Qinghai–Tibet railway
Photo: Bgabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Qinghai-Tibet railway is the main artery into Tibet and connects Xining to Golmud and onwards to Lhasa. It's the quickest way for going overland to Tibet from the rest of China.
UnderstandKnown as the Qinghai-Tibet train, Qinghai-Tibet railway, Tibet railway or Qingzang railway, this route is 1,956 km long and stretches from Xining in the province of Qinghai via Golmud to Lhasa in Tibet.
TalkAll trains to Tibet feature announcements in both Mandarin and Tibetan.
TrainsWhile the trains have all sorts of technical adaptations to make them suitable for the extreme conditions of the route, most notably oxygen nozzles in the corridors and cabins, from a traveler's point of view trains to…
Tickets and routesThere are direct trains from Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Lanzhou and Xining to Lhasa, although not all of these operate ever day.
BringThese things you will want to bring for the trip:
Get inMost foreigners need a visa to visit China. To travel to Tibet by train (or other mode of transportation), you need a Tibet travel permit on top of that.
GoAt the end of each car there is a display showing the current time, the speed, the altitude and the next station. There are also posters about the route and the station (and how long the train stops there).
Ethical concernsThe railway is opposed by most Tibet independence activists, including the Dalai Lama's government-in-exile in Dharamsala, who believe that it will lead to an influx of Han Chinese into Tibet and the dilution of Tibetan…
Stay healthyWhile this is a normal passenger route, travel along this railway can be considered more of an adventure and the journey cannot be recommended to everyone.
ArriveTibet is still a "sensitive" region and under strict control. Being caught possessing politically hostile literature or weapons or photographing military or police will get you into trouble.
Go nextWith more railway investment by the Chinese government, a railway line from Lhasa to Shigatse was opened in 2014, and another railway line to Nyingchi opened in 2021.5 to 5 hours, depending on their service types.
FutureThe railway is in the process of being electrified, with completion expected in 2025.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Qinghai–Tibet railway" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Bgabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons