Trains to Tibet via Qinghai-Tibet Railway

Qinghai–Tibet Railway, or Qingzang Railway is the world's highest rail line which opened to regular trial service on July 1, 2006. By far it has a capacity of seven pairs of passenger trains running between Lhasa and other cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Lanzhou, Xining and Golmud. A train ride to Tibet is not only a transport, but journey filled with different feelings within the hours. Passengers marveled at the desert landscape, snow-capped mountains, pastures and scared lakes of Tibet. On the other hand, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway itself is a man-made world wonder. The Tibet Railway creates many world's firsts: the world's highest railway, the world's highest railway station, the world's longest track on frozen earth, etc.

List of all trains, timetable and ticket rate.

Parts of the trains operate every other day including those from and to Chongqing, Chengdu, Xining and Lanzhou.

Z21	20:00 Beijing West	12:30 +2 Lhasa	40h30m	Soft Sleeper $186 Hard Sleeper $117 Hard Seat $55	Daily
Z22	15:30 Lhasa	08:20 +2 Beijing West	40h50m	Soft Sleeper $186 Hard Sleeper $117 Hard Seat $55	Daily
Z164	20:10 Shanghai	19:44 +2 Lhasa	47h34m	Soft Sleeper $205 Hard Sleeper $129 Hard Seat $61	Daily
Z166	11:05 Lhasa	11:51 +2 Shanghai	48h46m	Soft Sleeper $205 Hard Sleeper $129 Hard Seat $61	Daily
Z322	14:48 Chengdu	09:55 +2 Lhasa	43h07m	Soft Sleeper $174 Hard Sleeper $110 Soft Seat $96 Hard Seat $51	Every other day
Z324	18:30 Lhasa	14:36 +2 Chengdu	44h06m	Soft Sleeper $174 Hard Sleeper $110 Soft Seat $96 Hard Seat $51	Every other day
Z223	15:42 ChongQing North	09:55 +2 Lhasa	42h13m	Soft Sleeper $177 Hard Sleeper $112 Hard Seat $52	Every other day
Z224	18:30 Lhasa	13:41 +2 ChongQing North	43h11m	Soft Sleeper $177 Hard Sleeper $112 Hard Seat $52	Every other day
Z264	11:45 Guangzhou	17:30 +2 Lhasa	53h45m	Soft Sleeper $238 Hard Sleeper $141 Hard Seat $68	Daily
Z266	12:45 Lhasa	19:50 +2 Guangzhou	55h05m	Soft Sleeper $238 Hard Sleeper $141 Hard Seat $68	Daily
Z6801	14:05 Xining	12:00 +1 Lhasa	21h55m	Soft Sleeper $128 Hard Sleeper $81 Hard Seat $34	Every other day
Z6802	08:50 Lhasa	06:43 +1 Xining	21h53m	Soft Sleeper $128 Hard Sleeper $81 Hard Seat $34	Every other day
Z917	11:16 Lanzhou	12:00 +1 Lhasa	24h44m	Soft Sleeper $134 Hard Sleeper $85 Hard Seat $37	Every other day
Z918	08:50 Lhasa	09:23 +1 Lanzhou	24h33m	Soft Sleeper $134 Hard Sleeper $85 Hard Seat $37	Every other day

Map of Tibet Trains

All these trains pass by Lanzhou, Xining and Golmud from there you enter the Tibet region.

Facilities onboard train to Lhasa

Tibet trains are all named after letter Z and have almost the same outlook as other Z trains in China. However, these trains are tailor-made catering the special elevation, temperature and other severe situations along the world’s highest railway. Besides the standardized facilities, Tibet trains are equipped with air-conditioning, supercharging system, oxygen supply, altitude display, the glass window is designed to anti ultraviolet rays, as well as other advanced facilities.

Oxygen supply system

Tibet Train has Oxygen supply system to make the air pressure as comfortable as travelling by flight, and also supply mask on each cabin for emergency. When the climbing up to high plateau in Golmud section, Oxygen system begins to work.

Medical Service
Every passenger are required to fill in a health declaration form before boarding to ensure a safety trip. But if any emergency occurred, passengers can get timely medical care from professional doctors and trained nurses onboard, but limited to first aid.

For other facilities and how to choose type of seat, you can refer to the details on – how to choose train and type.

Major attractions along the way

We suggest you cleaning the window from outside as others do when the train stop at Lanzhou. The scenery gets better from there onward to Xining (Qinghai lake), Golmud when coming to the Qinghai-Tibet railway.

Notable attractions along including Qarhan Salt Lake, Yuzhu Peak, Kekexili Nature Reserve, Tuotuo He River, the 5231 meters high Tangula pass, Tsonag Lake, Qiangtang prairie, Namtso, Yangpachen etc. See a list of photos taken by travelers on the train.

Tibet Train Booking Tips

There is always a huge demand of tickets to or from Lhasa. It is even harder for individuals to get a seat from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. Those cities are the popular gateway to Tibet and hot destinations for overseas travelers.

China Rail release tickets 60 days prior to departure days as usual. You can check availability from our real time system. However, ETripChina strongly suggest you plan and put an order before that and discuss alternative plans beforehand. When tickets are put on sale, we can purchase as soon to largely increase the ratio of successful booking.

Notes for Tibet Travel

For all overseas travelers, a Tibet Travel Permit is not needed at booking, but required when checking in for train (flight or bus) to Tibet. For normal tourists, you can inquiry any tour agency in China to apply on behalf. For journalist, governors or officers, you need to apply on your own with Tibet Travel Bureau.

Truly independent travel is not allowed for foreign tourists in Tibet region. Book a guided tour with reliable travel agency in China. ETripChina is ready to help together with train tickets, travel permit and escorted tours. View a sample Tibet Tour or tailor make your own Tibet travel plan.

Beijing – Lhasa Train Details

Beijing-Lhasa train stretches as far as 3757km and crosses over 8 provinces from Beijing via Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Zhongwei, Lanzhou, Xining, Delingha, Golmud, Naqu and onto Lhasa. It takes around 40 hours and 30mins and the train operates daily.

Beijing West (北京西) - East Lianhuachi Road, Fengtai District, Beijing.北京市丰台区莲花池东路118号

Train from Beijing to Lhasa

01	Beijing West	北京西	-	20:00	-
02	Shijiazhuang North	石家庄北	22:33	22:37	4min
03	Taiyuan	太原	00:19	00:25	6min
04	Zhongwei	中卫	07:05	07:16	11min
05	Lanzhou	兰州	12:17	12:33	16min
06	Xining	西宁	15:00	15:20	20min
07	Telingha	德令哈	19:22	19:24	2min
08	Golmud	格尔木	22:15	22:40	25min
09	nagqu	那曲	08:04	08:10	6min
10	Lhasa	拉萨	12:30	12:30	-

Train from Lhsa to Beijing

01	Lhasa	拉萨	-	15:30	-
02	nagqu	那曲	18:49	18:55	6min
03	Golmud	格尔木	05:29	05:54	25min
04	Telingha	德令哈	08:21	08:23	2min
05	Xining	西宁	13:02	13:22	20min
06	Lanzhou	兰州	16:00	16:17	17min
07	Zhongwei	中卫	21:21	21:31	10min
08	Taiyuan	太原	03:45	03:51	6min
09	Shijiazhuang North	石家庄北	05:36	05:48	12min
10	Beijing West	北京西	08:20	08:20	-

Shanghai – Lhasa Train Schedule

Shanghai has three train stations, and train to Lhasa depart from the one in the city center.

Shanghai Railway Station(上海站) - Moling Road, Zhabei District of Shanghai上海市闸北区秣陵路

Train from Shanghai to Lhsa

01	Shanghai	上海	-	20:10	-
02	Suzhou (Jiangsu)	苏州	20:55	20:58	3min
03	Wuxi(JiangSu)	无锡	21:20	21:23	3min
04	Nanjing	南京	22:56	23:05	9min
05	Bengbu	蚌埠	00:37	00:40	3min
06	Xuzhou	徐州	02:09	02:20	11min
07	Zhengzhou	郑州	05:07	05:14	7min
08	Xian	西安	11:14	11:24	10min
09	Lanzhou	兰州	18:17	18:32	15min
10	Xining	西宁	21:15	21:35	20min
11	Golmud	格尔木	04:19	04:44	25min
12	nagqu	那曲	14:34	14:52	18min
13	Lhasa	拉萨	19:44	19:44	-

Train from Lhasa to Shanghai

01	Lhasa	拉萨	-	11:05	-
02	nagqu	那曲	14:50	14:56	6min
03	Golmud	格尔木	01:35	02:00	25min
04	Xining	西宁	09:06	09:26	20min
05	Lanzhou	兰州	12:11	12:26	15min
06	Xian	西安	20:34	20:44	10min
07	Zhengzhou	郑州	02:50	02:58	8min
08	Xuzhou	徐州	05:43	05:58	15min
09	Bengbu	蚌埠	07:17	07:22	5min
10	Nanjing	南京	08:54	09:00	6min
11	Wuxi(JiangSu)	无锡	10:24	10:30	6min
12	Suzhou (Jiangsu)	苏州	10:56	11:01	5min
13	Shanghai	上海	11:51	11:51	-

Guangzhou – Lhasa Train Schedule

It takes 53h45m from Guangzhou to Lhasa ranking the longest journey among all. It rewards you finally as you will see almost of the attractions along the Qinghai-Tibet railway at daytime hours.

Guangzhou Railway Station(广州站) - No.159, Huanshi Xi Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou广州市环市西路159号

Train from Guangzhou to lhasa

01	Guangzhou	广州	-	11:45	-
03	Chenzhou	郴州	15:32	15:36	4min
04	Changsha	长沙	19:10	19:17	7min
05	Wuchang(Wuhan)	武昌	22:38	22:58	20min
06	Zhengzhou	郑州	03:33	03:40	7min
07	Xian	西安	09:35	09:45	10min
08	Lanzhou	兰州	16:38	16:55	17min
09	Xining	西宁	19:31	19:51	20min
10	Golmud	格尔木	02:40	03:05	25min
11	nagqu	那曲	12:25	12:31	6min
12	Lhasa	拉萨	17:30	17:30

Train from Lhasa to Guangzhou

01	Lhasa	拉萨	-	12:45	-
02	nagqu	那曲	16:07	16:13	6min
03	Golmud	格尔木	02:40	03:05	25min
04	Xining	西宁	10:20	10:40	20min
05	Lanzhou	兰州	13:25	13:40	15min
06	Xian	西安	21:49	22:03	14min
07	Zhengzhou	郑州	04:01	04:07	6min
08	Wuchang(Wuhan)	武昌	08:37	08:52	15min
09	Changsha	长沙	12:07	12:13	6min
10	Chenzhou	郴州	15:42	15:46	4min
11	Guangzhou	广州	19:50	19:50

Chengdu – Lhasa Train Schedule

Chengdu Railway Station(成都站) - Beizhan West Road, Jinniu District, Chengdu成都市金牛区北站西1路1号

Train from Chengdu to Lhasa

01	Chengdu	成都	----	14:48	----
02	Guangyuan	广元	19:34	19:44	10min
03	Baoji	宝鸡	03:05	03:30	25min
04	Lanzhou	兰州	08:58	09:13	15min
05	Xining	西宁	11:54	12:14	20min
06	Delingha	德令哈	16:39	16:41	2min
07	Golmud	格尔木	19:29	19:54	25min
08	Nagqu	那曲	05:52	05:58	6min
09	Lhasa	拉萨	09:55	09:55

Train from Lhasa to Chengdu

01	Lhasa	拉萨	-	18:30	-
02	nagqu	那曲	21:49	21:55	6min
03	Golmud	格尔木	08:05	08:30	25min
04	Telingha	德令哈	10:57	10:59	2min
05	Xining	西宁	15:29	15:49	20min
06	Lanzhou	兰州	18:21	18:36	15min
07	Baoji	宝鸡	01:09	01:38	29min
08	Guangyuan	广元	09:45	10:02	17min
09	Chengdu	成都	14:36	14:36

Chongqing – Lhasa Train Schedule

ChongQing North Railway Station(重庆北站) - Longtousi, Tiangongdian Street, Yubei District in Chongqing重庆市渝北区天宫殿街道龙头寺

Train from Chongqing to Lhasa

01	ChongQing North	重庆北	-	15:42	-
02	Nanchong North	南充北	17:21	17:25	4min
03	Guangyuan	广元	19:20	19:44	24min
04	Baoji	宝鸡	03:05	03:30	25min
05	Lanzhou	兰州	08:58	09:13	15min
06	Xining	西宁	11:54	12:14	20min
07	Telingha	德令哈	16:39	16:41	2min
08	Golmud	格尔木	19:29	19:54	25min
09	nagqu	那曲	05:52	05:58	6min
10	Lhasa	拉萨	09:55	09:55

Train from Lhasa to Chongqing

01	Lhasa	拉萨	----	18:30	----
02	Nagqu	那曲	21:49	21:55	6min
03	Golmud	格尔木	08:05	08:30	25min
04	Telingha	德令哈	10:57	10:59	2min
05	Xining	西宁	15:29	15:49	20min
06	Lanzhou	兰州	18:21	18:36	15min
07	Baoji	宝鸡	01:09	01:38	29min
08	Guangyuan	广元	09:45	10:01	16min
09	Nanchong North	南充北	11:52	12:03	11min
10	Chongqing North	重庆北	13:41	13:41	----

Lanzhou – Lhasa Train Schedule

Lanzhou Railway Station(兰州站) - Railway Station East Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou兰州市城关区火车站东路

Train from Lanzhou to Lhasa

01	Lanzhou	兰州	-	11:16	-
02	Xining	西宁	13:45	14:05	20min
03	Telingha	德令哈	18:07	18:13	6min
04	Golmud	格尔木	20:58	21:23	25min
05	Amdo	安多	05:33	05:37	4min
06	nagqu	那曲	06:56	07:02	6min
07	Dangxiong	当雄	08:38	08:42	4min
08	Lhasa	拉萨	12:00	12:00

Train from Lhasa to Lanzhou

01	Lhasa	拉萨	----	08:50	----
02	Dangxiong	当雄	10:39	10:43	4min
03	nagqu	那曲	12:21	12:27	6min
04	Amdo	安多	13:49	13:53	4min
05	Golmud	格尔木	23:25	23:50	25min
06	Telingha	德令哈	02:17	02:23	6min
07	Xining	西宁	06:43	07:03	20min
08	Lanzhou	兰州	09:23	09:23

Xining – Lhasa Train Schedule

Xining Railway Station(西宁站) - Jiangguo Road, Chengdong District, Xining City青海省西宁市城东区建国路

Train from Xining to Lhasa

01	Xining	西宁	----	14:05	----
02	Telingha	德令哈	18:07	18:13	6min
03	Golmud	格尔木	20:58	21:23	25min
04	Amdo	安多	05:33	05:37	4min
05	nagqu	那曲	06:56	07:02	6min
06	Dangxiong	当雄	08:38	08:42	4min
07	Lhasa	拉萨	12:00	12:00

Train from Lhasa to Xining

01	Lhasa	拉萨	-	08:50	-
02	Dangxiong	当雄	10:39	10:43	4min
03	nagqu	那曲	12:21	12:27	6min
04	Amdo	安多	13:49	13:53	4min
05	Golmud	格尔木	23:25	23:50	25min
06	Telingha	德令哈	02:17	02:23	6min
07	Xining	西宁	06:43	06:43