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Travel to Tibet from Shanghai

Why travel from Shanghai to Lhasa?

Lhasa becomes more and more popular among domestic and foreign travellers, while Shanghai is one of the most popular gateway city to Lhasa. Shanghai, the thriving and bustling metropolis situated on China's east coast, is known as the biggest city of China and among the biggest cities in the world, both by population and area. This international metropolis covers an area of 20,000 sq km and has a population of 20 million. There are also many historical and scenic sites in Shanghai, such as the Bund, Oriental TV Tower, Shanghai Nanjing Road, Shanghai Museum and Expo Site. Not surprisingly, Shanghai draws more and more attention from all over the world. Of course, it is also a hot gateway city to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region.

How Far is Tibet from Shanghai?

The air travel distance between Shanghai and Tibet is about 2,944 kilometers and takes about 6-7 hours for a flight.

The railway distance between Shanghai and Tibet is around 4,373 kilometers, which includes 2,413 kilometers from Shanghai to Xining and 1,960 kilometers from Xining to Lhasa, and tourists need to spend almost 48 hours in the train from Shanghai Railway Station to Lhasa West Railway Station.

The overland distance between Shanghai and Lhasa is 4,670 kilometers via China National Highway 318 (G318). Running from People’s Square, Shanghai to Zhangmu Port on the China-Nepal border, G318 is the longest China National Highway at 5,476 kilometers in length.

How to travel from Shanghai to Tibet?

Option 1. Shanghai to Lhasa by Train

Shanghai to Lhasa by TrainThe distance between Shanghai and Lhasa by train is about 4,373 kilometers.

Shanghai-Lhasa train departs every day at 20:10 from Shanghai Train Station, and arrives at Lhasa Railway Station at 19:44 on the third day. Shanghai to Lhasa train journey would take you 47:34 hours to cross eight provinces in mainland China. On the way back, Lhasa-Shanghai train (Z166) leaves at 11:05.

See more at Shanghai to Lhasa Train Schedule and Price

Option 2. Shanghai to Lhasa by Air

Shanghai to Lhasa by PlaneYou can choose to take direct flights or connecting flights to Tibet from Shanghai.

There are three direct flight a day flying from Shanghai to Lhasa, operated by China Eastern Airline, Tibet Airline and Air China. It usually takes 7 hours to travel from Shanghai to Lhasa by plane, in which about 1 hour is for stopover at Chengdu or Xi’an. What’s more, some connecting flights to Tibet are available at Chengdu, Xi’an and Kunming airports, and then you can transfer to Lhasa.

See more at Shanghai to Lhasa Flight Schedule

Before you get to Lhasa, do plan at least one day tour in Shanghai.

Facts about Shanghai

1. Shanghai is the largest city of China and among the biggest cities in the world.
2. Shanghai serves as one of the most important cultural, commercial, financial, industrial and communications centers of China.
3. Shanghai is one of the busiest ports in the world and became the largest cargo port in the world in 2005.
4. The City Flower of Shanghai is White Magnolia.
5. Shanghai is reputed as the 'Paris of the East' and the 'Queen of the Orient'.
6. Shanghai is also a popular tourist destination, owing to the presence of numerous museums, towers, gardens and temples.
7. Shanghai used to be a fishing village called “Hudu”, derived from the name of a wooden fish trap once used by local inhabitants. This is also why Shanghai is called Hu for short.
8. Shanghai is a multicultural metropolis with modern as well as traditional features.
9. Shanghai is sinking at a rate of 1.5 cm a year.
10. The world's tallest statue of polish composer Frederic Chopin is located in Zhongshan Park in Shanghai.
11. Shanghai has a status equivalent to a province, and reports directly to the central government.

What to See in Shanghai?

Shanghai is located in the central-eastern China, confronting the East China Sea. Roughly, Shanghai is sectioned into two parts: Pudong ( to the east of the Huangpu River ) and Puxi ( to the west of the Huangpu River ). For tourists, most of the historical and scenic sites in Shanghai are in Puxi while Pudong is the new development area. Shanghai literally means "the City by the Sea". It has such important sites as the Bund, Temple of Jade Buddha, Yuyuan Garden, Old City Bazaar, Shanghai Museum, Children's Palace, Xintiandi, Former Residence of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Oriental TV Tower, Shanghai Nanjing Road, Huangpu River cruising.

Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower

Oriental Pearl Tower in ShanghaiShanghai Oriental Pearl Tower is located at the tip of Lujiazui in the Pudong district by the side of Huangpu River as a distinct landmark.

This TV tower at 468 m (1,535 feet) high is the world's third tallest TV tower after the 553-meter CN Tower in Toronto and the 535-meter Moscow TV Tower. It was the tallest structure in China from 1994–2007. It attracts over three million visitors each year. Its revolving restaurant at the 267 m (876 ft) level is the highest in Asia.

The Bund/ Waitan (The Waterfront)

The Bund Shanghai at NightThe Bund or Waitan is a waterfront area in central Shanghai.

It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai, surrounded by about 52 various buildings of different architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism, Renaissance, Beaux-Arts, and Art Deco. They are historical buildings, lining the Huangpu River, that once housed numerous banks and trading houses from the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Russia, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the consulates of Russia and Britain, a newspaper, the Shanghai Club and the Masonic Club.

Shanghai Museum

Shanghai Museum in ChinaConsidered as the best museum in China by many people, Shanghai Museum was first open to the public in December 1952.

In 1992, the Shanghai municipal government allocated to the Museum a piece of land at the very center of the city, in the People's Square, as its new site. The Shanghai Museum has 11 galleries and houses over 120,000 historic artifacts, period pieces, as well as a collection of more than 200,000 books on Chinese art and history in its massive library. The Stone Sculpture Gallery and the Bronze Gallery are the most popular with collections dating back to the 18th century B.C. There are also special exhibitions on occasion that can be quite fascinating. Its three world-class exhibition halls host exciting exhibitions throughout the year, and its 11 state-of-the-art galleries feature impressive permanent collections that include paintings, ancient calligraphies, bronze and jade collections, ceramics, old coins and over 100 pieces of furniture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Yu Garden

Yu Garden in ShanghaiYu Garden is one of the few remaining old tourist sites in Shanghai.

It is the most famous garden in Shanghai, located in the center of Shanghai's Old City. First established in 1559 as a private garden by a high-ranking official in the Ming Dynasty, it is considered one of the most lavish and finest Chinese gardens in the region.

Tianzifang/Xintiandi (Shanghai alleys)

Tianzifang StreetAt Tianzifang, you can get a sense of original old style of Shanghai alleys.

Xintiandi in ShanghaiIn Xintiandi, you can enjoy one of the first lifestyle centers in China.

Shanghai Xintiandi is situated at Lane No.181 of Taicang Road of Shanghai. It occupies an area of about 30,000 square meters. It was a former old Shikumen which has been given restoration. In Xintiandi, an area of restored traditional shikumen ("stone gate") houses on narrow alleys, you can enjoy one of the first lifestyle centers in China. Xintiandi is divided into the North and South Blocks. The South Block is the more modern of the two and is home to one of China's first major shopping centers as well as boutiques, restaurants and nightclubs. Shikumen architecture lines the streets in the North Block providing a contrast to the modernity of the South Block.

Jade Buddha Temple

Jade Buddha Temple in ShanghaiJade Buddha Temple is the most famous Buddhist temple in Shanghai.

Located at 170 Anyuan Road, the temple was established in 1918 with the style of the Song Dynasty. This temple is known for it's white jade Buddhas carved from a single slab of Burmese jade. Brought to Shanghai in 1881, the statues are housed in separate houses amongst beautiful jewels and stones. In addition there are also ancient carvings, paintings and precious Buddhist cultural relics.

Recommended Day Tours in Shanghai

1. One Day Shanghai City Tour

This one-day tour starts at 9:00 am. We will visit the famous Yuyuan Garden at first in the morning. It is one of the most lavish and finest Suzhou-style garden in southern China and a must-see site in Shanghai. With pavilions, halls, chambers, towers, ponds and rockeries, it presents more than 40 scenic spots.

Then we will visit the well-known Jade Buddha Temple in the downtown and Shanghai Museum. We can have a lunch in the restaurant of Shanghai Museum and then move on to Nanjing Road and the Bund. We can take a walk on the Nanjing road and watch other people from all over the world, then go to visit the various buildings of different architectural styles at the Bund, also known as Waitan in Chinese.

2. One Day Shanghai Tour Including River Cruise

Start at 9:00 am to visit Yu Garden regarded as one of the best Suzhou-style gardens in southern China. Then we will visit Jade Buddha Temple (famous Buddhist temple in downtown) and Oriental Pearl TV Tower-the world's third tallest TV and radio tower, which combines ancient concepts with 21st Century technology. After that, we can take a short cruise on Huangpu River.

3. One Day Tour from Shanghai to Hangzhou and Return

Hangzhou is a charming city situated about 2.5 hours driving from Shanghai. We depart to Huangzhou at 08:00 am. This one-day tour includes visiting Ling Yin Temple - one of the ten most famous Buddhist temples of China, cruising on West Lake, visiting the Six Harmonies Pagoda - a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum. Then we will get back to the hotel in Shanghai in the afternoon.

4. One Day Tour from Shanghai to Suzhou and Return

Suzhou is a beautiful city famous for Chinese garden. It is only 1.5 hours driving from Shanghai. This one-day tour will take us to visit two top-class gardens in Suzhou, Lingering Garden and Humble Administrator's Garden. Except seeing these beautiful gardens, we will also have a sightseeing tour to Grand Canal and a silk factory. Silk products in Suzhou is also very famous. You can buy some as gifts to your family members and friends.

As a local travel operator in China, what we can arrange is not only all kinds of one day tour in and around Shanghai, but also Shanghai Tibet tours for you.

Master Catherine Jigme

About the Author - Master Catherine Jigme

With exceptional passion and outstanding leadership, Mrs. Catherine has dedicated herself to Tibet inbound tourism and China tour for 15 years. As one of the handful females who see great potential of Chinese inbound tourism, Catherine has made great contribution to promoting Tibet tourism and enhancing the employment of Tibetans and prosperity of local Tibetan community.

Over the years, she travelled overseas with Tibet Tourism Bureau many times to promote Tibet tourism. Currently, Catherine works as the marketing director of Tibet Vista, an opinion leader behind the whole team of Tibet Vista.

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