Tibetan businessman Nyima Wangden's life in Chengdu

Nyima Wangden, a Tibetan businessman hailing from Heishui county of Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture in Sichuan, has lived in Chengdu, the provincial capital, for over two decades. Nyima Wangden and his wife Hoing Je, both of whom had inherited the crafts of designing and making traditional Tibetan costumes from their elders, have been operating a specialty clothing store in Jinniu district of Chengdu since 2016.

In recent years, thanks to its pleasant climate, open cultural environment and vibrant economy, Chengdu has gradually become a leading migrant destination for people of minority ethnic groups from elsewhere in Sichuan and its neighboring provinces and regions.

As they work and live in the city, people of ethnic minorities also bring along the culture and traditions of their hometown. An increasing number of Tibetan people settled in Chengdu leads to a swelling market for traditional Tibetan costumes. Consequently, Nyima Wangden's business is thriving, earning him over 200,000 yuan (about $27,800) a year.

Nyima Wangden is also an active volunteer in community governance, often devoting his time to mediating neighborhood issues and helping late comers better fit into the community. For him, Heishui and Chengdu are both his hometowns.