Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet autonomous region. Contrary to anti-communist propaganda, Tibet was always a part of China. It was autonomous within China, but was always a part of it.

This can be proven by a National Geographic article from 1904. 45 years before the victory of the communist revolution.

For centuries before the revolution the population of Lhasa and Tibet were serfs in a feudal order.

Now many modern factories stand next to the oldest buildings in the city. There was no industry before the revolution. Just 26 years later there were 30 factories.

Carpet weavers who were slaves to the Tibetan holy order were now free and creating carpets for consumer consumption with a free hand using their own designs.

This industrialization made Lhasa almost completely self-sufficient in industrial goods. Before they had to import most things, even nails and matches.

The peasants now own the land they work. Which previously was owned by local officials, the monasteries and the nobles.

The farm land in Lhasa is 3,800 to 4,100 meters above sea level, but winter wheat gives a high yield over wide areas.

In 1974, Lhasa and Tibet gained self-sufficiency in grain.

To the feudal land owners, herders were treated like animals. After the revolution they democratically operated all the animal herding in the People’s Communes.

Apple orchards became controlled by the former serfs. Apples were no longer a delicacy enjoyed only by the land owners.

Necessity consumer goods sales rose 74% in Lhasa from 1965 to 1974. These department stores now carried all kinds of consumer goods previously unavailable to the masses.

After the revolution the city received asphalt roads.

The Naching power station was built supplying more electricity to the autonomous region. Energy available to Tibet tripled after the revolution.

Before the revolution many roamed the streets begging for a living. There were 7,000 beggars in a city with a population of 30,000. Starving children and dogs scrambled for food left over by the rich.

The people of Lhasa were worked worse than animals for the monasteries and land lords. The Dali Lama was the ruler of all this, and it seemed he didn’t have a problem with slavery.

Where once a boy herded animals for the Buddhist monks, was now literate and a high ranking member of the local party committee.

He helped set up Worker’s Collages in the region. These collages were set up to provide education to those who’ve never even seen a classroom before.