The document summarizes the challenges in building a railway connecting China's Tibet Autonomous Region to the rest of the country. It discusses overcoming formidable mountain barriers, unstable permafrost, and protecting the fragile high-altitude ecosystem. Over 550km of permafrost had to be addressed through methods like stone embankments, ventilation pipes, and thermosiphons. The 1,956km railway, completed in 2006 for $4.1 billion, passes through the world's highest rail tunnel at 4,905m and highest rail track at 5,072m. Special environmental protections were incorporated, such as wildlife passageways and elevated tracks.