a. The Lhasa-Lanchow line. b. The Lhasa-Chengtu line. c. The Lhasa-Tali-Cheli line. d. The Lhasa-Taklongshong line. e. The Lhasa-Yatung line. f. The Lhasa-Laichiyaling line. g. The Lhasa-Nohho line. h. The Lhasa-Iden line. i. The Lanchow-Chochiang line. j. The Chengtu-Dzunsasak line. k. The Ningyuan-Cherchen line. l. The Chengtu-Menkong line. m. The Chengtu-Yuankiang line. n. The Suifu-Tali line. o. The Suifu-Mengting line. p. The Iden-Gortok line. a. The Lhasa-Lanchow Line This is the most important line of this system for it connects the capital city of Tibet--a vast secluded region with several millions of people--with the central trunk line of the country. The route which it passes through is inhabitable and is already slightly inhabited in the region between the ends of the proposed line. So it will probably be a paying line from the beginning. This line starts from Lhasa, following the old imperial highway in a northward direction and proceeds by Talong to Yarh, which lies on the southeastern side of Tengri Nor Lake. After Yarh, the line turns more eastward and proceeds across the watershed from the Sanpo Valley to the Lukiang Valley by the Shuangtsu Pass. Thence turning more eastward the line proceeds across the headwater of the Lukiang to that of the Yangtze by passing many valleys, streams, and mountain passes. Then it crosses the main body of the Upper Yangtze, which is here known as the Kinshakiang, over the Huhusair Bridge. After crossing the bridge, it turns southeastward, then eastward across the Yangtze Valley into the Hoangho Valley, where it passes through many small towns and encampments into the Starry Sea region. At the Starry Sea, the line passes between the lakes of Oring Nor and Tsaring Nor. Thence it turns northeastward across the southeast valley of the Zaidam region, and returns into the Hoangho Valley again. Then it proceeds through Katolapo and various towns to Dangar, now called Hwangyuan, situated near the border between Kansu and Kokonor. After Dangar, the line turns southeastward following the course of the Sining River, proceeds downward through a very rich valley and passes through Sining, Nienpai, and hundreds of small towns and villages to Lanchow. This line covers a distance of 1,100 miles. b. The Lhasa-Chengtu Line