The Qinghai-Tibet Railway turns 10 on July 1, 2016. The 1,956-kilometer-long railway, which began service in July 2006, is the world’s highest and longest plateau railroad and also the first railway connecting the Tibet autonomous region with other parts of China.

Ecological protection measures taken during and after the construction of the railway have ensured it was built as “a green railway”.

Noting that environmental pollution has been brought under effective control, it said the alpine vegetation ecosystem has been effectively protected, the permafrost environment has been stable for years, the eco-function regions have been doing well and the plateau landscape remains intact.

File hoto taken on Sept. 28, 2014 shows a train running on the Nagqu section of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, Southwest China’s Tibet autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]

File photo taken on July 1, 2006 shows the train coded “Zang (Tibet) 2” running on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway across the Lhasa River after leaving the Railway Station of Lhasa, capital of Southwest China’s Tibet autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]

File photo taken on Aug. 1, 2015 shows a five-year-old girl viewing plateau scenery while taking a train on Lhasa-Xigaze railway line, the first extension line of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, in Southwest China’s Tibet autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]

File photo taken on July 20, 2006 shows a train running on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway near Lake Cona in Southwest China’s Tibet autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]

Photo taken on June 26, 2016 shows a train running on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway through a wetland of Northern Tibet, Southwest China’s Tibet autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]

File photo taken on June 27, 2013 shows a glass greenhouse on the Nagqu station of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, Southwest China’s Tibet autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]

File photo taken on Oct. 25, 2006 shows a train passing the Nagqu section of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, Southwest China’s Tibet autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]

File photo taken on June 13, 2007 shows a train passing the experimental area of thermal probes on the frozen ground in Kunlun Range along the Qinghai-Tibet railway, Southwest China’s Tibet autonomous region.[Photo/Xinhua]

File photo taken on July 1, 2006 shows local residents welcoming a train from Golmud at the bridgehead of Tuotuo River bridge near the Qinghai-Tibet railway, Northwest China’s Qinghai province. [Photo/Xinhua]

File photo taken on July 3,2006 shows the first T27 train from China’s capital Beijing arriving at Lhasa Station of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, Southwest China’s Tibet autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]