Final answer:
The construction of the Lhasa Express reflects the cultural values of collectivism and human-nature value orientation, demonstrating China's collectivist approach to integrating Tibet and the human assertion over challenging natural terrain. It also represents power distance through the significant demonstration of state-led, large-scale engineering capabilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The construction of the Lhasa Express, which travels from Beijing to Lhasa and reaches an altitude of 16,640 feet, conquering mountainous terrain, reflects the cultural values of collectivism and human-nature value orientation. This monumental engineering feat illustrates China's determination to integrate Tibet more closely, which can be understood in the context of a collectivist society prioritizing the needs and goals of the group over individuals. The project attempts to connect ethnically and geographically diverse regions, aligning with collectivist values that emphasize the importance of unity and cohesion. Furthermore, the human-nature value orientation is evident, as the project asserts human dominance over nature by constructing a railway through one of the most challenging terrains on Earth.
This engineering marvel also represents power distance, as it shows the extent of governmental control and the ability to marshal resources for massive state-led projects. By successfully linking Beijing with Lhasa, the government demonstrates its far-reaching influence and the significant power differential between the state and the individual. This can be seen historically, with the outset of the reorganization of Tibet into a Chinese socialist region in 1965, and in the modern era with China's aims to maintain Tibet as a buffer state and integrate it more tightly with the Han Chinese heartland.