Tibet Train Schedule and Timetable: 2023/2024 Updates

Running since 2006, when the famous Qinghai Tibet railway first opened, the trains to Tibet have become one of the most popular ways to travel to Tibet from mainland China.

Trains depart from eight gateway stations across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xining, Xi’an and Lanzhou. With such a wide choice of trains to Tibet, you can choose the one that is best suited to your tour planning.

Beijing to Lhasa Train

The train from Beijing to Lhasa departs daily, leaving Beijing West Railway Station at around 19:55 pm and arriving in Lhasa at around 12:29 pm on the third day. Taking around 40 hours and 34 minutes to complete the train ride, this epic adventure covers six provinces of China and stretches for more than 3,700 kilometers.

The return trip from Lhasa to Beijing actually takes a similar time. Departing from Lhasa leave in the mid-afternoon, the train will arrive in Beijing in the morning of the third day.

Beijing Lhasa Train Schedule

Train Route	Dep./Arr.	Duration	Frequency
Beijing - Lhasa	19:55 / 12:29	40h 34m	Daily
Lhasa - Beijing	15:50 / 08:28	40h 38m	Daily

Note: timetable and schedule are just for reference. When you make an early reservation, please contact us for more details.

Tibet train runs along the world-famous Qinghai Tibet railway.

Shanghai to Lhasa Train

The train from Shanghai to Lhasa runs daily from the Shanghai Railway Station, and takes over 46 hours to reach the provincial capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The trains depart at around 20:02 pm daily, and arrive in Lhasa at around 18:46 pm on the third day. Covering a distance of 4,373 kilometers, the train takes around 46 hours and 44 minutes to make the long journey across the breadth of China.

Return departures from Lhasa leave from the Lhasa Railway Station at around 11:30 in the morning, and arrive in Shanghai at around 11:58 am on the third day, taking 48 hours and 28 minutes to cross the country to the eastern shores.

Shanghai Lhasa Train Schedule

Train Route	Dep./Arr.	Duration	Frequency
Shanghai - Lhasa	20:02 / 18:46	46h 44m	Daily
Lhasa - Shanghai	11:30 / 11:58	48h 28m	Daily

Note: timetable and schedule are just for reference. When you make an early reservation, please contact us for more details.

Scenery along the Shanghai to Lhasa train journey

Guangzhou to Lhasa Train

The train from Guangzhou to Lhasa departs from the Guangzhou Railway Station daily at around 10:32 am, and arrives at Lhasa railway station at around 16:56 pm on the third day. The longest of all the train journeys to Tibet, the trains from Guangzhou take around 54 hours and 24 minutes to reach Lhasa.

The return trip departs from Lhasa just after lunch, and arrives back in Guangzhou at around 21:01 pm on the third day. The return trip is slightly longer, taking around 56 hours and 21 minutes to cross China to the southern coastal city of Guangdong Province. Covering 4,980 kilometers, this is the longest single train journey in China.

Guangzhou Lhasa Train Schedule

Train Route	Dep./Arr.	Duration	Frequency
Guangzhou - Lhasa	10:32/16:56	54h 24m	Daily
Lhasa - Guangzhou	12:40/21:01	56h 21m	Daily

Note: timetable and schedule are just for reference. When you make an early reservation, please contact us for more details.

Chengdu to Lhasa Train

The train to Lhasa from Chengdu is one of the most popular of all the gateway cities to Tibet, and departs every other day. It departs from the Chengdu West Railway Station at 21:08 pm, arriving in Lhasa at around 10:24 pm on the third day. The train crosses a distance of around 3,070 kilometers, and takes around 37 hours and 16 minutes to reach Lhasa.

The return journey departs Lhasa at around 19:00 am every other day, and arrives in Chengdu on the morning of the third day. The return journey takes around 36 hours and 06 minutes to reach the Sichuan provincial capital.

Chengdu Lhasa Train Schedule

Train Route	Dep./Arr.	Duration	Frequency
Chengdu - Lhasa	21:08 / 10:24	37h 16m	Every Other Day
Lhasa - Chengdu	19:00 / 07:06	36h 06m	Every Other Day

Note: timetable and schedule are just for reference. When you make an early reservation, please contact us for more details.

Taking picturec of the scenery outside the window during the train journey.

Chongqing to Lhasa Train

The train from Chongqing is also considerably popular with tourists to Tibet, and departs from the Chongqingxi Railway Station every other day, with a similar schedule style to that of Chengdu. Trains depart from Chengdu at 22:03 pm and arrive in Lhasa at around 10:24 pm on the third day. The train from Chongqing takes around 36 hours and 21 minutes to cover the 3,030 kilometers to the plateau.

The return journey from Lhasa to Chongqing departs 19:00 pm, and arrives in Chongqing in the morning of the third day, taking around 35 hours and 23 minutes to reach Chongqing.

Chongqing Lhasa Train Schedule

Train Route	Dep./Arr.	Duration	Frequency
Chongqing - Lhasa	22:03 / 10:24	36h 21m	Every Other Day
Lhasa - Chongqing	19:00 / 06:23	35h 23m	Every Other Day

Note: timetable and schedule are just for reference. When you make an early reservation, please contact us for more details.

Xining to Lhasa Train

Xining is the start of the famous Qinghai Tibet Railway, and is the shortest of all the train journeys to Lhasa from mainland China. Located in Qinghai Province, Xining is the closest departure station to Lhasa, stretching a distance of only 1,972 kilometers to the Lhasa Railway Station, by the Lhasa River.

The train departs from Xining at around 13:30 pm every other day, and arrives in Lhasa at 11:17 pm the following day, taking just 21 hours 47 minutes to reach the Tibetan provincial capital. The return trip departs from Lhasa at 09:00 am, and arrives in Xining at 06:30 am the following day, taking around 21 hours 30 minutes.

Besides, all Tibet trains to Lhasa will pass through Xining and stop at Xining Railway Station. Thus you have the most chances to take the train if you depart from Xining.

Xining Lhasa Train Schedule

Train Route	Dep./Arr.	Duration	Frequency
Xining - Lhasa	13:30 / 11:17	21h 47m	Every Other Day
Lhasa - Xining	09:00 / 06:30	21h 30m	Every Other Day

Note: timetable and schedule are just for reference. When you make an early reservation, please contact us for more details.

The Tibet train passes the Qinghai Lake after Xining.

Xi’an to Lhasa Train

While there is no direct train from Xi’an in Shaanxi Province to Lhasa in the TAR, there is an option to board one of the trains from Guangzhou or Shanghai to reach the plateau region. Trains from Shanghai and Guangzhou pass through Xi’an on the way to Tibet, and stop at the station for boarding for passengers with tickets from Xi’an to Lhasa.

Trains depart at either 9:45 am daily for the Z265 route from Guangzhou and 11:20 am daily for the Z165 route from Shanghai. The journey to Lhasa from Xi’an takes around 31 hours, and covers a distance of around 2,864 kilometers.

The return trains to Xi’an depart from Lhasa at the same times as the Shanghai and Guangzhou trains, with the Z166 to Xi’an and Shanghai departing at 11:30 am and the Z266, which passes through Xi’an en route to Guangzhou departing at around 12:40 pm daily.

Xi’an Lhasa Train Schedule

Train Route	Dep./Arr.	Duration	Frequency
Xi'an - Lhasa	09:54 / 16:56	31h 02m	Daily
Xi'an - Lhasa	11:20 / 18:46	31h 26m	Daily

Note: timetable and schedule are just for reference. When you make an early reservation, please contact us for more details.

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train

The train to Lhasa from Lanzhou in Gansu Province of China departs every other day from the Lanzhou Railway Station, taking just 23 hours and 58 minutes to reach Lhasa Railway Station. Trains depart at 11:16 pm and arrive in Lhasa at around 11:14 pm the following day, making Lanzhou one of the shortest trips to Lhasa of all the eight trains.

The return train from Lhasa departs at around 9:00 am every other day, and arrives in Lanzhou around 24 hours 24 minutes later, covering a distance of around 2,188 kilometers.

Xi’an Lhasa Train Schedule

Train Route	Dep./Arr.	Duration	Frequency
Lanzhou - Lhasa	11:16 / 11:14	23h 58m	Every Other Day
Lhasa - Lanzhou	09:00 / 09:24	24h 24m	Every Other Day

Note: timetable and schedule are just for reference. When you make an early reservation, please contact us for more details.

Conclusion

With eight different departure gateways to Tibet from mainland China, taking the train can be the best option for getting to Tibet for many international and domestic tourists. It is not just cheaper, but also more exciting and adventurous.

White the Tibet train tickets can be hard to get especially during the peak travel season. To make it easier for you, we can also help you with Tibet train ticket booking. For more questions about Tibet train, please feel free to contact us for inquiries.