On August 24, 2004, a fine day, my friends and I were on our way towards Xigaze after visits to Lhasa and Nyingchi. We didn't follow the way most people take. Instead, we took the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. When we got to Yangbajain, we turned onto a gravel road. ""We are building a new section of the Yangbajain-Majiang Highway,"" explained Director Zhan who accompanied us.