[Explanation] In Tibet, Tibetan incense making skills have a long history.
Known as the "source of Tibetan incense", the Tibetan incense-making technique in Nimu County, Lhasa City, Tibet has a history of more than 1,300 years. The local people have developed and passed on this technique for generations.
In June 2008, Nimu Tibetan incense making skills were included in China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Suolang Phuntsok is the 14th generation inheritor of the "Tibetan Incense Family" in Tunpu Village, Tunba Township, Nimu County. He has loved Tibetan incense production skills since he was a child.
[Concurrent] Solang Phuntsok, a villager in Tunpu Village, Tunba Township, Nimu County, Lhasa City
Fourteen generations of our family have been engaged in Tibetan incense making skills. I am 29 years old and have been making Tibetan incense for 13 years.
[Explanation] On September 21, the Nimu Grand Canyon-Tumba Tibetan Fragrance Source Cultural Tourism Festival opened in Tumba Scenic Area, Nimu County.
During this period, Suolang Phuntsok demonstrated hand-made incense skills to visiting customers at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center of Nimu County.
Strips of evenly thick Tibetan incense were squeezed onto the incense board from his skilled fingertips, and the air was filled with the unique fragrance of Tibetan incense.
Suolang Phuntsok told reporters that the Tibetan incense making skills have been passed down from generation to generation in his family. Now this "stunning" is not only a heavy culture, but also the main source of income for his family.
[Concurrent] Solang Phuntsok, a villager in Tunpu Village, Tunba Township, Nimu County, Lhasa City
In the past, family members carried Tibetan incense to sell, but now they have cars and can sell them through online platforms.
The Tibetan incense market is very good, earning more than 200,000 yuan per year. (We) produce 12 varieties of Tibetan incense.
[Explanation] In the afternoon of September 21, the reporter came to the banks of the Tunba River in the Tunba Scenic Area in Nimu County. The water mills on the river continued to rotate, forming a thick and beautiful landscape of the water mill corridor.
Daga, a villager who lives by the Tunba River, uses the abundant river water resources and traditional water mills to make Tibetan incense raw materials cypress bricks.
Daga said that with the continuous development of Tibet's tourism industry and increased efforts to protect traditional culture, the heritage of Tibetan incense culture for thousands of years has not only become a business card for local tourists to attract tourists, but also a "magic weapon" for people to achieve income generation.
[Concurrent] Mindaga, Tunba Village, Nimu County, Lhasa City
Our family life has improved now, mainly relying on selling Tibetan incense and cypress bricks. Other things are like going out to work.
We sell Tibetan incense and cypress wood bricks, and generate more than 50,000 yuan in income every year.
[Explanation] Daga's family used to be local subsistence allowances. In addition to their meager income from agriculture and animal husbandry, their family life mainly relied on government subsidies and other relief.
Today, they have shaken off poverty and achieved prosperity.
[Concurrent] Mindaga, Tunba Village, Nimu County, Lhasa City
It's been more than 5 years since our family got rid of poverty and we have no burdens in my heart. I feel very relaxed and happy.
[Explanation] In order to expand and strengthen the Tibetan incense industry, and better serve poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, Nimu County invested 40 million yuan in Beijing assistance funds to build the county's Tibetan incense industrial park precision poverty alleviation demonstration base, and in 2019 Production was officially put into operation in April.
In addition, Tibet Nimu Tibetan Incense Association, Tibet Nimu Tibetan Incense Research and Development Center, Tibet Tibetan Incense Health Museum and Nimu County Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center were officially inaugurated recently. The ancient Tibetan incense culture has realized "Hundred Flowers" in Nimu County, helping the people Realize income generation and wealth in the inheritance.
Reporter Gongsanglam reports from Tibet Nimu
Editor in charge: [Zhang Kaixin]