Scenic Train Rides in China (Especially to Lhasa)

[Heartlander]

The last few years I have been planning driving trips to USA and Australia, quite hectic and taking alot of efforts to put together. So this coming year decided to take a breather before another epic USA trip in 2026.

Then out of nowhere, this short clip popped out and piques my interest:

I took some efforts to find out more about this train to Lhasa. In brief, the train departs from Xining spanning 2000km and taking about 21.5hrs, costing about RMB800 per way for 4-berth soft-sleeper. However as you need to apply for permit to enter Tibet, best let the tour company assist to book both the train tickets and Tibet permit for you. But I found out that there are also other train packages that can take you from major cities such as ChongQing, Beijing, Shanghai, Guan Zhou, etc, etc, with Xining to Lhasa as the core component of the trip. So my intention is to fly to either Beijing or Guang Zhou to take the train rides to Lhasa, spent a few nights in Lhasa, then take the scenic train back to the city and spend a few days jalan around before flying back to Singapore. Currently I am thinking of Guang Zhou with 53hrs train time haha.

https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-train/xining-to-lhasa-train.html

And there are also other train rides in China that are very scenic, taking passengers through beautiful terrains, which I am also considering with one departing from Fuzhou heading to Hefei with stops at Huang Shan.. As never recall anyone here sharing on such trips, I would like to ask around if anyone here has embarked on such trips before? I have come across many Youtube videos and experience seems quite positive. And would be good also if you feel motivated to take on such rides haha.  Feel free to contribute. I would not be moderating, just putting out awareness that such trips are easy to put up and embark. If I were to go on such trip by end of the year, I am sure to do some sharing.

This is another video from Beijing to Lhasa with some mention about high altitude sickness and that the trains provide such facility:

 

[inlinesix]

The train to Lhasa starts from Chongqing.

Can fly directly into Chongqing.

The train has oxygen tank in case of altitude sickness 

[Heartlander]

On 12/22/2024 at 11:41 AM, inlinesix said:

The train to Lhasa starts from Chongqing.

Can fly directly into Chongqing.

The train has oxygen tank in case of altitude sickness 

I saw some videos, all need to change trains despite claiming is direct from Beijing to Lhasa or Guangzhou to Lahsa. That is why I deduce that Xining to Lahsa is core part only, while the earlier leg(s) is depend on train schedule from the major cities. Not 100% sure I am right though. The oxygen facility is only from Xining to Lhasa. Those 4-bedder soft berth has it directly in their cabin as they are first class seats, not sure if the hard-bed or hear seats carriages have it exclusively or sharing a few across the whole carriage.

[Heartlander]

 

[inlinesix]

Google 青藏鐵路wiki.

There are route to拉薩and continue to 西寧 or vice versa 

[Heartlander]

On 12/22/2024 at 2:02 PM, inlinesix said:

Google 青藏鐵路wiki.

There are route to拉薩and continue to 西寧 or vice versa 

Basically 青藏鐵路 manages the rail road between Xining and Lahsa. The Wiki site does not provide further info other than the station names.

[inlinesix]

On 12/22/2024 at 3:16 PM, Heartlander said:

Basically 青藏鐵路 manages the rail road between Xining and Lahsa. The Wiki site does not provide further info other than the station names.

 

[Heartlander]

The link below provides all essential info such as the major cities that can take the train to Lhasa and their costs, as well as other tours that you can take around the region.

https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-train/xining-to-lhasa-train.html

I am also keen to explore surrounding cities such as 林芝 and 火焰山 and 羊卓雍措 and 卡若拉冰川. But as foreign tourists are not allowed into Tibet without under tour operators, just need to sign up the appropriate tour package and would be good to go. I would think the most worrying would be altitude sickness.

From the response to this thread, seems not many in this forum venture into this beautiful region yet.

[Heartlander]

And no wonder one of the youtuber recommended to take the ride from GZ or Shanghai but not Beijing, as the later will pass through Kekexili and Tanggula in the night instead of day time where you will miss the magnificent views.

Edited December 22, 2024 by Heartlander

[Lala81]

On 12/22/2024 at 7:08 PM, Heartlander said:

The link below provides all essential info such as the major cities that can take the train to Lhasa and their costs, as well as other tours that you can take around the region.

https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-train/xining-to-lhasa-train.html

I am also keen to explore surrounding cities such as 林芝 and 火焰山 and 羊卓雍措 and 卡若拉冰川. But as foreign tourists are not allowed into Tibet without under tour operators, just need to sign up the appropriate tour package and would be good to go. I would think the most worrying would be altitude sickness.

From the response to this thread, seems not many in this forum venture into this beautiful region yet.

my parents already went like years ago. maybe 9-10 years ago. They took the train etc.

[therock]

Interesting chat bros..

I've take the same train from Beijing to Xining in 2006, after watching the Andy Lau show 
"World Without Thieves" haha

I was on my way to Xining to visit an orphanage, and it was -22C, I really thought I would freeze to death. But good gear, and the amazing warmth in the orphanage got to me, and so began my social work.. 

My buddy booked the whole cabin of four beds so my friend and I didn't need to share the cabin. It took 25 hours and allowed me to acclimatise to the 3000m at Xi ning..

Amazing scenery at the lake and the grasslands

 

 

That rapeseed, in late spring is amazing

[Heartlander]

On 12/22/2024 at 7:19 PM, Lala81 said:

my parents already went like years ago. maybe 9-10 years ago. They took the train etc.

So you ever thought to visit the place or your parents got very bad experience from that trip?

[Heartlander]

On 12/22/2024 at 7:29 PM, therock said:

Interesting chat bros..

I've take the same train from Beijing to Xining in 2006, after watching the Andy Lau show 
"World Without Thieves" haha

I was on my way to Xining to visit an orphanage, and it was -22C, I really thought I would freeze to death. But good gear, and the amazing warmth in the orphanage got to me, and so began my social work.. 

My buddy booked the whole cabin of four beds so my friend and I didn't need to share the cabin. It took 25 hours and allowed me to acclimatise to the 3000m at Xi ning..

Amazing scenery at the lake and the grasslands

 

 

That rapeseed, in late spring is amazing

Nice. So the 25 hours you quoted was from Beijing to Xining?  You never thought of going to Lhasa since Xining is so close to it?

[inlinesix]

On 12/22/2024 at 7:45 PM, Heartlander said:

Nice. So the 25 hours you quoted was from Beijing to Xining?  You never thought of going to Lhasa since Xining is so close to it?

25 hour should be the slow train.

HSR should be half of the time.

[therock]

On 12/22/2024 at 7:45 PM, Heartlander said:

Nice. So the 25 hours you quoted was from Beijing to Xining?  You never thought of going to Lhasa since Xining is so close to it?

I did... but my business was in Xining, and that was the fastest train, but even then, there were about 8 stops..  memorable trip and because of it, I've been back there three times to help out..

Xi ning is also where I have my fav meal, the 面片 

It's a very simple meal, but a welcome one at -22C..

 

Did you know that the Qing hai lake is used for torpedo testing?

 

[Lala81]

On 12/22/2024 at 7:40 PM, Heartlander said:

So you ever thought to visit the place or your parents got very bad experience from that trip?

I can't remember what they did specifically. But they went to ? Qinghai to acclimatise first. Apparently that one is like 1500m elevation? Then go into tibet proper. 

They said it's pretty hard on the body, they were in their 60s then. Daytime ok. but can't sleep at night due to the altitude. One bus tour to really high altitude they say can barely get out of the bus and walk 10mins, just sit in bus and rest. 

And they are the kind that can walk quite long on tour (though no regular exercise).

They put it like do it when you are younger, but just once enough for them to tick off the experience. 

 

I don't remember much. Just looked through some of their photos of the lake etc and generic travel photos. 

[therock]

On 12/22/2024 at 8:11 PM, Lala81 said:

I can't remember what they did specifically. But they went to ? Qinghai to acclimatise first. Apparently that one is like 1500m elevation? Then go into tibet proper. 

They said it's pretty hard on the body, they were in their 60s then. Daytime ok. but can't sleep at night due to the altitude. One bus tour to really high altitude they say can barely get out of the bus and walk 10mins, just sit in bus and rest. 

And they are the kind that can walk quite long on tour (though no regular exercise).

They put it like do it when you are younger, but just once enough for them to tick off the experience. 

 

I don't remember much. Just looked through some of their photos of the lake etc and generic travel photos. 

at least 3000m bro, haha, my friends took diamox or the Chinese meds

A few in my team had altitude sickness.. 

[inlinesix]

On 12/22/2024 at 8:13 PM, therock said:

at least 3000m bro, haha, my friends took diamox or the Chinese meds

A few in my team had altitude sickness.. 

That’s outdated now.

On the train, oxygen is provided to fix altitude sickness