Highway drives Metog's economic engine

Beyond agriculture, tourism has become a new driver of the local economy, with Metog attracting over 700,000 visitors annually and generating 470 million yuan in tourist revenue. The county's unique altitude drop offers a condensed view of the Earth's diverse climates, packed with glaciers, rivers and rainforests. While Metog had barely one functional hotel a decade ago, dozens of modern lodgings and national hotel chains now operate at full capacity during holidays.

"It's like compressing the landscapes around the world into one county, earning Metog the nickname 'Condensed Earth'," driver Zhang said. "Often, the hotel rooms are all fully booked during national holidays."

Tondring from Gelin village works as a guide taking tourists to see the 76.8-meter Bhutan pine, which is one of the tallest trees found on the Chinese mainland.

"I knew the tree was tall when I was a child, but I didn't know it was that tall until the scientists measured it in 2022. It has become the top tourist attraction in the village," said Tondring, who previously made his living from hunting.