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80-year-old former serf experiences great changes in life in Xizang

STORY: 80-year-old former serf experiences great changes in life in Xizang SHOOTING TIME: Recent DATELINE: March 30, 2024 LENGTH: 0:02:08 LOCATION: LHASA, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE 1 (Tibetan): DRAKPA WANGDEN, Resident in Yamda Village in Lhasa, China's Xizang 2. various of Drakpa Wangden 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Tibetan): DRAKPA WANGDEN, Resident in Yamda Village in Lhasa, China's Xizang STORYLINE: SOUNDBITE 1 (Tibetan): DRAKPA WANGDEN, Resident in Yamda Village in Lhasa, China's Xizang "The hardships of old Xizang, if spoken of, were truly endless. I'm Drakpa Wangden. I'm now 80 years old. In old Xizang, I was a serf under the dominion of serf owners. I never knew where my next meal would come from. I was just like livestock that can talk. I worked as a serf until 1959. Despite having 5 mu of land allocated to me, it wasn't truly mine. The toil on those 5 mu of land was endless, from sowing the first seed to harvesting the wheat. Hard labor was a given, but where did the harvest go? It went

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-FORMER SERF-NEW LIFE-DRAKPA WANGDEN (CN)

(240330) -- LHASA, March 30, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Drakpa Wangden poses for a photo with his daughter at his home at Yabda Village of Doilungdeqen District in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 11, 2024. Born in 1944, Drakpa Wangden lives now in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Before the democratic reform, Drakpa Wangden and his family were serfs, working on manors affiliated with two monasteries in present-day Lhasa. For his family, each spring meant borrowing seeds from their masters, however, they could collect nothing during the autumn harvest. At that time, the sustenance of Drakpa Wangden's family of nine was a meager bowl of tsampa, a traditional Tibetan staple made from barley flour, no larger than the palm of a child's hand. In March 1959, people in Xizang launched a democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom and Drakpa Wangden's family was freed along with about a million serfs. Under the systems of the people's con

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-FORMER SERF-NEW LIFE-DRAKPA WANGDEN (CN)

(240330) -- LHASA, March 30, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Drakpa Wangden demonstrates photos and certificates of honor he won in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 11, 2024. Born in 1944, Drakpa Wangden lives now in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Before the democratic reform, Drakpa Wangden and his family were serfs, working on manors affiliated with two monasteries in present-day Lhasa. For his family, each spring meant borrowing seeds from their masters, however, they could collect nothing during the autumn harvest. At that time, the sustenance of Drakpa Wangden's family of nine was a meager bowl of tsampa, a traditional Tibetan staple made from barley flour, no larger than the palm of a child's hand. In March 1959, people in Xizang launched a democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom and Drakpa Wangden's family was freed along with about a million serfs. Under the systems of the people's congresses and regional ethnic autonomy

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-FORMER SERF-NEW LIFE-DRAKPA WANGDEN (CN)

(240330) -- LHASA, March 30, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on March 11, 2024 shows the ID card of Drakpa Wangden. Born in 1944, Drakpa Wangden lives now in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Before the democratic reform, Drakpa Wangden and his family were serfs, working on manors affiliated with two monasteries in present-day Lhasa. For his family, each spring meant borrowing seeds from their masters, however, they could collect nothing during the autumn harvest. At that time, the sustenance of Drakpa Wangden's family of nine was a meager bowl of tsampa, a traditional Tibetan staple made from barley flour, no larger than the palm of a child's hand. In March 1959, people in Xizang launched a democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom and Drakpa Wangden's family was freed along with about a million serfs. Under the systems of the people's congresses and regional ethnic autonomy that were put in place after the reform, former serfs and slaves w

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-FORMER SERF-NEW LIFE-DRAKPA WANGDEN (CN)

(240330) -- LHASA, March 30, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Drakpa Wangden walks into his home at Yabda Village of Doilungdeqen District in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 11, 2024. Born in 1944, Drakpa Wangden lives now in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Before the democratic reform, Drakpa Wangden and his family were serfs, working on manors affiliated with two monasteries in present-day Lhasa. For his family, each spring meant borrowing seeds from their masters, however, they could collect nothing during the autumn harvest. At that time, the sustenance of Drakpa Wangden's family of nine was a meager bowl of tsampa, a traditional Tibetan staple made from barley flour, no larger than the palm of a child's hand. In March 1959, people in Xizang launched a democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom and Drakpa Wangden's family was freed along with about a million serfs. Under the systems of the people's congresses and regional ethnic

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-FORMER SERF-NEW LIFE-DRAKPA WANGDEN (CN)

(240330) -- LHASA, March 30, 2024 (Xinhua) -- The 80-year-old Drakpa Wangden shows his commemorative medal awarded to the Communist Party of China (CPC) members after five decades of Party membership in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 11, 2024. Born in 1944, Drakpa Wangden lives now in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Before the democratic reform, Drakpa Wangden and his family were serfs, working on manors affiliated with two monasteries in present-day Lhasa. For his family, each spring meant borrowing seeds from their masters, however, they could collect nothing during the autumn harvest. At that time, the sustenance of Drakpa Wangden's family of nine was a meager bowl of tsampa, a traditional Tibetan staple made from barley flour, no larger than the palm of a child's hand. In March 1959, people in Xizang launched a democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom and Drakpa Wangden's family was freed along with about a milli

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-FORMER SERF-NEW LIFE-DRAKPA WANGDEN (CN)

(240330) -- LHASA, March 30, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Drakpa Wangden prunes a potted flower outside his home at Yabda Village of Doilungdeqen District in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 11, 2024. Born in 1944, Drakpa Wangden lives now in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Before the democratic reform, Drakpa Wangden and his family were serfs, working on manors affiliated with two monasteries in present-day Lhasa. For his family, each spring meant borrowing seeds from their masters, however, they could collect nothing during the autumn harvest. At that time, the sustenance of Drakpa Wangden's family of nine was a meager bowl of tsampa, a traditional Tibetan staple made from barley flour, no larger than the palm of a child's hand. In March 1959, people in Xizang launched a democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom and Drakpa Wangden's family was freed along with about a million serfs. Under the systems of the people's congresses

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CHINA-XIZANG-FORMER SERF-LIFE CHANGE (CN)

(240320) -- LHASA, March 20, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Drakpa Wangden walks into his home in Yamda Village of Tohlung Dechen District, Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 11, 2024. TO GO WITH "Across China: From a life of toil to a taste of happiness" (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

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CHINA-XIZANG-FORMER SERF-LIFE CHANGE (CN)

(240320) -- LHASA, March 20, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Drakpa Wangden is pictured at his home in Yamda Village of Tohlung Dechen District, Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 11, 2024. TO GO WITH "Across China: From a life of toil to a taste of happiness" (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

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CHINA-XIZANG-FORMER SERF-LIFE CHANGE (CN)

(240320) -- LHASA, March 20, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Drakpa Wangden is pictured at his home in Yamda Village of Tohlung Dechen District, Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 11, 2024. TO GO WITH "Across China: From a life of toil to a taste of happiness" (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

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Watching Tibetan talk show on "roof of the world"

STORY: Watching Tibetan talk show on "roof of the world" SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 3, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 21, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:39 LOCATION: LHASA, China CATEGORY: CULTURE/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Tibetan talk show 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): NYANZIN DRAKPA, Founder of Shoda Tibetan-language talk show team 3. various of Nyanzin Drakpa on Tibetan talk show 4. various of Tibetan talk show 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): NYANZIN DRAKPA, Founder of Shoda Tibetan-language talk show team STORYLINE: Nyanzin Drakpa, a 22-year-old senior at the Communication University of China, set up a Tibetan-language talk show team named Shoda, which means "come" in Tibetan, in 2021. The idea flashed into his mind when Nyanzin Drakpa watched a talk show in Beijing. He hopes that more people can watch Tibetan talk shows. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): NYANZIN DRAKPA, Founder of Shoda Tibetan-language talk show team "My name is Nyanzin Drakpa. At first, there were only five people in our team. There was no concept of departments, and everyon

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XINHUA PHOTOS OF THE DAY

(240209) -- BEIJING, Feb. 9, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Nyanzin Drakpa and his team members make a curtain call after performances in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 4, 2024. Nyanzin Drakpa, a senior at the Communication University of China, set up a Tibetan-language talk show team in the summer of 2021, hoping to get more people to watch Tibetan language talk shows. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-TALK SHOW (CN)

(240208) -- LHASA, Feb. 8, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Nyanzin Drakpa and his team members make a curtain call after performances in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 4, 2024. Nyanzin Drakpa, a senior at the Communication University of China, set up a Tibetan-language talk show team in the summer of 2021, hoping to get more people to watch Tibetan language talk shows. On the stage, Nyanzin Drakpa is a witty stand-up comedian. Behind the scenes, he's the backbone of the team. Every time before the show, he and his team members come to the venue in advance to adjust the equipment and rehearse. "We welcome everyone who likes talk shows with open arms, and hope that the shows will live up to their expectations," said Nyanzin Drakpa. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-TALK SHOW (CN)

(240208) -- LHASA, Feb. 8, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Nyanzin Drakpa (R) and a team member check scripts of a talk show in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 4, 2024. Nyanzin Drakpa, a senior at the Communication University of China, set up a Tibetan-language talk show team in the summer of 2021, hoping to get more people to watch Tibetan language talk shows. On the stage, Nyanzin Drakpa is a witty stand-up comedian. Behind the scenes, he's the backbone of the team. Every time before the show, he and his team members come to the venue in advance to adjust the equipment and rehearse. "We welcome everyone who likes talk shows with open arms, and hope that the shows will live up to their expectations," said Nyanzin Drakpa. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-TALK SHOW (CN)

(240208) -- LHASA, Feb. 8, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Nyanzin Drakpa performs during his talk show in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 4, 2024. Nyanzin Drakpa, a senior at the Communication University of China, set up a Tibetan-language talk show team in the summer of 2021, hoping to get more people to watch Tibetan language talk shows. On the stage, Nyanzin Drakpa is a witty stand-up comedian. Behind the scenes, he's the backbone of the team. Every time before the show, he and his team members come to the venue in advance to adjust the equipment and rehearse. "We welcome everyone who likes talk shows with open arms, and hope that the shows will live up to their expectations," said Nyanzin Drakpa. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-TALK SHOW (CN)

(240208) -- LHASA, Feb. 8, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Audiences laugh during a Tibetan language talk show in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 4, 2024. Nyanzin Drakpa, a senior at the Communication University of China, set up a Tibetan-language talk show team in the summer of 2021, hoping to get more people to watch Tibetan language talk shows. On the stage, Nyanzin Drakpa is a witty stand-up comedian. Behind the scenes, he's the backbone of the team. Every time before the show, he and his team members come to the venue in advance to adjust the equipment and rehearse. "We welcome everyone who likes talk shows with open arms, and hope that the shows will live up to their expectations," said Nyanzin Drakpa. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-TALK SHOW (CN)

(240208) -- LHASA, Feb. 8, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Nyanzin Drakpa checks procedures of his talk show in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 4, 2024. Nyanzin Drakpa, a senior at the Communication University of China, set up a Tibetan-language talk show team in the summer of 2021, hoping to get more people to watch Tibetan language talk shows. On the stage, Nyanzin Drakpa is a witty stand-up comedian. Behind the scenes, he's the backbone of the team. Every time before the show, he and his team members come to the venue in advance to adjust the equipment and rehearse. "We welcome everyone who likes talk shows with open arms, and hope that the shows will live up to their expectations," said Nyanzin Drakpa. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-TALK SHOW (CN)

(240208) -- LHASA, Feb. 8, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Nyanzin Drakpa interacts with audiences during his talk show in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 4, 2024. Nyanzin Drakpa, a senior at the Communication University of China, set up a Tibetan-language talk show team in the summer of 2021, hoping to get more people to watch Tibetan language talk shows. On the stage, Nyanzin Drakpa is a witty stand-up comedian. Behind the scenes, he's the backbone of the team. Every time before the show, he and his team members come to the venue in advance to adjust the equipment and rehearse. "We welcome everyone who likes talk shows with open arms, and hope that the shows will live up to their expectations," said Nyanzin Drakpa. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-TALK SHOW (CN)

(240208) -- LHASA, Feb. 8, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Team members set up a poster of talk show in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. Nyanzin Drakpa, a senior at the Communication University of China, set up a Tibetan-language talk show team in the summer of 2021, hoping to get more people to watch Tibetan language talk shows. On the stage, Nyanzin Drakpa is a witty stand-up comedian. Behind the scenes, he's the backbone of the team. Every time before the show, he and his team members come to the venue in advance to adjust the equipment and rehearse. "We welcome everyone who likes talk shows with open arms, and hope that the shows will live up to their expectations," said Nyanzin Drakpa. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

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(InXizang)CHINA-XIZANG-TALK SHOW (CN)

(240208) -- LHASA, Feb. 8, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Nyanzin Drakpa's talk show team record a promotion video in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Feb. 3, 2024. Nyanzin Drakpa, a senior at the Communication University of China, set up a Tibetan-language talk show team in the summer of 2021, hoping to get more people to watch Tibetan language talk shows. On the stage, Nyanzin Drakpa is a witty stand-up comedian. Behind the scenes, he's the backbone of the team. Every time before the show, he and his team members come to the venue in advance to adjust the equipment and rehearse. "We welcome everyone who likes talk shows with open arms, and hope that the shows will live up to their expectations," said Nyanzin Drakpa. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)