Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping arrived in Tibet to attend an event, as reported on August 25, 2025 by Epoch Times. According to sources, Xi Jinping spent about twenty minutes at the Gonggar Airport after landing before slowly walking to adapt to the high altitude environment and reduce the risk of acute mountain sickness.
On August 20, Xi Jinping arrived in Tibet by special aircraft to participate in the 60th anniversary celebration of the autonomous region. Sources revealed to Epoch Times that he appeared visibly tired during this visit. Upon landing at Gonggar Airport, he stood still for a moment before taking slow, small steps to help acclimate to the low oxygen environment and prevent mountain sickness.
Overseas sources mentioned that this arrangement was based on recommendations from the healthcare team, “It is uncertain whether it was inside the cabin or after disembarking, but it is certain that this is to help him gradually adapt to the high altitude environment and reduce health risks.”
Compared to four years ago, Xi Jinping’s itinerary this time was noticeably shorter. According to the report by the Chinese Communist Party’s official media on August 22, he only listened to work reports of the autonomous region’s party committee and government in Lhasa, and then met with representatives from various ethnic groups. Sources noted that his walking posture in Lhasa was less steady this time, with an increased sway in his steps and his body leaning more towards the left leg, slightly dragging the right leg, resulting in a smaller stride and occasional signs of wobbling, sparking discussions about his physical condition.
From July 21 to 23, 2021, Xi Jinping visited Nyingchi to inspect wetland ecological conservation, visited the Nyingchi City Planning Museum, toured the model village of Gara, and interacted with the public on Barkhor Street in Lhasa with warm enthusiasm. In contrast, this year he only participated in the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the autonomous region and did not plan for close contact with the people of Lhasa.
Sources revealed that decades ago, during his tenure as the Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region Party Committee, Hu Jintao remained in Chengdu due to health reasons to remotely control Tibetan affairs. During his term, two of his secretaries succumbed to high-altitude hypoxia-related issues.
Cao Qiang (pseudonym), currently residing overseas, was responsible for internal document transmission during Hu Jintao’s term as the Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region Party Committee. He recalled, “In December 1988 until October 1990, on the eve of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, due to health reasons, Hu Jintao worked in Chengdu for a long time, as if relocating the party secretary’s office to Chengdu. At that time, one of his two Han secretaries, surnamed Li, seemed to have passed away due to frequent travel between Tibet and Chengdu and being in a state of hypoxia and fatigue for a long period, leading to their deaths over four years.”
Cao Qiang stated that Hu Jintao’s limited stay in Tibet was due to the significant impact of the high-altitude environment on his health. “Hu’s physical constitution was not suitable for living in Tibet. Although the oxygen proportion in high-altitude areas is the same as on the plains, due to the decreased atmospheric pressure, the partial pressure of oxygen significantly decreases, leading to a decrease in the intake of effective oxygen molecules by the body. Those with a weaker constitution are prone to severe altitude sickness and even life-threatening conditions after prolonged exposure to such an environment. With central approval, he continued working in Chengdu until after the ’14th National Congress’ when he joined the Standing Committee.”
As for whether Xi Jinping’s recent health performance signifies underlying issues, interpretations vary among observers. Beijing scholar Ma Sankui (pseudonym) told reporters, “I noticed Xi Jinping’s deliberate attempts to disguise any leg discomfort in his steps on the red carpet after descending from the plane. CCTV repeatedly aired full-body footage, yet one can still observe unnatural movements. This situation had also occurred during his overseas visits.” He added that this trip carries political signals, “Demonstrating the central government’s stable stance and determination on issues related to Xinjiang and Tibet.”
A high-altitude medical doctor pointed out that in the environment of Lhasa, located at an altitude of 3650 meters, the blood oxygen saturation of ordinary individuals often drops to below 90%, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and even arrhythmia. “Making brief stops or walking slowly is indeed a common practice for elderly individuals and patients with chronic diseases when arriving at high altitudes.”