Xining is the capital of Qinghai province and Lhasa is the capital of Tibet. It is also a great place to explore diverse culture—Muslim (Hui, Salar, and Uighur,) Tibetan and Han Chinese. This brings a very interesting mix in the culinary of this place. Xining is also popular because of its proximity to Qinghai Lake, watching sunrise from this lake is known to be an experience to remember. Xining is truly the landing point or starting point to the infamous Qinghai- Tibet Railway/ Highway. That's to say, you can travel from Xining to Tibet by train or car.
Xining is the capital of Qinghai province
Travel from Xining to Lhasa by Train
Travelling to Tibet is one of the most soul- cleansing experiences man can have, but travelling to the ‘Land of Snow’ by taking world’s highest railway is an experience at a whole other level. Qinghai- Tibet Railway is dubbed as the ‘Route to the Sky’ for the phenomenal views and because it is the highest railway in the world. You get to see the part of land that is otherwise inaccessible.
Qinghai- Tibet Railway
Xining Lhasa Train
Xining Lhasa train is air-conditioned with pressurized cabins and oxygen supply system . The windows have UV filters.
Total distance: 1, 972km
Duration: 21hrs approx.
Speed: 120- 160km/ hr.
Xining Lhasa Train Ticket Fare
Hard seater | Hard sleeper | Soft sleeper |
CNY 224 |
CNY 495 |
CNY 781 |
*Market prices of Tibet train tickets are usually subject to change according to the travel date and season. Due to limited supply of tickets it is better to book 3- 6 months in advance, especially in peak season.
Xining Lhasa Train Schedule
Train no. | From | To | Dep./ Arr. | Distance | Stops | Duration |
Z6801 |
Xining |
Lhasa |
14: 05/ 12:00 (next day) |
1, 972km |
7 |
22hrs (approx.) |
Altitude Change in Different Stops
Station | Altitude | Stop Time |
Xining |
2200m |
-- |
Delingha |
2980m |
6min |
Golmud |
2780m |
25min |
Amdo |
4800m |
4min |
Nagchu |
4500m |
6min |
Damxung |
4290m |
2min |
Lhasa |
3650m |
-- |
*Oxygen systems start working throughout the train when you reach Golmund.
Attractions along Xining-Lhasa Train
The sceneries enroute to Lhasa are nothing less off wonder. The train passes across mountains, prairies, grasslands, lakes, native fauna, rivers and what not. The journey to the ‘roof of the world is a total feast for your eyes. Here are the attractions you are to come across during your journey:
1) Jinyintan Prairie
As the train goes higher in altitude, its gets scarce of population and abundance of grasslands and vegetation. The Jinyintan prairie located 120kms away from Xining is vast green grasslands and small beautiful flowers. The 1100kms fertile land is green as far as your eyes can see.
Jinyintan Prairie
2) Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake is the largest inland saltwater lake in China. The lake is at its pinnacle in the months of July and August, when flowers have fully bloomed. The train runs across the north side of the lake. The reflection of the snow-capped silver mountains on the crystal clear blue lakes is truly a sight to behold.
Qinghai Lake
3) Qarhan Salt Lake
The next lake following the Qinghai Lake is the Qarhan Salt Lake. “Long Salt Bridge” is what makes this lake noteworthy. It is a broad road made entirely out of salt across the lake. The road is 32km long and even the rail bed is made of all kinds of salt in this part of the rail road.
Qarhan Salt Lake
4) Kunlun Mountains
A short while after you move from Golmund, you will come in view of the “paunch” of the Kunlun Mountains. Looking through the window here, travellers can see the east pinnacle of Mt. Yuzhu. After going through Kunlun tunnels, the travellers can see a couple of Taoist sanctuaries, stone statues, and Mani stones of Buddhist monasteries.
Kunlun Mountains
5) Hoh Xil
The train next moves on to Hoh Xil, which is world’s third largest and China’s largest unpopulated land. If you are lucky you get to see rarities like Tibetan antelope and Yak. The rail line in this area does not deviate and is said to drive right into the ‘heaven,’ for it is aptly nicknamed as ‘heavenly road.
Maybe you can see rarities like Tibetan antelope and Yak
6) Tanggula Mountains
The train will its highest point in the whole journey is the Tanggula station in the Tanggula mountains at an elevation of 5, 072m. This is the highest train station in the world. The west of the station is the breath-taking sight of mountains that are capped with snow all around the year.
Tanggula mountains
7) Nagqu
Out of the Tanggula mountains and into the Qiangtang pasture. The Nagqu railway station is present here. This pasture is known popularly among tourists for the extraordinary horse racing festival that are held during the month of August.
Nagqu
8) Cuona Lake
The train will go past across the Cuona Lake which is notably the most astounding freshwater lake in the world. Cuona Lake means ‘Heavenly Lake,’ And true to its name it not only attracts a lot of worshippers but the sights are also pretty heavenly. The sight of fishes frolicking around freely in the clear blue lake combined with the blue sky and never-ending grasslands, this is definitely a sight worth a million bucks.
Cuona Lake
9) Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains
This is the last mountain in the route. You will find a giant prayer flag worshipping the Mountain God. If it is sunny, you will be able to see past the mist and witness Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains in all its glory, where it surpasses even the clouds.
Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains
10) Dagze County
Upon reaching Dagze County you will find the elevation dropping suddenly. You will even find a couple of villages. The pretty trees make up for a pretty landscape here. Next is the final stop-- Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
Dagze County
Tibet Train Facilities, What to Do and Other Travel Tips
Food Available on the Train
There is a dining car in the train with two menus, one for morning and one for noon and night. In the morning, you can have western breakfast (pickles, bread, eggs, milk, and coffee) or Chinese breakfast. For lunch and dinner there are only Tibetan and Chinese cuisine. There is no dearth for noodled variety. The price is of food is expensive compared to prices of food on land. Each dish is CNY 25, so for two the average cost would be around CNY 100. You can also order drinks in the non- meal time. Having some beer while enjoying some phenomenal scenery is indeed a good way to spend time during your journey.
There is a dining car in the train
Alternative tip
You can buy food from supermarkets before you board the train. Since you get unlimited boiling water, you can buy some noodle cups, chips, snacks, whatever. You can also buy snacks when they stop the train in stations. But the trains don’t stop for long in many stations so be quick about buying and don’t offer bills of higher value, for the vendors might not have change.
You can buy food from supermarkets before you board the train
Medical facilities
All the trains are equipped with decent facilities to provide temporary medical services. There are trained doctors and nurses. Altitude sickness is a common factor among many passengers, so emergency services will be readily provided if anything happens. You will be provided extra oxygen if needed. There are oxygen outlets throughout the train.
Oxygen supply outlet
Visit your physician before you start this journey and get appropriate medicines for altitude sickness. Train is a better way to acclimatize than flight. Fly to Xining, stay there for a couple pf days to acclimatize and start the slow ascend on the train.
Toilet and other amenities
There are two toilets at the end of each car. One western and one Asian. There are three public sinks to wash your hands. There is an emergency button inside each bathroom to notify the medical team in case something happens.There is also a separate bathroom for the disabled.
There are two toilets at the end of each car
The bathrooms are pretty clean, but over the time, it might become a little dirty and you might not get enough toilet paper or towels. It is better to buy your own towels and toilet papers, for you might not find them in train towards the end of the journey. There is a hot water dispenser for your coffee and milk. There are also electric outlets to charge your phone in the train.
Electric outlets
Travel from Xining to Lhasa by Road
The Qinghai- Tibet highway starts from Xining and ends in Lhasa. Xining is one of the most popular gateways to Tibet. Qinghai- Tibet highway is one of the busiest highways and most favourite among the travellers. This highway is the shortest and safest compared to other routes. It goes across four mountains—Kunlun (4, 700m), Fenghuo (4, 800m), Tanggula (5, 150m), and Nyainqentanglha. It spans across three rivers—Tongtian, Tuotuo, and Chuma’er. The highway stretches for about 1, 947km with an average elevation of 4, 000m. the speed limit is 60km/ hr.
The Qinghai- Tibet highway
Qinghai-Tibet Highway Route
Xining—123km—Daotang River—196km—Caka—484km—Golmud—269km—Wudaoliang—150km—Tuotuo riverside—91km—Yanshiping—100km—Tanggula mountains—89km—Amdo—138km—Nagqu—164km—Damxung—75km—Yangbajain—78km—Lhasa.
Best time to go
The best time to go is from May to September. Mind you, the roads are not smooth all along the way. Rainfall may deter your trip a little bit.
Attractions along Qinghai-Tibet Highway
You might not get too see all the spots you get to see while going in the train. Here are some of the scenic spots you will come across while travelling by car.
1) Golmud
Being the new industrialist city. When the highways are blocked during cold winters, the buses switch to Golmud so it is one of the key junctions in overland routes.
Golmud
2) Kunlun Mountain Pass
Kunlun Mountains are 110km from Golmud. When you start around afternoon from Golmud, people stop around here just in time for dinner. The oxygen is thinner here and it might be a little hard to have food because of light headedness or nausea. Weather is quite unpredictable in mountain areas, so it might even snow in the months of July or August.
Kunlun Mountain pass
3) Tanggula Mountain Pass
You will cross Tuotuo river for about 203km to find the whole Tanggula pass which is the highest point in the whole Qinghai- Tibet route. With the temperature under zero for most time of the year, the earth is frozen here. The oxygen is only 60% thick and you are likely to experience altitude sickness here, if you haven’t so far. The roads are damaged and will be blocked by snow even in summer months. But it is a sight to behold. So, it will be worth it.
Tanggula Mountain pass
4) Nagqu
Nagqu, means ‘black river’ in Tibetan. It lies between Tanggula pass and Nyainqentanglha mountain. This is where the annual horse racing is held and people from all over the country come to see it.
The annual horse racing is held
5) Damxung
Lies in the Central Tibet. The tourist attractions here are Lhamo Namco sacred lake which is 48km from Damxung and Yangbajain Geothermal hot springs. Lhasa is 87km from Yangbajain.
Damxung
Vehicle and Travel Tips
You can hire cars, tourist buses or vans. But it is best to hire a Land Cruiser. Foreigners cannot drive by themselves, they should have appropriate travel permits and an agency approved driver and guide.
The travel may take anywhere between 35- 48hrs. Take enough food with you and oxygen tanks with you. Take medicines too as there may not be many shops where you can get them from. The food along these roads are often bland or unavailable.
Clothing should be warm for the night time. To avoid altitude sickness or not aggravate the existing sickness it is advisable that you don’t undertake a lot of activities.
The car rental is billed in terms of CNY 4- CNY 6 per kilometre. People usually rent cars for journey back from Lhasa.
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