"Tibet has been an inseparable part of China from ancient times, and it is the Chinese people's common wish to safeguard the unification of the country," said Zhang Chengzhou, a visitor to an exhibition on Tibet's democratic reform.

For those western anti-China forces in support of the secessionist activities of Tibetan separatists, they will get nowhere and are doomed to fail, said Zhang, in his 70s, who was very excited while writing down this remark on a notebook at an exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the Democratic Reform in Tibet.

Zhang Chengzhou leaves message on a notebook as his wife looks on after visiting an exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the Democratic Reform in Tibet Autonomous Region in Beijing, Feb. 25, 2009. [Xinhuanet Photo]

The exhibition, titled "Democratic Reform in the Tibet Autonomous Region," opened in the Cultural Palace of Nationalities in Beijing Tuesday and runs until April 10. On display are more than 500 photos, 180 objects and documents, demonstrating the remarkable achievements Tibet has made over the last 50 years.

Learning about the exhibition via radio, Zhang and his wife were eager to visit it, but they came on the second day of the exhibition because they were too busy.

"I was very excited when I saw the pictures showing that March 28 was designated as the Serf Emancipation Day on Jan. 19 this year. All people around China should know this is a historical turning point in the history of Tibet and history can not be distorted," said Cao Wei, Zhang's wife.

"We have been paying close attention to the development of Tibet since the 1950s. So we have had a good understanding of Tibet. Tibet has been developing really fast. The exhibition serves as a review of what we have known in the past decades. "

"It is under the leadership of the Communist Party of China that Tibet has made all these achievements today," added Zhang.

The couple asked all young people to visit the exhibition, which will help them have a better knowledge of Tibet's history.

Shang Guihua, 60, went to the exhibition together with her six-year-old grandson.

"Although he is too young to understand what has happened in Tibet, I still want him to know something about it. There was an exhibit on Tibet when I was just 10, I still remember how shocked I was to see pictures showing the skin of a serf was stripped off."