Twenty-four families of farmers and herders in Kunggar moved into new houses ahead of Tibetan new year which falls on Feb. 25. Some 312,000 farmers and herders from 57,800 families had moved from shanty homes into new solid brick houses in Tibet in 2008 under a government-subsidized housing project aimed at improving living conditions

 
A Tibetan villager toasts during a ceremony for moving into her new house in Kunggar Town of Maizhokunggar County in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 11, 2009. (XinhuaPurbu Zhaxi) 

 
A Tibetan villager stands in her new house in Kunggar Town of Maizhokunggar County in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 11, 2009.(Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)

A Tibetan villager fixes a flagstaff with Chinese national flag next to his new house in Kunggar Town of Maizhokunggar County in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 11, 2009.(Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)

Tibetan villagers carry a piece of furniture into their new house in Kunggar Town of Maizhokunggar County in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 11, 2009.(Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)

Tibetan villagers dance during a celebration for moving into new houses in Kunggar Town of Maizhokunggar County in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 11, 2009.(Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)