With China Tourist Visa Resumed,
Tibet Tours for All around the Globle are Available Right Now!

It is the best time to join our Tibet small group tour in 2024 at the best local price.
+ 86-28-81754631
TOP
listicon

Chengdu to Lhasa Distance: Distance from Chengdu to Lhasa by Train, Flight, Overland and Biking

June,10 2023 BY Kham Sang 0 COMMENTS

In the southwest of China, in Sichuan Province, lies the regional capital, Chengdu. Famous for being the home of China’s giant pandas, this beautiful city is fast becoming a must-visit location in China. Despite it being a little-known city outside Asia, Chengdu is building in popularity, partly thanks to it being one of the main cities for catching the train to Tibet. As the crow flies, it is a mere 1.261 kilometers to Lhasa, the Tibetan capital.

Gaint PandaChengdu is the hometown of giant panda.

Since the focus of this article is on Chengdu to Lhasa distance and relevant 4 ways to enter Lhasa, this part seems to be repetitive in the following discussion of travelling from chengdu to lhasa by train. Please consider rephrasing it by stressing the strategic location between Chengdu and Lhasa or moving this part to the Chengdu-lhasa train discussion.

Travel from Chengdu to Lhasa by Tibet Train

Covering a huge distance to Tibet – around 3,070 kilometers – the trains from Chengdu to Lhasa take around 36 hours to reach the Tibetan capital. While this is much farther than the direct route, it is much cheaper than flying, with hard sleeper berths costing from 99 US dollars and soft sleepers, the first-class option, costing just 158 dollars.

As one of the most popular of the seven gateway cities to Tibet - the other six being Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Lanzhou, and Xining - Chengdu is one of the better places to start your journey to Tibet from. Trains leave for Lhasa every other day, and the once-confusing “every other day” schedule that is popular in China has been refined to make it much simpler for travelers to know which days the trains leave on.

Chengdu to Lhasa trainThe train from Chengdu to Lhasa takes around 36 hours.

Previously, you would need to contact your travel agent or the station to find out which day the trains left. Now, you can simply look at the month and know which days the trains depart. For six months of the year, the trains depart on the even days of the month, such as the 2nd, 4th, 6th, etc. On the other six months, it is on the odd days. This has made it a much easier location to depart from, as one of only two stations in China that do this for the Tibet trains.

One of the major benefits of the trains from Chengdu to Lhasa is the convenience of the location. As well as being around the mid-distance for the trains, the city is one of the major transport hubs in southwest China, and the airport connects china with many international locations outside Asia, from North America, Canada, Europe, and Australia, as well as many flights from the Middle East. This makes it more convenient to get the train to Lhasa, instead having to transfer to another city to get the train.

Traveling to Tibet by train from Chengdu is a delightful journey of discovery, traveling up from the Sichuan capital to Lanzhou, and then turning west to head to Xining, the start of the Qinghai Tibet Railway. From there it is another 2,000 kilometers to Lhasa, heading over two high mountain ranges, the Kunlun Mountains and the Tanggula Mountains, which fringe the northern edge of the higher plateau of Tibet. Once over the Tanggula Mountains, and the highest railway pass in the world, it is a journey down over the vast plains of Tibet to Lhasa.

Other travel tips: For traveling from Chengdu to Lhasa, you need to have a certain permit with you, or you will not be able to board the train, The Tibet Travel Permit, which is required to get into Tibet and travel in the Lhasa area, is obtained by us after you have booked your tour, and will be delivered to your hotel in Chengdu in time for your departure to Lhasa. All other permits you need will be provided once you reach Tibet’s stunning capital.

Sichuan-Tibet Railway - to be completed in 2025

The total length of the new railway is set to be around 2,100 kilometers, and the connection between the two major cities will be an important new link to Tibet from southwest China.

This new route will reduce the travel time to Tibet from Sichuan to around 4-5 hours, and travels through some of southeast Tibet’s most stunning countryside. It should also reduce the cost of the train tickets to Lhasa from Chengdu, as the trains will only be traveling around two-thirds of the distance of the current route.

Chengdu to Tibet railwayChengdu to Lhasa railway is still under construction.

Not only that, but the railway will travel through towns and cities along its length that are currently only served by roads, some of which are small and winding to get through. The railway, once completed, will also provide a much-needed link to both the east and the west for those living in these smaller towns along the route. Combine this with the fact that the tracks continue on from Lhasa to Shigatse, and will one day extend all the way to Kathmandu, and it means that this railway line will one day be the main route from China to Nepal, and a major trade route for the two nations.

There is soon to be another route to Tibet from Chengdu. While it is still under construction, huge sections of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway have already been completed, connecting Lhasa with Nyingchi and Chengdu with Kangding. The hardest stretch of the tracks, in the higher mountains to the east of Nyingchi, is still being built, but is expected to be completed by 2025.

Travel from Chengdu to Lhasa by Flight

As well as being popular for train travel to Lhasa, Chengdu is also one of the most popular flight departure locations. With a flight time of just 2 hours 30 minutes for the 1,261-kilometer flight, the trip to Lhasa from Chengdu is one of the easiest routes to take, though it is a lot costlier than taking the train. More than a dozen direct flights leave Chengdu’s Shuangliu International Airport daily for Lhasa Gonggar International Airport. At a cost starting from around US$ 290 per person for a one-way economy ticket, it is not exactly cheap. But if you are in a hurry or are short on time, then it is a good option to take Chengdu to Lhasa flight. There are also more discounts available in Chengdu than in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, which can help reduce the cost of the flights.

 Chengdu to Lhasa flightBeautiful landscape when taking Chengdu to Lhasa flight.

Similar to taking the trains, you cannot board the flights without having the Tibet Travel Permit in hand, and for the flights you need the original document, while the trains will accept a photocopy. Once your tour has been booked, we will apply for the permit and deliver the original to your hotel from our Chengdu offices.

Overland Tour from Chengdu to Lhasa by G318 National Highway

Overland travel from Chengdu to Lhasa is another option for travelers heading for the Tibetan plateau, though this is a longer and much more costly option. A distance by road of 2,149 kilometers, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is one of the most stunning roads in the world, traveling up and down the mountains of the Hengduan Mountain Range, and cutting through some of Nyingchi’s most stunning scenery. This stunning scenery includes the beauty of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, and Minya Konka, the famous Snow Mountain in Sichuan Province. You can also experience the unique Kham Tibetan culture in the areas around Danba, Kangding, Xinduqiao, and Litang.

 G318 Chengdu to Lhasa The road condition of G318 from Chengdu to Lhasa.

However, while most of the road is well paved and covered with asphalt, there are more dangerous stretches where there are still gravel roads. These are mostly in the mountainous area to the west of the Sichuan basin, as the road runs from Kangding to Markham, the boundary with Tibet Autonomous Region. While the gravel stretches are few and short, they can be treacherous, and are made even more so by the dangerous hairpin bends that can be found at many points along the road. As the road winds up and down the mountains, these hairpin bends can be found, and on one mountain, there are actually 99 of these hairpin bends, which has made it famous around the world in the motoring scene.

Chengdu to Lhasa by Tour Vehicle

One option for traveling to Tibet along the 2,149-kilometer Sichuan-Tibet Highway is by car, though you will need to have a tour guide/driver, as international driving licenses are not valid for driving in China. You will also need to have all of your Tibet permits in order to take this route, as you will be entering Tibet through one of the military restricted areas.

The average driving tour to get to Tibet is normally around nine days long, and takes you to some of the most spectacular parts of western Sichuan, on the lower edge of the Tibetan plateau. Passing through mainly Tibetan-inhabited areas once you reach Kangding in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, you can get a good idea of the ancient Tibetan religious culture, as these remote and sometimes isolated Tibetans live in much the same way as their ancestors did a thousand years ago.

 Chengdu to Lhasa self driving Chengdu to Lhasa by tour vehicle.

Travel tips: Once you have booked your tour, we will be making the applications for the Tibet Travel Permit (the main permit to get into Tibet and travel in Lhasa), the Alien’s Travel Permit (for travel outside Lhasa in the opened areas), the Restricted Areas Permit (for travel through military restricted zones such as Ngari and Nyingchi), and the Frontier Pass (required for travelers passing close to the borders with India, Bhutan, and Nepal), so that your documents will all be in order before you leave.

Chengdu to Lhasa by Cycling

Cycling to Lhasa from Chengdu has become a popular choice for cycle enthusiasts that want to experience one of the most stunning routes in the world. And the entire journey covers around 2,274 km. On the way, you are expected to climb up high mountains and cross bridges over wide, fast-flowing rivers. The cycling route to Lhasa takes the same route as those driving, though the southern route of the Sichuan Tibet Highway is the more popular one. For many people, the road can be too dangerous in parts to travel along, and it is normal for cycling tours to cycle only along the more beautiful areas of the road, while riding in the support vehicle along the most dangerous sections.

 Chengdu to Lhasa Cycling Chengdu to Lhasa cycling on G318.

Once a part of the ancient Tea Horse Road from China to Tibet, what once took half a year for the traders to travel by horse can be done in around 23 days. The roads are well paved now, and make cycling easier, but with the high mountains and passes to cross, as well as increasing altitude to contend with, it is not a ride that can be done quickly. Besides, you would miss all of the best sights of the route if you rushed. And there are many things to see along the way, from the stunning Hailuogou Valleys and the Maoya grasslands to the stunning Ranwu Lake, the Yanrlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, and the beauty of the Nyingchi valleys, filled with peach blossoms from April to May every year.

This is definitely not a ride for the faint-hearted or those not used to a ride in high altitudes. The vast distances covered mean that it is a long journey, which is also going to be costlier than any other means of getting to Tibet. While most of the route is now well paved, there are still a few short stretches of gravel road to contend with, around Xinduqiao and Batang/Dengba areas, which require more focus and concentration than the paved roads. Fitness is a definite requirement, and it is best to travel in a group, to reduce the cost, since you will need to have a support car with you for the entire trip.

Kham Sang

About the Author - Kham Sang

Kham Sang is responsible and honest with more than six years of guide experience in Tibet.She has strong interpersonal skills and can communicate effectively with tourists.

Email me about your travel idea

Related Articles & Posts

Have a Question? Ask below or call +86 28 81754631

Question Summary*

Details*

SUBMIT

Please fill in your contact information, we will send you the answer by email

SUBMITCancel

0 Comment ON "Chengdu to Lhasa Distance: Distance from Chengdu to Lhasa by Train, Flight, Overland and Biking "

Check All Tibet Travel FAQs Here