Visit to A Tibetan Family

In today's program, many farmers and herdsmen in Tibet have moved into new homes, thanks to an ambitious housing project. On our travel show, On the Road, we will reveal another side of the capital city by touring Nan Luo Gu Xiang, an old alleyway that has become a popular hangout for young Beijingers. But first, we'll meet a Catholic priest from Sichuan Province, who is now in Beijing for the annual session of China's top advisory body.

It's an early morning. The sky is brightening. In Beijing Friendship Hotel, a handful of people are observing Mass. One of the worshippers is Lei Shiyin. Lei is a Catholic priest from the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan. He and the other worshippers are in the capital to attend the annual session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top advisory body. At 6:30 each morning, Lei Shiyin and his fellows gather to pray and celebrate the start of a new day. Our reporter Xiao Hua meets with Lei in the hotel.

Tibet is usually thought of as a mysterious land, and is often associated with a humble living environment. But nowadays, if you go to the rural areas of the autonomous region, you'll see rows of new, two-story houses. Under a housing project launched in 2006, Tibet will provide safe, comfortable housing for 80 percent of the farmers and herdsmen in the region within five years. The ambitious project has already benefited 600,000 Tibetan locals. Ben Bha, an ethnic Tibetan from Yangda Village in Lhasa, is one of them. CRI reporter Shuang Feng visits with Ben Bha in his new home.

When traveling in Beijing, everyone must visit the Great Wall, Tianan'Men Square, and the Forbidden City. But what if you have already seen the sights? Where do Beijing's locals go to relax? We will introduce to you a small street in eastern Beijing with over 700 years of history, Nan Luo Gu Xiang. This lane is less than 1,000 meters long, but here you can find many bars, stores and restaurants. Many residents gather here to hang out, and have turned Nan Luo Gu Xiang into one of the hippest streets in Beijing. （CRIENGLISH.com ）