Train to Tibet

The first section of the Tibet Railway connecting Xining with the 815 kilometers to Golmud was completed in 1984. The remaining 1157 kilometers from Golmud to Lhasa began being constructed in June 2001. The construction of the railway to Lhasa finished in October 2005.

After that, it took another eight months for track signals and testing to be finished. The railway was inaugurated in July 2006. To make further development and travel-friendly in the summer of 2014, the Tibetan railway extended to Shigatse. The government has announced that it plans to expand the railway from Shigatse a further 540 kilometers to the Nepal border by 2020.

Traveling by train to Tibet is the best and great way to see the remote and isolated areas. It is the best time to explore the beauty of nature like village life, mountain, forest, grassland, river, etc. 

Every day five trains per day arrive in Lhasa. The trains originate from the following cities. 

1. Beijing (Travel daily)
2. Shanghai (Travel daily)
3. Guangzhou (Travel daily)
4. Chengdu (Travel every other day)
5. Chongqing (Travel every other day)
6. Lanzhou (Travel every other day)
7. Xining (Travel every other day)

Five trains per day arrive at Lhasa. The train originates from the following cities: all the trains going to Lhasa pass through Golmud and stop there for a few minutes. The trains from Shanghai and Guangzhou both pass through Xian.

There are millions of passengers who travel by train. The train to Tibet from Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou all require two or more days. A shorter is to take the train from Xining. It was getting train tickets to Lhasa during the high season, especially from June to early October. It is better to take the train to Lhasa from a point the train originates from having a better chance of getting a train ticket.

Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the world’s highest railway, with the alternative name “rocket to the roof of the world,” the train to Tibet getting started from mainland China, makes your tour to Tibet extremely unparalleled and attractive to international travelers. It has become a trendy way to Tibet since the initial launch of the China Tibet railway across the vantage point for viewing the plateau scenery. 

 Beijing – Lhasa and Lhasa – Beijing Trains

Chengdu – Lhasa and Lhasa – Chengdu Trains

Shanghai – Lhasa and Lhasa – Shanghai Trains

 Guangzhou – Lhasa, and Lhasa – Guangzhou Trains

Chongqing – Lhasa, and Lhasa – Chongqing Trains

 Lanzhou – Lhasa and Lhasa – Lanzhou Trains

Xining – Lhasa and Lhasa – Xining Trains

Xining is the official starting point of the Qinghai Tibet railway. There are officially 45 trains stations between Xining and Lhasa. However, almost all of these trains do not stop at them. The main stops between Xining and Lhasa are Delingha, Golmud, Amdo, Nagchu, and Damxung.

Xining is an excellent place to take the train to Lhasa because five trains per day go to Lhasa from there. In addition to the daily parade that goes to Lhasa from Xining or Lanzhou, the train from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing also stops in Xining to add passengers. So the chances of getting a train ticket to Lhasa from Xining during the high season is much greater since there are five daily trains to Lhasa compared to only 1 or 2 in other locations.

Generally, a regular train, including Tibet trains, usually offers three kinds of seats Soft sleepers, hard sleepers, and hard stools. Soft Sleepers is a settled berth with soft beddings equipped. There are two upper and two berths with a secret door. 
Hard sleepers, it is soft beddings equipped with hard sleepers and regarded as second-class sleeper. There are two upper sleepers, two middle sleepers, and two lower sleepers. The Hard Seat is the cheapest standard seat class. The seat is almost vertical and cannot be adjusted, It also doesn’t allow passengers to lie down because of is 16 inches wide.

To get the train ticket to and from Tibet there will be two possible ways. The first option is to get the ticket on your own. It will be challenging to gain access yourself due to the high season and sell out fast. And also, you need to wait in line for hours and sometimes multiple days.

The second option is much easier than the first one. Have the travel agency you are using for your Tibet journey arrange them for u. they can get the tickets before your travel permits are issued. The agency will charge a service fee. 

All the Tibet train trips are customized to ensure that travelers are safe and comfortable onboard. Tibet train will take you to reveal the secrets and explore the fantastic landscape all the way to Tibet.