At 6:30 in the morning, the sky was not yet clear, but the road in Dodma township, Shuanghu county, was already lively. The herdsmen carried luggage and parcels on their backs, helped the old and the young, and boarded the bus briskly.

Banners hanging from the bus indicate the significance of this relocation.

"Relocating will benefit many generations," said one. "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," proclaimed another. "Adhere to the people as the center and build a strong ecological safety barrier," instructed another. Buchung, 73, suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and the move was something he relished. "I'm looking forward to my new home in low altitude and warm weather, which will relieve my arthritis," he says.