Wanglang, 41, used to eke out a living as a herder in the city of Nagchu, Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, as he lacked basic work skills.

"I told the local officials who visited my family that I would like to learn some skills," he says. After completing training courses and exams, Wanglang finally received his welding certificate.

In 2018, he bought some equipment and opened his own welding workshop, which saw a turnover of 36,000 yuan ($5,545) that year.

Wanglang's story is a familiar one on the plateau, as an increasing number of farmers and herders in Tibet now have the opportunity to pursue a career different from that of their forebears.

Before the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951, most of the residents in the region lived in a system of feudal serfdom and abject penury.

Since the democratic reform launched in 1959, China has mobilized the whole nation to support the development of Tibet and gradually established a complete modern industrial system in the region. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the plateau region's peaceful liberation.

Over seven decades, the number of permanent residents in Tibet has increased from more than 1 million to over 3.5 million. By the end of 2019, Tibet had lifted all of its 74 impoverished counties and residents out of poverty.

In 2020, Tibet saw its regional GDP top 190 billion yuan, up 7.8 percent year-on-year.