A farmer picks up stones as he builds a house in Gonggar County of Shannan Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on December 9, 2008. Farmers in Tibet build new houses to improve their living conditions during the slack season as the New Year comes closer.

Two women carry stones as they build a house in Gonggar County of Shannan Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on December 9, 2008. Farmers in Tibet build new houses to improve their living conditions during the slack season as the New Year comes closer.

(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2008)