Travel to Tibet from Xining

Traveling to Tibet from Xining by train is a popular way to get to Tibet. As a popular gateway to Tibet, Xining is not only the start of the famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway, but also one of the few cities with direct flights to Tibet.

Featured with a profound cultural background and charming natural scenery, Xining is also a popular travel destination for travelers from home and abroad. Just outside the city are many famous monasteries, national parks, and nomadic grasslands worth visiting.

Here is the comprehensive guide on how to travel to Tibet from Xining and suggestions for arranging a Xining city tour before heading to Tibet.

How to Travel from Xining to Tibet

Option 1: Xining to Lhasa by Train

Taking a train ride from Xining to Lhasa is the most popular way of traveling to Tibet from Xining because the Xining to Lhasa railway is a well-known world wonder, that is, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

The distance of the Xining to Lhasa railway is 1,956 kilometers. It takes around 22 hours to complete this train journey from Xining to Lhasa.

Recently, two trains depart from Xining to Lhasa, while all the other trains to Tibet stop at Xining. It means you may have more chances to get a Tibet train ticket in Xining.

You can check the latest Xining to Lhasa train schedule and fare.

Just indulge yourself in the plateau scenery along Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

Option 2: Xining to Lhasa by Air

At present, there are four direct flights from Xining to Lhasa, operated by Sichuan Airlines, Tibet Airlines, and Air China.

The Xining to Lhasa flight takes off at Xining Caojiabao Airport and arrives at Lhasa Gonggar Airport after about 2.5 hours of flight.

In addition, the connecting flights from Xining to Lhasa would stop at Chengdu, Xian, or Golmud.

Xining Lhasa flight just takes you two and a half hours to get to Tibet from Xining.

Option 3: Xining to Lhasa by Overland

The Xining to Lhasa overland route is one of the highest highways in the world with an average altitude of over 4,000m above sea level.

Starting from Xining, the Qinghai-Tibet highway crosses four high mountains, namely Kunlun Mountain (4, 700 meters), Fenghuo Mountain (4, 800 meters), Tangula Mountain ( 5, 150 meters at the mountain pass), and Nyainqentanglha Mountain, and spans three rivers, Tongtian River, Tuotuo River, and Chuma'er River.

The Xining to Lhasa overland tour covers 11 days, including an 8-day overland journey from Xining to Lhasa and a 3-day Lhasa city tour. You can fully explore the Tibet Plateau from the north to the center.

Required Documents for Traveling to Tibet from Xining

Tibet Travel Permit is required to enter Tibet from Xining. If you want to take an overland journey from Xining to Lhasa, either by car or by bike, you need to apply for an Alien’s travel permit.

When traveling to Tibet during the post-pandemic era, you also need to prepare health certificates to enter Tibet, like the green health code, the 14-day itinerary code without “*”, etc. Specific requirements may change depending on real-time epidemiological conditions. Please check with your travel consultant for the latest requirements.

The Cheapest Way to Travel to Tibet from Xining

Taking a train from Xining to Lhasa is no doubt the cheapest way to get to Tibet. The Xining to Lhasa train ticket price is CNY 495 for a hard sleeper and CNY 781 for a soft sleeper.

The full price of the Xining to Lhasa flight is around CNY 2200. If you are not traveling during peak seasons, then you can get discounted airfare, usually around CNY 800 to CNY 1500.

Whether you are driving or riding to Tibet from Xining, the road trip is always the most time and money-consuming. The price quoted for a Xining to Lhasa road trip will depend on many specifics, such as the length of your trip, the number of days of travel, and the number of people in your group.

Located on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at 2261m above sea level, Xining is very suitable as a city to enter Tibet. You can take a Xining Tibet tour that covers one or two days in Xining to get used to the high altitude so that when you reach Lhasa at 3560m, the altitude sickness will not be too serious.

Recommended Things to Do in Xining

With a history of over 2100 years, Xining is not only an ancient gateway to enter Tibet, but also a chief commercial hub on the Hexi Corridor caravan route, a part of the northern Silk Road.

Throughout its long history, people from different nationalities lived and traded here, contributing the Xining’s rich cultural and historical heritage. Also, as the northern gateway to the Tibetan Plateau, Xining has unique plateau scenery.

Qinghai Lake

Qinghai Lake is regarded as a holy lake by Tibetans and Mongolians. You can take a boat ride on the turquoise waves of the lake or go horseback riding along the shores with Tibetan nomads on the south side of the lake. If you got an extra day, you can continue to the northwest side of the lake to visit Bird Island. The Bird Island is a breeding ground for black-necked cranes, sandpipers, wild geese, and other bird species.

About 100 kilometers west of Xining, Qinghai Lake is the largest lake in China.

Kumbum Monastery

As one of the six great monasteries of the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Kumbum Monastery is well-known for being the birthplace of the great religious reformer Tsongkhapa. There is a chapel housing a sandalwood tree which is said to have grown from the umbilical cord of Tsongkhapa. Kumbum Monastery is a great place for you to preview Tibetan religious culture, Tibetan architecture, and Tibetan art before getting to Tibet.

Kumbum Monastery is also know as Ta'er Temple, which is 25 kilometers (about 16 miles) away from Xining.

Dongguan Giant Mosque

Dongguan Giant Mosque was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) during the 12th year of the reign of the first Ming emperor, Hongwu. It is not only the most ancient religious complex in town, but also one of the most important mosques in northwest China. The mosque is not of particularly Muslim architecture, normally easily differentiated from its Buddhist counterparts, but is more in the typical Chinese folk style. Beyond the square itself, the grand Domed Hall, housing up to 10,000 Muslim worshippers at peak times, is the highest Islamic education center in the province.

The giant mosque is fairly central in the city and so makes a visit easy.

Recommended Xining Day Tours

1. One day tour to Qinghai Lake and Sun-Moon Mountain

After breakfast, you will have one full day tour to Qinghai Lake, the largest saltwater lake in China. You can cruise on the lake and visit Bird Island. On the way, you will have a stop to see Mt. Sun and Moon, where the princess Wenchen threw the mirror down and married into the Tibetan area of the Tang Dynasty.

2. One day tour to Kumbum Monastery and Dongguan Giant Mosque

Visit Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery) where there is a large butter sculpture, murals and Finally visit Qinghai Provincial Museum with a few silk road exhibitions and some amazing Stone Age artifacts.

3. One day highlights tour to Kumbum Monastery and Qinghai Lake

In the morning, drive to visit Qinghai Lake where you will be able to find thousands of different bird species as well as other native animals, and then visit Kumbum Monastery which is a wonderful architectural complex embracing 9,300 structures, including scripture halls, Buddha halls, lamas' residences, and Buddhist pagodas. After visiting the monastery, back to your hotel in Xining.

4. Two days tour to visit Ta'er Monastery, Riyue Mountain, and Qinghai Lake

Day 1: Visit Ta'er Monastery in the morning and then head to Riyue Mountain pass to visit the Sun pavilion and the Moon pavilion, finally arrive at Qinghai Lake.

Day 2: Have a full day excursion in Qinghai Lake and Bird Island on the western shore of the Lake. 164 species of birds have been identified at the lake, such as swan, wild geese, gulls, heron, petrel, etc. Then transfer back to Xining and end tour.

5. Three days tour to visit Dongguan Mosque, Kumbum Monastery, Riyue Mountain, and Qinghai Lake

Day 1: Visit Dongguan Mosque and Qinghai Provincial Museum, and overnight in Xining City.

Day 2: After breakfast, drive to Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum monastery) for a full-day tour. Visit this famous Tibetan Buddhism Gelugpa monastery, learn about the 'three wonders of Ta'er Monastery'- butter sculptures, the barbolas, and the murals, and visit Huangzhong county-the birthplace of Zongkapa, the sponsor of the Tibetan Buddhism Gelugpa sect. Drive back to Xining for overnight.

Day 3: Drive to Qinghai Lake for a full day tour. On the way, you will have a stop to see Mt. Sun and Moon. Drive back to Xining in the afternoon, and end trip in Xining.

Conclusion

Xining, the capital city of Qinghai Province, has been the gateway to Tibet since ancient times. It has not only the only railway to Tibet at present (the Qinghai-Tibet Railway), but also the shortest highway into Tibet (the Qinghai-Tibet Highway). There are also several direct flights to Lhasa from Xining every day. You are free to choose the preferred way to enter Tibet.

We also recommend you stay in Xining for a few days before going to Lhasa, to adapt to the altitude of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and slow down the plateau reaction that may arise from entering Tibet.

You can make good use of your time in transit in Xining by visiting kinds of natural and cultural heritages there.