Travel Guides for Train Travel
Train Travel
The key to successfully purchasing train tickets to Tibet during the peak travel season lies in employing a variety of strategies. These include opting for transfers in cities along the way, booking through travel agencies well in advance, considering a combination of flying into Tibet and taking the train out, and avoiding the peak season for off-peak travel. These approaches not only increase the chances of securing tickets but also ensure that travelers can enjoy the diverse beauty of Tibet across different seasons while mitigating the discomfort from altitude sickness. Moreover, the comprehensive services we provide can offer convenience and assurance for your journey to Tibet.
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is a magnificent railway line connecting Xining and Lhasa, passing through the two beautiful regions of Qinghai and Tibet in the west. The scenery along the way is spectacular, with a mix of majestic mountains, vast grasslands, and mysterious lakes. You will enjoy the best scenery along both sides of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
1. Kunlun Mountains
One of the highlights along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the magnificent Kunlun Mountains, which stretch for more than 1,000km. From the window, you’ll be amazed by towering snow-capped peaks, deep canyons, and majestic mountains.
2. Qinghai Lake
When the train departs from Xining, you will see the vastness of Qinghai Lake after an hour. In July and August, large fields of rape flowers bloom around the lake. You can feel that nature is the best painter.
3. Golden Fields Delingha
After saying goodbye to Qinghai Lake, we will arrive at Delingha in about 3 hours. “Delingha” is a Mongolian word meaning “golden field.”As the train approaches the city of Delingha, you can see tens of thousands of hectares of fertile fields and verdant forests in the suburbs. In summer and autumn, the sunset reflects the surface of the lake, and the colorful illusion in the lake complements the wildflowers and pastures on the shore of the lake.
4. Wanzhang Salt Bridge
Out of Delingha, around the Amunik Mountain, the Wanzhang Salt Bridge is one of the most spectacular sights of the Qinghai-Tibet line. It sits on the Zarkhan Salt Lake, with straight and open roads and bridges, like a sharp sword splitting the vast salt lake in half. The roadbed of this section of the railway is made entirely of crystals of various salts. Under the strong sunlight of the plateau, the salt lake is white, crystal smooth, and shimmers with enchanting brilliance.
5. June snow on the top of Kunlun Mountain
Bidding farewell to the salt bridge, we will continue to travel for about 2 hours and come to Kunlun Pass. Going deep into the Kunlun Mountains, you can see the Jade Pearl. The glaciers and snow on the top of the mountain that do not melt all year round have created the wonder of “Kunlun June Snow.”
6. Qinghai Hoh Xil
A few minutes south of the Kunlun Pass is Hoh Xil. “Hoh Xili” means “blue mountain beam” in Mongolian (one says “beautiful girl”). It is the largest no-man’s land in China and the third largest in the world. The air is no longer dry, but the wind is stronger. The railway will pass through the Chumar River, Tuotuo River, etc., and the railway bridges on these two rivers are also magnificent.
7. The Tongtian River crossed by Tang Sanzang
The mysterious Hoh Xili faded away behind it. Continue southbound for about 3 hours. The Tuotuo River is officially called the Tongtian River after converging with Dangqu 60 kilometers downstream of the Tuotuo River Bridge, and the Chumar River also joins them downstream, passing through the wide valleys of the Tanggula Mountains and the Kunlun Mountains.
It’s the preferred transportation from Xining to Lhasa by train. The train runs 6-8 times every day, and it takes the shortest time to enter Tibet. The essence of the entire scenery of the Qinghai-Tibet railway is in this section.
Xining, the beginning of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, is very popular by tourists who wish to take a train journey to Lhasa as part of their Tibet tour. Compared to other well-known cities with train connections to Tibet, including as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, Xining offers the quickest train trip to Lhasa, making it possible for visitors to be in the snowy region of Tibet in less than a day.
During the day, the majority of trains from Xining to Lhasa travel through the popular route from Golmud to Lhasa, allowing travelers to freely take in the breathtaking scenery of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau. You can also take a tour of the charming city of Xining prior to your journey to Tibet, where you can be amazed by the well-known Ta’er Monstery, the magnificent Qinghai Lake, and other well-known sights.
The Tibet Travel Permit and train tickets to Lhasa are included in all of the following Xining Tibet train trips. Departure dates are variable, and private transportation is provided based on your needs.
| Departure City | Train No. | Travel Time |
| Beijing | Z21 | 40hours |
| Shanghai | Z164 | 46hours |
| Guangzhou | Z265 | 54hours |
| Chengdu | Z322 | 37hours |
| Chongqing | Z223 | 36hous |
| Xian | Z917 | 35hours |
| Xining | Z6811 | 22hours |
1. Railway stations and train ticket agency, a copy of the Tibet Travel Permit is required.
2. Online booking, such as 12306.cn
3. Travel agencies
If you are planning to travel to Tibet by train, here are some essential items to prepare:
1. ID and Tibet travel permit
2. Train tickets
3. Luggage
4. Foods and Thermos Mug
5. Medicine
6. Sunscreen Cream
7. Electronic Devices
8. Cash
9. Camera and Storage Card
10. Personal Cleaning
Many tourists inquire whether taking the train when entering Tibet will alleviate the altitude reaction. The carriages of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway will be filled with oxygen in Golmud, and the train speed is very fast, which cannot effectively alleviate the altitude reaction.
In the peak season, it’s difficult to buy a train ticket to Tibet. In the event that time permits, it is still recommended that you go to Tibet by plane. If you really want to go to Tibet by train, you do not need to buy the tickets from your city to Tibet in China; as the train time is too long, it’s better to transfer to Xining.
Tibet tour peak season is from May to October every year, it is not easy to buy a train ticket to Tibet, especially the soft sleeper tickets. You should make it 30 days in advance to book it online or through the travel agency.
There are 3 classes of seats available on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway:
- Hard seats: the cheapest fares, the least comfortable, not recommended for long-distance travel.
- Hard sleeper: economical, 3 varieties of high, middle, and bottom beds in one compartment with 6 beds.
Inside, each berth has a cheaper ticket price. For privacy, there isn’t a lockable door offered. There is less space remaining for each berth in a single hard-sleeper cabin with six berths. The hard-sleeper compartment could be noisier if there are more people in the same-sized carriage.
- Soft sleeper: the most comfortable option, 1 carriage with 4 beds, with a separate room door, the price is higher, it is not easy to buy tickets in the peak season.
On the Tibet Train, it is the first-class compartment. There are four sleepers total in each soft sleeper cabin—two upper and two lower and a lockable door. Although the soft sleeper ticket is more expensive than the hard sleeper ticket, visitors will benefit from greater privacy and personal space.
The Qinghai-Tibet train generally has a general oxygen supply system that raises the oxygen content in the cabin when the train is in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, an extremely high altitude region with an average elevation of over 4,500 meters that is sometimes referred to as “the Roof of the World”. This supply prevents high altitude sickness in the passengers and maintains the necessary oxygen level in the train.However, there are also oxygen supply tubes and passenger outlets in case of emergency. All passenger classes are given access to these private oxygen sources, but it’s important to understand how to use them, where they’re placed, and when to use them.
Using the individual oxygen supplies on the Tibet train is fairly simple. However, unlike in airplanes, they are not in the overhead compartments and do not descend from there in an emergency. Not everyone experiences high-altitude reaction at the same time. The central oxygen delivery system has already enhanced the cabin air, so you will be comfortable the entire way. particularly if you have spent a few days in Xining acclimating your body to high altitude.
There are oxygen supply connectors everywhere, but you have to ask the Tibet staff for the tubes to attach it to your nose. The tube is provided free of charge in a plastic bag. A clear tubing that needs to be inserted into the oxygen supply outlet connector is supplied in the package. Finding the ends to insert into your nostrils and to attach to the connector is simple.
Depending on the type of ticket you have, different areas have the private oxygen supply socket fitted. There are oxygen supply outlets on the train wall in the cabin and train corridor. They can be utilized while lying on the bed in the cabin because they are close to the beds. These wall outlets are easy to find.
The oxygen supply connectors are under the seats if you are taking a regular seat and not a cabin. They are still immediately identifiable even though they do not have the Oxygen Outlet writing or the red color on them.
The plastic tubing that needs to be attached to the oxygen supplies arrives in a plastic bag, as we already mentioned. After tearing open this bag to extract the tube, you will need to open the oxygen supply outlet’s plastic cover and plug one end of the tube into the socket within. There are two tiny tubes on the tube’s opposite end. These two little tubes must be inserted into your nostrils.
If a passenger exhibits signs of high-altitude sickness, they should use the private oxygen supply. Being unable to take in enough oxygen from the atmosphere might result in high altitude sickness. Your body cannot acquire enough oxygen if you go quickly from a low to a high-altitude since the air is thinner there. It frequently affects those who are not accustomed to high altitudes and occurs at lower elevations before swiftly rising to 8,000 feet (2438 meters) and higher.
High-altitude sickness is like a severe hangover for many people. Some of the most typical symptoms are a pounding headache, appetite loss, vomiting, weakness and tiredness, and trouble falling asleep.
A traveler should use the Tibet train’s private oxygen supply if they show any of the mentioned symptoms. The traveler on the Tibet train may ask to consult a doctor even after using the oxygen supply set, if they are still uncomfortable.
In certain situations, high-altitude sickness can be dangerous. If it affects the brain and lungs, the patient might feel dizziness, blue or gray nails or lips. They may also be unable to walk straight. These symptoms indicate a severe case of the disease, although it would be rare that oxygen is supplied into the cabins.
After the train reaches Xining, it is best to take a day or two off to acclimate at a lower altitude before continuing on to the Tibet plateau and Lhasa, which are located at a greater height.
Make sure you get enough sleep, and relax well; once you become anxious, the symptoms of altitude sickness will worsen. You’ll feel better if you enjoy the beautiful the landscape outside your windows or listen to music.
Prevent getting sick with a cold. Carry some cold medicine and other medications that you may need to manage a headache and low fever. It is risky to catch a cold while traveling on the high altitude plateau of Tibet since it can quickly develop into more serious altitude sickness, such as encephaledema and pulmonary edema. You should postpone your vacation in order to recover your health if you get a cold before traveling to Tibet.
There are two kinds of restrooms at either end of every carriage. The traditional western-style toilet, complete with seat and lid, is located on one side, while the Chinese-style toilet, sometimes known as the local “squat” toilet, is located on the other. You are free to use whatever restroom you like because they both have the same amenities inside. To experience Asian cultures, try using squat toilets for the first time.
The restroom features a sink with cold running water, a wastebasket, a dispenser for liquid soap, and toilet paper dispensers. The western-style toilet is the same type that is found in every western country in the world. The paper dispenser might be completely filled at the beginning of the journey, but since you might spend up to three days on this train, it’s likely to run out of paper before arriving in Tibet. It is advisable to bring enough toilet paper for the duration of your vacation in case the supply in the restroom runs out.
Tibet Train does not offer Wi-Fi. When you get to China, you can rent a pocket Wi-Fi or purchase a local Chinese SIM card to get access to 4G mobile data.
The soft sleeper cabin has televisions for additional onboard entertainment, however they are limited to local programming. To pass the time while on board, it is advised in this situation to plan some entertainment for yourself.
Additionally, your sleeping cabin’s table has ports underneath it so you can use the power source for your computers or phone.
You can store your stuff in the 20-by-16-inch luggage cupboard above the door when staying in a soft sleeper cabin. Additionally, there is room for bags beneath the lower beds.
You can store your belongings on the luggage rack over the aisle or beneath the lower berths in the hard sleeper carriage.
You can only keep your bags on the shelves above your seat if you are a hard-seated passenger.
It is recommended that you bring your valuables with you wherever you go and lock your suitcase and bags for security reasons.
When choosing to travel on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, one should decide on purchasing a soft sleeper, hard sleeper, or hard seat ticket based on personal budget and comfort needs to ensure a comfortable and safe journey. The soft sleeper offers the highest level of comfort and privacy, suitable for travelers willing to pay a higher price; the hard sleeper provides a good balance of affordability and comfort, ideal for those with a limited budget but still seeking a comfortable journey; the hard seat is the cheapest option but not suitable for long-distance travel, especially in high-altitude environments.
It is crucial to book tickets in advance, especially during the peak travel season, to avoid the risk of not being able to travel due to ticket shortages. Purchasing tickets through train station ticket windows, online platforms, or travel agencies are all viable options. Choosing a comfortable seating environment can help reduce the risk of altitude sickness and make the Qinghai-Tibet Railway journey more enjoyable.
Tibet Road Trip Co., Ltd
Service Phone Number
13880667545
Contact Information for Hong Kong, Macau, and Foreign Nationals
+8613880667545（whatsAPP）
