"I can"t even remember how many tunnels and bridges I went through, or how many dams I saw," Lee Camp told the Global Times. "There were so many major infrastructure projects. It was incredible. I was shocked."

　　Why did China"s Xizang leave such a deep impression on this American, known for his sharp tongue? Recently, as Global Times reporters drove along the road to Medog - a county mainly inhabited by Monpa and other ethnic minority groups, located deep in a valley in the Himalayas and known as "the last county without roads in China" until late 2013 - the mountains and rivers tamed by Chinese infrastructure workers gave the answer.

　　In Medog, melting snow and fast rivers cut deep canyons thousands of meters below. To build roads here, people had to bore through mountains and build bridges over dangerous waters. These huge projects were not just about roads and bridges. They were about connecting more than 10,000 residents living in this "hidden realm on the plateau" with the rest of the world and ensuring they don"t get left behind.

　　No one left behind

　　As modern roads reached Medog, life here slowly changed. Today, in many ways living conditions in the county are no different from those in inland counties. But the area is still surrounded by virgin forests.

　　"After being bitten by mosquitoes here, you have to squeeze out the swelling blood blister right away, otherwise it may become infected, and you may even end up with a hole in your skin," said Zhaxi Qupei, the Party chief of Gelin village in Medog, while guiding reporters along a forest trail.

　　Zhaxi Qupei, the Party chief of Gelin village in Medog, looks up at a 76.2-meter-tall Bhutan pine in the tropical rainforest on July 1, 2026. Photo: Fan Wei/GT