression is that there are more Special Police than tourists, almost every fifty meters, security is very rigorous at the train station, you risk your life by taking a picture, I’d recommend taking your luggage on public transit, local Tibetans are still very friendly and honest, businessmen excluded…
2013
I’ve arrived in the City of Sunshine, the big streets and little alleys are full of dust. I’m not used to the constant security checkpoints and police stations every 50 meters in Lhasa… Special Police, People’s Armed Police, regular police, security guards
2013
I didn’t realize that it doesn’t get dark at night until 9 in Lhasa, for 9 hours the wind has been blowing, but now I’m finally getting a view of the Potala Palace at night, stupid wind… PS: The stability maintenance forces of our country are really powerful, a post every five steps, and a sentry every ten. Security is stricter than at an airport, every five minutes a squad of police pass by, every ten minutes a squad of Special Police, every half hour a company of troops.
2013
I just wanted to relax at the hostel today, but I couldn’t do it, went out for a stroll, walked from the Potala to the Jokhang, the Barkhor, followed the Tibetans as they spun their prayer wheels, looked up and saw Magye Ama, went in to get a bowl of Tibetan sweet tea, there are so many Lhasa Police and People’s Armed Police out, very safe.
2013
Today Ermei said: Going through security at the Jokhang, are you guys open 24 hours a day? People’s Armed Police security said: that’s right, 24 hours, we’re always waiting!
2013
Today the road on the way to the Jokhang was full of People’s Armed Police. There are also security checks when you enter Jokhang square. I was secretly taking pictures of the screening process but they noticed, and they ordered me to delete all of the pictures of the security measures.
2013
Hahaha, a buddy went to Lhasa and secretly took this picture of People’s Armed Police, almost got beaten up.
2013
In Lhasa, went to the temple, the Jokhang, Ramoche temple, Sera monastery, and other monasteries whose name I forgot. I don’t understand their language, or their culture, but their piety leaves us in awe. Everywhere in Lhasa you can see police and Special Police, every street corner has a checkpoint, there’s no freedom of religion and it makes me so sad, so upset.
2013
NYINGTRI
I’ve been resting for two days at Bayi town in Nyingtri, living in a Tibetan home, there are solar panels but there’s no sun, I haven’t bathed in two days. On the streets there are many People’s Armed Police holding riot gear on patrol, shops on both sides of the street are very new and clean, the shopping street is very quiet with no one shopping there.
2013
I’m not sure which intersection, I’m in Tibet’s Nyingtri prefecture, got up early to take pictures of the landscape around the Nyang river, photographed the great Nyang River bridge, but when the People’s Armed Police at the bridgehead noticed that I had taken the pictures, he raised his guns and ordered me to delete them, he almost seized me, this is a highway bridge
2013
LHOKA
Fuck me, there are all kinds of armored vehicles on the streets, heading to Lhoka (on the Indian border). At this time everyone understands. The Tibet Autonomous Region is truly magical.
2012
CHAMDO
At the source of the Lancang river, at the confluence of the Nagchu river and the Yu’ang river, below Golden Eagle Square is Chamdo’s pedestrian street, the street is full of Special Police vehicles on patrol, each side of each bridge has a military defense post.
2011
I’ve driven through half of the Sichuan-Tibet highway, in total there are 13 security checkpoints, one in front of and behind each county town. Bomi county had Public Security, People’s Armed Police, and Special Police. People’s Armed Police searched all of our bags, rummaging around through the inside and outside, and said: “Sorry, today there’s a holiday celebrating the Party.”
2011
Chamdo is in eastern Tibet, the second biggest city in the Tibet Autonomous Region. With the first in Asia and the second in the world Yulong copper mine, it’s the source of the Lancang River. It’s a rainy morning, the landscape around Chamdo is gentle, after we finished eating lunch, and we’re prepared to go to the 600 year-old Gelug school temple, Jampa Ling, this afternoon. Because it’s the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Tibet, all the counties in the Tibet Autonomous Region have strengthened their security patrols, this picture shows the heavily-armed armored vehicles I saw in Chamdo city.
2011
We arrived in Jomda, they don’t have any 93 octane gasoline. First we decided to get a bite to eat before looking for a place to stay, so now everyone is taking care of their own dinner. There are a few terrorists among the Tibetans in town. We took off our reporter armbands. Special Police vehicles are patrolling the town.
2011
Jomda doesn’t have as many police as Kardze, but you can still spot some Special Police.
2011
This place isn’t peaceful! There are police patrols on the street, armed forces protect gates with defensive barricades, I’m done tonight, quickly leaving Jomda.
2011
In Chamdo you can see these things everywhere: safeguarding peace, opposing separatist slogans, heavily-armed People’s Armed Police in watchtowers, armored vehicles patrolling the streets and clubs in hands, maybe it’s because of there’ll be a holiday soon!
2011
Markham doesn’t seem like a very safe city, there’s no one on the streets early in the morning; I only saw police vehicles and riot-control troops! I only heard the sound of police sirens echoing down the streets! We’ve gone outside the city to wait for a bus, getting out of this place!
2011
There are a lot of People’s Armed Police on the streets of the Jomda county town, there are checkpoints on the way into and out of the city. Really doesn’t feel very peaceful… Found a Jiaotong Hotel to stay in, the price was fair and I can take a bath. There’s no normal bathing beyond Luohu.
2012
Memories from my travels today from Lithang to Bathang to Markham, Lithang has a more tense atmosphere like the other Tibetan areas, Bathang is more like a Chinese area, and in Markham the streets are full of Special Police and People’s Armed Police.
2012
Feeling really relaxed today, touring Chamdo at leisure. This morning I went to Jampa Ling monastery. The Tibet Autonomous Region is really tense, in Chamdo county there’s a sentry every three steps and a post every five steps, inside there are a ton of police, but this makes us feel very safe, and makes it easy to get directions. This is a real armed soldier, I didn’t dare to take a picture of him directly, pretended to be taking one of the other people.
2012
西藏自治区,昌都地区,芒康县,214国道
Tibet is Tibet, every tiny farting county town has a policeman and some People’s Armed Police with riot shields every hundred meters.
2012
This place Markham, it’s the land of snack shops and guesthouses, but the people who opened them are all outsiders. Tibetans and Chinese live together here, it looks peaceful, but it isn’t, everywhere you can see riot control police, Special Police, and People’s Armed Police. In the evenings, the Tibetans livestock all go home, you can see all kinds of animals like sheep and dogs and cattle on the road, riding among them, it feels strange. Another thing, along the road I’ve run into so many dogs, but not more than five cats.
2012
A friend treated me to a meal, I saw People’s Armed Police on patrol outside the window, I’ve heard that Lhasa resembles Baghdad. I’m in Markham county.
2012
Stopping the car for inspections, since entering Chamdo Prefecture on the way to Baxiu I’ve already been stopped a dozen times for ID checks, how to say, on this trip we can’t talk about politics or be angry youth but rather be a good citizen, and actively cooperate. Future tourists in Tibet can rest assured that the rapid development of the Tibet Autonomous Region is making it into a much better place every day. The People’s Armed Police of our country are might and brave when they fight the illegal criminals, and rapidly repair broken roads, you are forbidden from taking any pictures.
2012
Upon entering Tsakha Lho they check your ID card, entering Markham they also take down your ID number, this afternoon sirens echoed through the entire city of Markham, for more than an hour, People’s Armed Police, Special Police, reservists, armed with an incredible array of advanced equipment, all heavily armed, overall, as soon as you enter Tibet, you experience a very particular atmosphere, it seems like social stability or the lack thereof is something that those of us who live in peaceful and happy environments can only imagine…
2012
The Tibet Autonomous Region, Chamdo Prefecture, Pashui County, Route 318, day 19 on the Sichuan-Tibet highway. Banda, Yela Shan, 72 bridge of the Gyalmo Ngulchu river, Pashui, safety is guaranteed. I entered the Great Canyon, the landscape was a stark contrast with yesterday, the waves of the Gyalmo Ngulchu river, mid-stream boulders and steep precipices, I saw rocks falling into the river, on the Gyalmo Ngulchu Bridge there are People’s Armed Police with guns in their hands, I wasn’t allowed to take a picture.
2012
Markham, a county in Chamdo at the intersection of the Tibet Autonomous Region and Sichuan, different service facilities have everything, the same as the other cities in the Tibet Autonomous Region, it’s a city ruled by Special Police, People’s Armed Police, Explosives Protection, the Public Security Bureau, the armed forces, and other violent organs. Indeed, stability above all else, Tibet cannot split from the motherland, ethnic unity forever!
2012
On the way from Lhasa to Chamdo I saw a military convoy that must have been the size of two divisions, they should be going to participate in military exercises. At the time I was taking a picture when one of the officers arrogantly said, you can’t send any weibo posts, whoever sends one would be punished. Now I guess military exercises are finished, so my bad hand can send them!
2012
I caught a bus from Derge to Chamdo, we’re 1083 kilometers away from Lhasa. But my time in Tibet has been very depressing, there are so many checkpoints, where they tell you to shut up. I said, if the government were doing a good job, who would want Tibetan independence? So then a People’s Armed Policeman said that he wants to send me back. So messed up! If even all these kind Tibetans don’t like you, you really should reflect on the reasons for that.
2012
Entering Tibet, in two counties I’ve gone through eight inspection stations, each time they seriously inspect my ID card, people entering the Tibet Autonomous Region from the Tibetan region in Yunnan must provide proof to the Public Security Bureau to go on. Last night I passed through Markham, it’s just a one-street county town, but there were six riot control police vehicles parked there.
2012
Markham county town is heavily fortified, every 500 meters there’s a guard post, Tibetan counties have more security than cities. Personally I think this should be strengthened even more, the many military depots and troops in Tibetan areas have to play a role, and of course the people’s livelihood, education, and Sinicization also have to be strengthened. I took a picture of a team of heavily-armed People’s Armed Police from afar, and it turns out they didn’t notice, their level of vigilance was too high, and because it was taken from afar it wasn’t deleted.
2013
Law and order are good in Markham, Public Security and Special police are ubiquitous.
2013
Markham. On every street they inspect your ID card, on every street Tibetans have put the national flag on their own roofs, on every street you can see innumerable soldiers, People’s Armed Police, and police vehicles. Even if national problems are arising, still there is an inerasable innocence.
2013
Entering Markham, it’s like arriving in Baghdad, Iraq. Heavily guarded, the entire main street is full of police patrols. The expression of local Tibetans is very particular, they seem particularly unfriendly, just now there were late-night room inspections by 5 or 6 Special Police, this must not be a peaceful city. I prefer to believe that Markham is just a special case; Tibetans in other areas are still very friendly!
2013
First impressions of Tibet: Entered the Tibet Autonomous Region from Tsakha Lho and stopped in Markham, and we saw the way Tibet is unabashedly different: various security inspections, ID cards and drivers licenses still have bird flu, prayer flags fly along with Chinese flags on every house, various types of police officers on patrol, Public Security and police and People’s Armed Police and maybe plainclothes police, traveling backpackers on the roads, on foot or on bikes or in cars or just getting rides, Tibet’s special qualities indeed aren’t covered~
2013
You can see People’s Armed Police and Special Police patrolling the streets of the Markham county town at any time, counting two lines of eight people each, making up a full two units.
2013
SHIGATSE
On the way back to Lhasa from Shigatse, I saw two rows of Special Police standing on both sides of the highway for thirty or so kilometers. Is the central leadership coming to visit?
2011
Been running around all day and night… Got to Shigatse at around 9 o’clock. Because it’s the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Tibet, there’s a large troop presence throughout Tibet and they’ve increased the number of People’s Armed Police and Public Security Bureau checkpoints, it’s no exaggeration to say that today Shigatse has a sentry every three steps, and a post every five steps. The streets are full of People’s Armed Police and Public Safety officers, even Tashilhunpo has People’s Armed Police sentries all over the place…
2011
Today it got chilly in Shigatse, no sign of the sun, even People’s Armed Police soldiers were wearing big coats.
2011
Eating dinner! At Dicos restaurant! Western-style! I can still eat junk food! On the road today I saw a lot of Special Police armed with rifles, is there unrest? I might have to change the itinerary, and just see one monastery in Shigatse, then give up. I’m alone and feel lonely…
2011
Today we drove more than eight hours in the car before arriving at the Mount Everest base camp, and there are still more than 100 kilometers to go before we get to our place to stay in Dingri county, at 5 AM tomorrow we’re going to watch the sunrise from the base camp (I hope the weather tomorrow will cooperate). I don’t know which big leaders were visiting Shigatse today, along more than 100 kilomters of road there were People’s Armed Police and Public Security personnel with a post every three steps and a sentry every five steps. We went quickly the entire way, an unexpectedly smooth ride.
2012
I’m taking a little stroll around Shigatse at night, it’s very quiet and clean, taking it easy, there might be Special Police patrols, indeed this is the second largest city in the Tibet Autonomous Region, the famous Tashilhunpo monastery is here, I’m going there tomorrow.
2012
I’ve arrived at the largest monastery in the Shigatse area, Tashilhunpo, there’s a huge influx of Tibetans coming to get blessings, but the People’s Armed Police closed the monastery and didn’t let people enter, however in the square I ran into Tibetans sprinkling tsampa on each other as a sign of good luck and well-being, I feel honored.
2013
You need to register with your ID card when you buy gasoline in the Tibet Autonomous Region… In Shigatse only one driver can be in the car when it enters a gas station… In each area they have inspections to make sure you follow the speed limit… They also inspect the ID cards of all passengers… Various temples have People’s Armed Police encampments… Just thought I should say this.
2013
Two days in Shigatse, today I only felt like I was in Shigatse when I visited Tashilhunpo monastery, otherwise strolling in the old streets it doesn’t really feel like Shigatse, there are a lot of little stalls on the streets, the stores are old-fashioned, and there are colored stripes running along the eaves. There are a lot of people on the streets, and many lamas, and of course during this period there’s no shortage of police, People’s Armed Police patrolling the roads, with shovels, with metal detectors, with shotguns, plenty of these.
2013
Arrived in Shigatse this afternoon, People’s Armed Police have to check your ID card upon entering or leaving the city, the tour guide is a very dark-skinned Tibetan guy. Sitting by the window in the car made me feel a lot better.
2013
NAGCHU
I don’t know why, but there are police cars everywhere on the streets in Nagchu. The Special Police have been deployed in some oddly-shaped cars, including armored vehicles like the ones I’ve seen in the movies, the traffic police are also highly involved in this process, once the last Special Police vehicle has passed through an intersection the light will change from green to red.
2011
Onwards towards Nagchu! Looking for a place to stay, there are so many Special Police, all inside of so many cars…
2011
Arrived in Nagchu, it’s still early, we want to take a look around and see if we can find anything fun to do, as we were asking around on the side of the road these Special Police cars passed by the front, feeling very safe! We found there’s a lake 30 or so kilometers away, but when we came to a fork in the road we decided not to take the risk today. We asked around again and heard that there’s nothing to see around here, we’re discouraged, we plan to find a place to go to bed pretty soon.
2012
On June 16th Amdo county Public Security gave me my permit, at 9 o’clock on the way to Lhasa there were two checkpoints on the street, scanning through your luggage, serious People’s Armed Police with guns. There are five speed restriction points, if you reach the next point in advance of when you should be able to, they’ll require you to pay some money.
2012
I’ve passed Muda, the streets of Nagchu are still full of heavily armed Special Police and armored vehicles doing all-day patrols around the city. Even worse, the county I’m going to tomorrow, Driru, has jammers which block cell phone signals.
2012
NGARI
Currently registering with the People’s Armed Police in Saga, entering Ngari soon.
2011
Entered Ngari after going through border inspections, they check the permits and ID cards of each person in the car one by one.
2011
Right about to enter Ngari, here the inspections are incredibly strict, after waiting about an hour, at 12:30 we finally passed through the border inspection post of Ngari, here we came across a group of ten or more vehicles full of Indians, heading over to Gang Rinpoche holy mountain on pilgrimage. I’ve heard it said that many Indians come here to worship every year, and there are many practitioners living in the mountains.
2012
9:55, at the Ma You Bridge checkpoint. You have to be inspected when you enter Ngari through Ma Yao Bridge, after waiting in line for more than an hour. It is said that the entire stretch from Lhasa to Sengge Tsangpo town is a proper road, it takes more than a dozen hours to get there. The checkpoint at Dingri is the same, cars queued up in two long rows. Perhaps after a few years the scenic spots in Tibet will be like those in the mainland. Make the most of it!
2012
Sitting on the bus from Lhasa to Ngari, there are too many checkpoints on the way, each one has an equal number of armed border police and regular police who count us like a farmer counting chickens, checked several times!
QINGHAI
YUSHU
Yushu, after two years of reconstruction, is still a messy, dusty place, construction is moving slowly, projects are blocked, the policies of the central government are good but the cooperation from local authorities isn’t good. There’s poor public order, special police are on patrol.
2012
Leaving Yushu I was inspected by the special police, I saw they were called “Falcon Commandoes,” how mighty! Unfortunately, you can’t take any pictures of them.
2012
Law and order is very poor in Qinghai’s Yushu, even in the morning light shops have been robbed, I would like to ask what all those People’s Armed Police with guns were doing on patrol, would anyone dare to invest in a place like this, no wonder this place is still so backwards.
2013
Suddenly I heard very neat slogans from outside the door, very loud and clear military songs, everyone ran out to take a look, we saw a new group of People’s Armed Police headed to Yushu, the battle formation was magnicifent! I would like to pay tribute to the soldiers!
2013
GOLOG
Entered Qinghai, being unable to see the sun makes people depressed, yesterday I stayed in Ngaba county, I was surprised to find there was no internet signal, and PLA and police were ubiquitous, tonight I’m staying at Huashixia, internet access is getting scarce, updates will be slower.
2011
There’s unrest among the Tibetans in Golog, Xining Special Police have entered the region. Came across their convoys as I was on the road heading back.
2012
Even though I can’t keep my eyes open, but I still can’t sleep. Sleeping in this little county town on the road with lamas and Tibetan compatriots peering at foreigners, seeing the heavy fortifications and armored vehicles at the county government, still thinking of being frightened during the day, in my heart, suddenly I don’t think it’s very harmonious here. This is the most luxurious hotel in the area, across from the county government buildings, next to the Public Security Bureau, it has hot water and TV, 200 yuan each night. But I still can’t sleep. I’m in Darlag county, Qinghai.
2012
MALHO
Tomorrow is a Tibetan holiday, this is a Tibetan autonomous prefecture, the atmosphere is very tense, along the side of the road by the entrance to the village there are a lot of police cars, today I can’t maintain any kind of contact, if I make a small mistake I might be victimized.
2011
Malho Prefecture, a small village in Qinghai, just passing through. A large group of ethnic minorities are confronting the People’s Armed Police, the atmosphere is very tense. The picture was taken by Quantum and posted on Weibo, to seek the truth!
2011
青海省,黄南藏族自治州,尖扎县
Heavily-armed People’s Armed Police… Couldn’t take a picture… So I used my phone to take a shot…
2012
XINING
Fifteenth day of the month at Kumbum: guarded by Special Police.
2011
Changing trains in Xining, noticed that the station is full of People’s Armed Police, is this a precursor to Lhasa?
2012
Changed trains in Xining, going to the Tibet Autonomous Region is different, there are People’s Armed Police guards.
2012
Entering Xining, I saw a group of armored vehicles, cool, activated my eating mode.
2012
Boarded the train to Lhasa from Xining West Station, the booklet says this is the most advanced tourist train in the world, onboard it looks the same as any green express train, except for the People’s Armed Police inspecting tickets in front of every car. I asked the conductor, and he told me that the engine was real, but the body of the car was faked and copied from foreign designs. The last of his words were spoken with the Sichuan style of Mandarin. Hah, such frank and self-deprecating humor! I laughed, and my anger was gone.
2012
Arrived in Xining, all of us passengers going on to Lhasa were transferred to another train with oxygen equipment, each ticket gate is staffed by People’s Armed Police, unfortunately you aren’t allowed to take pictures, it’s very powerful.
2012
Shit~ Here in Xining the inspections are fucking strict, there are People’s Armed Police everywhere, luckily I bought my tickets smoothly.
2012
2月24日12:23
Went to Kumbum at 9 or so to see the yak butter sculptures, ended up getting back home at 12. There was still a sea of people… People’s Armed Police, traffic police, Special Police, and firefighters were locked into the battle
TSONUB
Why do they need to send People’s Armed Police to maintain order at the Golmud Train Station? Our Tibetan compatriots are very kind and generous, right? Every meat dish is mostly made of meat, right? Giving me an apple instead is ok, right?
2011
After a 13.5 hour long-distance journey, after passing through a People’s Armed Police safety inspection, a five-yuan toll station, we finally arrived in brightly-lit Golmud City in Qinghai. Now we’re looking for a place to rest.
2011
Altitude sickness started when the train left from Golmud station, a headache, dizziness, giving me a hard time, so I pretty much just laid down on my bunk. I guess I took the medicine called Hongjingtian too late, and I didn’t have enough of the Gaoyuan’an medicine (I only ate two pills of each type). Next time I’ll definitely take the medicine for two weeks in advance, and take four each time. Arrived in Lhasa right on time at 4 PM, I wanted to take pictures of the station but the Special Police wouldn’t let me. I had to take a picture from far away, set aside for my memory.
2012
At last I’ve arrived in Xining from Golmud, sat on the train for a day. On the way I saw China’s tanks.
2012
I don’t know which leaders are coming for a visit, in the front were People’s Armed Police trucks clearing the way, at the rear there were traffic police, this morning we took a ride around Golmud in big brothers car, it wasn’t easy, we unknowingly passed this fleet, and then the mighty traffic police stopped us, they took our drivers license and permit, the lack of rights and status in China is really terrible.
2012
The Golmud Train Station ticket checkers are all People’s Armed Police!
2012
Just arrived at Golmud Station. People’s Armed Police, Special Police, and regular police, no less than 30 of them, the Special Police are heavily armed, and police dogs stand beside them. Little Golmud Station, ready for a huge battle.
2012
Golmud Train Station entry inspection and the airport are the same, standing guard at the door are heavily-armed Special Police and there are police dog patrols, I asked a member of the Special Police staff, was told that every day is like this. I can’t help but to wonder whether or not I’ll see riots in Lhasa, haha, if you see them it might be interesting, just don’t get hurt, haha.
2013
YUNNAN
DECHEN
The tour guide in Yunnan said that in Kardze prefecture, where Sichuan and Yunnan meet, there were riots not too long ago, there are still troops stationed there, but the information has been blocked. I really hadn’t heard about this matter.
2012
I’m not a gambler, but that won’t stop me from placing a bet, a bet with myself. 3/14, everyone who lives in a Tibetan area knows what that means. I’m in Gyalthang, and that’s far away from you, but at least I’m a little closer to you. Looking at the streets full of People’s Armed Police behind explosive-proof barricades, I was thinking, you, what are you doing? After today, should we give an answer?
2012
When will I return to Gyalthang… Ah, I yearn for it. It was like a local festival was approaching, there were so many People’s Armed Police!
2012
Just passed by the May horse-racing festival. The number of People’s Armed Police and police was almost the same as the number of tourists, there was one standing every meter along the racetrack. It really isn’t easy to hold activities in Tibetan areas!
Gyalthang
2012
It happens to be the tenth anniversary of the renaming of Gyalthang [to Shangri-La], there are horse races, I went to take a look, a cold wind was blowing through the open grasslands and there were bands of rain, I was frozen… Special Police can be seen everywhere, the racecourse was surrounded by People’s Armed Police, the police were using amphibious police vehicles.
2012
云南省,迪庆藏族自治州,香格里拉县,环湖路
I saw People’s Armed Police at the horse racing festival.
Yunnan Province, Dechen prefecture, Gyalthang town, Huanhu Street.
2012
云南省,迪庆藏族自治州,香格里拉县,康珠大道
I’ve entered the Tibetan area, by the road there are People’s Armed Police and traffic police side by side.
2012
Dechen gives me the impression of a very chaotic place, the streets are full of police and police vehicles and armored vehicles, and the local Tibetans are very unfriendly to us.
2012
There are armored vehicles parked on the street in Gyalthang, People’s Armed Police with automatic weapons! What a cool fucking place!
2013
China’s People’s Armed Police holding guns checked my ID card when I entered Gyalthang.
2013
GANSU
KANLHO
March 5th 2011 is the Tibetan New Year, it’s a sensitive time in this area, all of Sangchu county is on alert, there are People’s Armed Police everywhere, armored vehicles! You can also see Tibetans going on pilgrimage.
2011
I’ve already got mixed feelings about Gannan, I’m staying in a small hotel with two trucks worth of soldiers, there are soldiers on duty on each floor, a lot of county towns are patrolled by armored vehicles. By the way, the white armored vehicles look really cool.
2011
At the entrance to Labrang monastery there are a bunch of police cars, the masses are expressing their feelings very safely.
2011
My back hurt this morning, everything I could see disappeared under piles of People’s Armed Police and special police, I want to thank that nameless university student brother, he pulled me to the front of the crowd to get a glimpse of the Panchen Lama, also helped force the crowd open, excellent guide.
2011
At Labrang monastery today there’s an event for the arrival of the Panchen Lama, the temple is having a Buddhist ceremony, I haven’t seen any crowds, lamas on the street form a spectacle of greeting and worship, but the crowd is sparse, mostly made up of People’s Armed Police, Special Police, and Public Security. Pure religious beliefs and gluttonous eaters.
2011
Right now I’m standing across from Labrang, late night in Sangchu, it’s pitch black and the only thing I can see are the mountains, due to particular reasons there are police vehicles on patrol, making people both love and fear this place!
2011
I came upon a dirt road, leading to Machu, an inaccessible place. There’s only one hotel in the entire county. Very few people on the streets! I’m afraid to go out at night, the streets are full of People’s Armed Police and regular police. But it’s very pretty along the way.
2012
Internet service in Kanlho prefecture has definitely been blocked. Really depressed.
2012
Been in Taktsang Lhamo town of Luchu county in Kanlho for the last few days, due to special circumstances the cellular network has been blocked, no way to get online. This afternoon I reluctantly returned to the prefectural capital, Tsoe city, in late winter Kanlho is cold and grim, barren mountains and rivers, covered in snow. But this year summer will surely come, at that time this place will be lush, hills overflowing with green, flocks of cattle and sheep!
2012
At first I thought this was a peaceful county, but after several armored vehicles and a large number of armed People’s Armed Police passed, it excited me, I stealthily took this picture.
2012
I’ve gone through all these badlands, I eventually arrived in Luchu, with sweeping views of northwest China’s barren lands, riding the car of a Tibetan whom I just befriended to Taktsang Lhamo, now I’m staying in a hotel with more than 100 People’s Armed Police, peaceful, altitude sickness has made me tired, good night.
2012
Day 12, 89 kilometers from Taktsang Lhamo to Luchu. I don’t know why the internet is blocked in Kanlho prefecture, Gansu, so I’ve been unable to get online for the last few days. Taktsang Lhamo is a place full of human kindness, I believe if I had the chance I could stay there for another month or two. I saw a lot of Tibetans on pilgrimage there, I was constantly touched by their ways.
2012
You really can’t come to Sangchu by yourself, it’s frightening. This hotel is pretty safe, but outside there are People’s Armed Police!
2012
The Great Amdo Buddhist Festival has become a friendly Tibetan festival, I saw People’s Armed Police again, and a line of cars 80 kilometers long, and a line of tents five kilometers long, tonight the only place to stay is on the grassland.
2012
Today the Tibetan “Xianglang Festival” has arrived, in Tsoe, the capital of Kanlho prefecture, there are Tibetans wearing traditional clothing from all over the place, after the People’s Armed Police who are handling traffic control saw our out-of-town license plate they let us go.
2012
This time I’m seeing police patrolling the main street in Sangchu, I feel very sad.
2012
Gansu. Entering Kanlho prefecture, you can see every intersection as police, police vehicles, People’s Armed Police, body armor, shields, barricades. It’s as if they’re facing a dangerous enemy, which people don’t understand.
2012
Yesterday I went straight to Labrang monastery, the internet is blocked. Want to make some trouble.
2012
My phone can finally access the internet! I’m so excited! I couldn’t access the internet at all in Sangchu, Kanlho, over the last few days. And there were so so many People’s Armed Police!
2012
Traveling in the Sangchu region, cell phone service has been blocked, they check your ID as you enter the area, this is a turbulent political situation, rioters created chaos. If you don’t have an ID card they’ll stop you right away, got a little bit lost, on the way back we were drinking and singing, relaxing to the max. All in all we traveled about 100 km. Today we just recuperated. Good night.
2012
Goddamn Tsoe, all internet access is blocked, finally reached the border, arrived in Zoige.
2012
Passed through a county town in Kanlho prefecture, Gansu. Surprisingly, it still has a dirt road. My fellow traveler has a PhD from a foreign university, and so we were interrogated and watched. Today a police car trailed us as we left the town, this is really the first time I’ve ever been treated like this.
2012
Today there’s an important Buddhist festival- the Sunning of the Buddha, Labrang is on high alert. GPS has been cut off across the entire county, phones can’t access the internet. People’s Armed Police are armed to the teeth, everywhere you can see them, in strategic locations there will be a phalanx of about a hundred People’s Armed Police and armored vehicles. This is the first time I’ve ever felt such danger in my life.
2013
Took some pictures with my phone that I want to upload, it’s a pity there’s no internet here. It’s a very good thing that they messed up! This afternoon I arrived in Taktsang Lhamo town, Luchu county, there’s internet again but still a lot of repression, you armed police shouldn’t be so close to the pure land!
2013
Finally reached a place where I can access the internet, the internet is blocked in the area around Sangchu, People’s Armed Police are mounting a tight defense. I have no comment on this, whatever I say might be biased. It’s just that I think the national policy towards these minority areas is good enough, just trying to make sure they don’t make any trouble. But if you don’t make any trouble, don’t fight, don’t force the state apparatus to make some compromises, who can be sure that the things they have today won’t be taken away tomorrow?!
2013
甘肃省,甘南藏族自治州,卓尼县,岷麻公路
Yesterday I discovered that a large group of heavily-armed People’s Armed Police are staying in the same hotel with me.
Gansu Province, Kanlho Prefecture, Chone County
2013
TIBET (Unspecified Location)
Armored vehicles on the Qinghai-Tibet highway.
2011
Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Region, across Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu, the Tibet Autonomous Region, because of the unique natural environment and religious beliefs, the political situation is very sensitive, on the way there are all sorts of obstacles, Public Security, People’s Armed Police, armored vehicles and soldiers holding combat shields, it gives you the impression that you’ve arrived in the Middle East, there’s no wireless internet and text messages are blocked, sadly you can’t take any pictures of the heroically glorious People’s Armed Police soldiers… (PS a companion took pictures, but he was forced to delete them at gunpoint)
2011
A quick shot taken on the street ~~~ The most common sight on the streets of Tibet are Special Police and People’s Armed Police ~~~ Why is this?
2011
People’s Armed Police forces have entered the Tibetan area four days in a row, it seems the situation must be quite serious.
2012
Here, there basically aren’t any Chinese people. I was always being stared at. Tomorrow the annual Tibetan Buddhist dharma festival will begin, the streets are full of People’s Liberation Army armed forces and armored vehicles. Cell phone networks are cut off, occasionally I can get some wifi access.
2012
This is the first time I’ve felt endangered in the Tibetan area, a small village was suddenly full of Special Police with guns, and there are tanks on patrol…
2012
Oh gosh, this is exciting! Entering the Tibetan area our vehicles were inspected by People’s Armed Police carrying guns, I was also foolish and bewildered enough to take a cell phone video, they ordered me to delete it, inspecting phones and ID cards. They made us get out of the car to record our passports. Luckily after they realized we are good people, with or without guns the People’s Armed Police have a very friendly attitude.
2012
A friend driving a car noticed: Tibetan areas have so many inspection stations, People’s Armed Police, soldiers, policemen, the authorities, People’s Armed Police and soldiers have checkpoints, police and army check you along the way, you’re required to produce your ID card, drivers license, and vehicle registration. At the stop they’ll register you, and time how long it takes for you to reach the next stop, if you get there early by speeding they’ll fine you 500 yuan. However, perhaps because of the cold weather and hypoxia on the high plateau, they aren’t particularly serious.
2012
Passed a row of People’s Armed Police vehicles, a dozen, all armored, it is said that the Tibetan areas are restless.
2012
Hundreds of military vehicles on the way to the Tibetan area, the People’s Army giving a shock.
2012
I would like to this say with respect to Tibet, with respect towards Tibetan attitudes. Are Tibetans really as simple as I used to understand them to be, through the internet? Being in Tibet for this long, regarding Tibetan attitudes, I’m really still kept at arm’s length. Whether or not they’re simple, I still believe, Tibetans are people. Sometimes I look at the People’s Armed Police patrolling the streets, and think: When those Tibetans see these People’s Armed Police, does it give them the feeling of being dominated, rather than a master’s sense of pride?
2012
People’s Armed Police have begun checking ID cards again. Township, county, city, at every level they check, they check when you enter and when you leave. So on one stretch of road you’ll be inspected twice. This is the first time I’ve ever felt the privilege of being Chinese, generally Chinese people are let out right away, but other ethnicities need to explain their background and their families, especially Tibetans, and if you’re a Tibetan from Kham you’ll be in even more trouble.
2012
While on my way out of the Tibetan areas I passed so many People’s Armed Police with guns checking people’s ID cards, they noticed when I took a picture of them, I was ordered to delete them on the spot.
2012
A squad of armored vehicles on the Sichuan-Tibet highway… next to the Nyang river.
2012
Tibetan areas around here really are controlled by force! You can see police with guns strapped to their backs everywhere.
2012
四川省
In Tibetan areas the People’s Armed Police are the boss, it’s as if the road is for them, they forced us aside.
2013
Look, a dozen trucks full of troops and several cars of People’s Armed Police passed us in the opposite direction, heading into the Tibetan area, it looks like something really happened when they were checking our ID cards yesterday!
2013
Keywords from my trip to Tibet: Altitude, altitude sickness, oxygen, yaks. People’s Armed Police.
2013