Sceneries along Qinghai Tibet Railway

The Qinghai Tibet Railway is not only famous for its hard construction condition and unique location at high altitude, but also for the spectacular sceneries along the railroad. The Qinghai-Tibet railway traverse three ranges-Kunlun, Tanggula and Nyainqentanglha Mountains, and numerous rivers and lakes. The attractions along this world's highest railway are really marvellous and breathtakingly majestic. For the convenience of those who travel to Tibet by train, 9 among the 34 railway stations from Golmud to Lhasa have sightseeing platforms.

If you take a train travel to Lhasa, Tibet, the whole journey deserves your time. The followings are a list of the main great attraction along the Qingzang Railway (Qinghai-Tibet Railway).
 

Qinghai Lake with Bird Island

If you have a short stay in Xining, Qinghai Province, Qinghai Lake should be your first destination before starting your train journey to Lhasa, Tibet. Qinghai Lake, the largest inland salt water lake at 3200 meters above sea level, sits at the east of Qinghai province and about two and half hours drive from Xining, the starting city of Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The ellipse-shaped lake looks like a huge poplar leaf sitting on the alpine prairie and occupies an area of 4456 square meters. The lake possesses the most beautiful scenery during summer and autumn, the best time to visit Qinghai Lake for the weather condition is the most comfortable.

The lake has abundant fish attracting flocks of birds in turn, which makes a charming Bird Island on the western shore of this lake. The interesting Bird Island is a paradise for varieties of birds, including migrant bird. Each March and April when the ice covering the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau begins to melt, more than 20 kinds of migrating birds come to the island to breed. At that time, the whole island is occupied by flocks of birds. Except the Bird Island, there are another four major sights around the lake. They are Haixin Hill, Haixi Hill, Sankuaishui (Three Stones), and Sand Island. 

Ta'er Monastery

Ta'er Monastery is another choice for your short stay in Xining. This monastery, about 25 kilometers away from Xining, is one of Tibetan Buddhism's six largest Gelugpa monasteries. It also marks the birth place of the founder of Gelugpa, Tsong Khapa. The monastery is not only one of the most popular places in Qinghai but is also recognised as a cultural relic site under state-level protection.

Ta'er monastery holds several religious ceremonies throughout the year, which attracts many pilgrims and visitors. For example, on 15th April and 6th June a large embroidered picture of the Buddha is unveiled on Lotus Mountain, towards the east side of the temple; on 8th June a colorful sedan, mounted by a golden statue of Maitreya Buddha, is paraded around the building; and on 22nd September the temple opens all its halls to reveal its numerous treasures. During these ceremonies, a religious dance known as the Changmo (Sorcerer's Dance) is often performed. Other festivals include the Butter Lamp Festival held on 25th October (the day Tsong Khapa is believed to have died) and a prayer festival held during the Lunar New Year.

Chaerhan Salt Lake

Chaerhan Salt Lake, 750 kilometers away from Xining, might be the first majestic sight running into your eyes when you are on the train to Lhasa for 32 kilometers of the Qinghai Tibet Railway runs over the salt lake. The Chaerhan Salt Lake is the largest one of Chaka Salt Lakes which were originally part of the ocean in primordial times and formed during the intense crust activity resulting in the formation of the largest plateau in the world, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The Chaerhan Salt Lake occupies an area about 5856 square kilometers. It is the largest salt lake in China and one of the most famous inland salt lakes in the world. You can see clouds running in the water and then disappear for this lake has reflective surface. This lake is also protected and companied by mountains, tents of nomad and herds.

Kunlun Mountains

Kunlun mountains are the first range that the Qinghai Tibet Railway traverse. As the largest mountain system in China, the mountain extend a distance of 2,500 kilometers at an altitude between 5,500 and 6,000 meters above sea level. Their peaks perennially snow-covered present a pure sight.

Kunlun Mountain Pass

After travelling from Golmud to the south for 160 kilometers, the train will run through the first pass, Kunlun Mountain Pass, where the altitude rises abruptly from 2,800 meters to 4,700 meters and the temperature and air pressure drop accordingly. It is just like that you are transferred from hot summer to severe winter suddenly with magnificent snow scenery surrounding you. You can see a beautiful natural picture of rare animals leaping and skipping on the snow and grassland.         

Hoh Xil Depopulated Area

You can never feel boring on the train to Tibet. When the train passes by Hoh Xil area, you may be lucky to glimpse the elegant posture of the Tibet antelope or see groups of Tibetan antelopes running after the train. It is a harmonious picture of coexistence of people and wild animals. This is the largest depopulated area in China, covering 4,500 square kilometers. It is at an average elevation above 4,000 meters so it is extremely cold and the air is rare, which creates a life forbidden zone. However, it is a heaven for over 230 species of wild animals. Rare animals including Tibetan antelopes, Tibetan wild donkeys, wild yaks, white-lip deer, snow leopards, Tibetan snow pheasants, and black-necked cranes inhabit around this area from away from being disturbed by hunters. For the protection of these wild animals, the railway was built on the 3- 4 meters high bridge, while special passages for the wild animals are channeled under the bridge according to their migration habits.

Tuotuo River and Tanggula Mountain Pass

Tuotuo river, the origination of the longest river in China, Changjiang River. Natural scenery around it is unique and amazing, with bamboo-shaped ice bars, ice-bridges, icy lakes and so on. Moreover, you can see yaks drinking water beside the river or trying their best to fill their stomach.

After running about 203 km away from Tuotuo River Town, the train will arrive at the Tanggula Mountain Pass, the highest point along the railway with an elevation of 5072 meters. The Tanggula Mountain Pass is also the natural boundary between Qinghai and Tibet. In the past, it was an invincible barrier to Tibet due to its high altitude, thin air and atrocious weather. However, do not worry about the oxygen content which is only 60% of that in the plains. There is oxygen access in the waiting room of the railway station. Besides, there is a sightseeing platform for you to get the best sight of the the Tanggula Mountain.


Changtang Grassland

Surrounded by the Kunlun, Tanggula, Kangdise and Nyainqentanglha mountains, the Changtang Grassland is one of the five biggest pastures in China. The Changtang Grassland is a rich land for plants and paradise for wild animals. Yaks, sheep and nomad's camps can be seen everywhere on the vast grassland. The spacious grassland always evoke an ambience of relaxing and refreshing. If you are lucky enough, you can glimpse the grand annual horse-racing festival held in this grassland, when the whole community is converging here to celebrate their traditional festival. 

Lake Namtso  and Yampachen Hot Springs

Lake Namtso, a very famous holy lake in Tibet, the second largest salt lake in China and the highest-altitude salt lake in the world, is at an elevation of 4,718 meters and covers an area of more than 1,900 square kilometers, with a distance of over 30 kilometers from north to south and over 70 kilometers from east to west. The blue sky dyes the lake with blue and the lake and the sky seem to be one and undivided, which create a blue world decorated by white snow-covered mountains. It makes visitors feel themselves in a fairy land if they have a stroll by the lake.

When the train approaches Lhasa, it will pass by the world famous hot springs, Yangpachen Hot Springs, including highest-temperature hot springs, boiling springs and geysers and common hot springs. It is a spectacular phenomenon of hot springs boiling on the cold plateau.
 

Qinghai-Tibet Railway Itself

Lastly, it is undeniable that the Qinghai-Tibet railway itself is a great attraction. You couldn't help admiring this world famous project when you see the up to 50 meters bridge-Sanchahe Bridge which is the first Takahashi of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the 11.7 km-long Qingshui River Bridge across as a rainbow in the Hoh Xil Depopulated District, the world's longest plateau permafrost tunnel- Kunlun Mountain Tunnel, the world's highest-altitude Fenghuoshan tunnel and so on.