'New model' takes account of residents' interests

In a decade, mining has transformed Maizhokunggar from one of the poorest counties in Tibet to one of its largest tax contributors, sparking new thinking among leaders in the autonomous region.

"We can't follow the old ways that we adapted inland," said Lin Tao, the county's Party chief.

Lin is one of the officials from Nanjing, Jiangsu province, sent to Tibet to help build the autonomous region.