Tibet Train Schedule and Fare

Top 10 FAQs about Tibet Train Journey

1. What is the Best Time to Take Tibet Train?

Answer: Well, for the best scenery, June to August is the perfect choice for travelers. Not only will you enjoy the snow-blanketed Yuzhu Mountain but also the vibrant Qiangtang prairie dotted with grazing Tibetan yaks. You may also take a glimpse of glittering Tuotuo River and Cona Lake. However, there is a trade-off that since summertime overlaps the summer break for Chinese students, the ticket can be hard to get and train cabin may be more crowded than that of in shoulder seasons.

In addition to having great weather and view, so long as you keep a good mood or travel with the right company, who says this is not the best time for the mesmerizing Tibet journey?

2. Which City is the Best One to Take Tibet Train to Lhasa?

Answer: Different strokes for different folks. If you are pressed for time yet still don’t want to miss the highlights of Tibet train journey, then boarding the Tibet train from Xining would work best for you. The 21:19hrs’ ride gives you the quickest access to Tibet with the finest window view esp. as the train leaves from Golmud to Lhasa. Besides, the multiple train departures make it much easier for you to travel to Tibet during the high season of Tibet tour.

Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi’an could be fabulous jumping-off points. You will soak up the vibes of modern Chinese megacities and appreciate the exquisitely-built imperial palaces in ancient Chinese capital before hopping on Tibet train.

For animal lovers and family visit, Chengdu, the southwest gateway city to Tibet, known for adorable pandas and its laid-back atmosphere and spicy Sichuan cuisines, is a great appetizer for Tibet train journey. Besides, during the 2 days’ train journey from Chengdu basin to lofty Tibetan Plateau, you will enjoy contrasting landscape and copy with altitude acclimatization better.

If you are a devoted rail buff, having your Tibet train journey begin from Guangzhou will give you ultimate fantasy. The 53hrs’s ride across 8 Chinese provinces shows you a large slice of the terrain of China. It’s also one of the ways to reach Lhasa from HK. However, for the elderly and kids, such a lengthy ride may sound too hard to cope with.

3. Is It Safe to Travel in Tibet Train?

Answer: Yes, definitely. Built as an engineering marvel dashing on Tibetan Plateau, Tibet train has advanced oxygen supply system and expertly-made train exterior that shield you from acute mountain sickness and extreme coldness and strong UV light from outside. Besides, the conductor, security patrol and other staff will check each train section intermittently. The crime rate is hardly heard in Tibet train.

If you have shortness of breath or headache, you can look for the oxygen tube from the staff and easily use oxygen outlet in the train cabin to relieve the symptom, due to altitude ascent while the train passes high mountain passes. The well-trained train staff and friendly passengers make you travel at ease.

4. Can I Get off Tibet Train for Sightseeing and Use the Same Ticket to Board the Train?

Answer: Well, you can only use the train ticket once. For example, if you board the Beijing-Lhasa train and get off at Xining railway station for a couple of days' sightseeing before reaching Lhasa. Your previous train ticket would become invalid. You need to buy a new train ticket to reboard the train bound for Lhasa.

5. What to Can I Eat in Tibet train?

Answer: There is a dining car on Tibet train. You can enjoy decent Chinese dishes, like scrambled eggs with tomatoes, Kung Pao Chicken, and Stewed Beef, tofu, etc. The cost for each dishes ranges around from CNY25 to CNY60. The boxed meals and snacks and beverage (bottled mineral water, Coke, Pepsi, instant coffee, etc.) sold by staff during meals time are also available. You may also find food available to veggies. If you prefer, you may also bring some fruit like apples or oranges to enjoy while appreciating the amazing window view.

6. What Travel Documents Are Needed for Tibet Train Journey?

Answer: In addition to your passport, Tibet Travel Permit is essential for boarding Tibet train. It’s highly recommended to have a couple of copies of the original Tibet Permit in case it is lost. In many cities like Chongqing, Xi’an, Lanzhou, and Shanghai, only original Tibet Permit is checked as you board the train.

7. How Can I Get My Train Ticket If I Book Tibet Train Tour with You?

Answer: Our staff will give you train tickets together with the Tibet Permit in person. Or we will text you train booking confirmation No. and deliver the Tibet Permit to your hotel. You can use the train booking confirmation No. and passport and Tibet Permit to get your train ticket at the box office at the railway station. Do get it earlier. Let’s say one day or 2hrs earlier because the long line is very common at the railway station in China.

8. Can I Have Shower While aboard Tibet Train?

Answer: There are no showering facilities in Tibet train, due to the conservation of water. Meanwhile, it’s designed to minimize the chance for passengers to catch a cold on Tibetan Plateau. You may prepare some wet wipes or bring a bath towel and use water from the sink, next to the bathroom for washing your face and hands. The water dispenser for drinking is also available in Tibet train.

9. How to Choose Train Tickets, Soft Sleeper or Hard Sleeper?

Answer: If you travel with your spouse or for a family visit, the soft sleeper ticket is the best choice, given the fact that a soft sleeper cabin only accommodates 4 passengers with better private and better facilities, though it cost a bit more than the hard sleeper. However, during the high season (July to Oct) of Tibet tour, the demand far exceeds the supply. So, it can be extremely hard to get one.

While the hard sleeper ticket can be more economical for budget-minded travelers. And the bunk in hard sleeper cabin is not hard at all. The cabin gets more crowded since it accommodates 6 passengers. You won’t feel bored when chatting with roommates from all corners of the world. You get a much higher chance to get hard sleeper tickets than soft sleeper ones.

10. Is There a Baggage Limitation for Tibet Train?

Answer: There are some restrictions for carry-on luggage: Child (refers to children whose height is shorter than 1.3m): 10kg luggage for each; Adult (common passenger): 20kg. The width, height, length of one piece of luggage is limited within 160cm; the length of luggage in shape of the pole is limited within 200cm. The weight of wheelchair of the disable does not include in luggage limitation. Besides, flammable, explosive and poisonous stuff and knife, etc. are forbidden to be carried to the Tibet train.