Should I Choose Soft Sleeper or Hard Sleeper?

There are three kinds of accommodations available on the Lanzhou to Lhasa train, including the soft sleeper, the hard sleeper, and the hard seat.

Differences between a Soft Sleeper and a Hard Sleeper

If it is your first time taking a train to Tibet, it is important to figure out the differences between soft sleepers and hard sleepers so that you can make the best choice for your Tibet train journey.

Ticket Price:
Soft sleeper: from 823 RMB
Hard sleeper: from 522 RMB

Numbers of Berths:
Soft sleeper: about 64 berths in total
Hard sleeper: about 528 berths in total

Berth Quantity and Size:
Soft sleeper: 4 berth/ compartment, 75cm*190cm
Hard sleeper: 6 berth/compartment, 60cm*180cm

Compartment:
Soft sleeper: 4 berths and a sliding lockable door in each compartment to provide more privacy and security
Hard sleeper: 6 berths in each compartment without a door

Toilets:
Soft sleeper: one Western-style toilet and one squat toilet at the end of each carriage
Hard sleeper: two squat toilets at the end of each carriage

In general, soft sleeper compartments are more private, with more personal space, and of course more expensive. There are more hard sleepers and the price is cheaper, but it is relatively noisier in the hard sleeper compartment.

Soft sleeper is more spacious than the hard one

What if your preferred Tickets get sold out?

Since the soft sleeper tickets of the Lanzhou Lhasa train are very popular, if you happened to fail to get the ticket, there are 3 alternative plans for you.

Option 1: Choose to book the hard sleeper train ticket of Lanzhou Lhasa train

Option 2: Get to Xining and take a Xining to Lhasa train instead. Xining, the begging port of the Qinghai Tibet railway, is only 240km away from Lanzhou. It takes about 2.5 hours by car, or 2 hours and 20 minutes by high-speed train from Lanzhou to Xining.

How to Book and Get a Tibet Train Ticket?

Except for the Xining Lhasa train, all other trains into Tibet stop in Lanzhou, so there are 4 trains into Tibet available every day.

Before you book a Lanzhou Lhasa train ticket, please make sure to check the train schedule of the day and choose the best train.

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Schedule 2024/2025

Lhasa to Lanzhou Lhasa Train Schedule 2024/2025

Notice:
The above schedule is for reference only. Please contact us for the latest schedule if you need to book a Lanzhou Lhasa train ticket.

Book Tibet Train Ticket with Us is the most hassle-free way

As the reliable local Tibetan travel agency cooperating with the ticket office, we have more guarantees to get the Tibet train ticket.

Also, we provide “Train ticket + Tibet tour” packages, which do not only include the train ticket to Tibet, but also the Tibet Travel Permit and a well-ranged Tibet tour.

Since we handle your Tibet travel permit processing and Tibet train ticket reservation together, we can respond in time to adjust your travel plan in case of any unexpected situation, such as delayed insurance of Tibet permit or sold-out tickets. We always have plan B to make you fulfill your dream to Tibet.

Notice:
You can also book on yourself through the official website 12306.cn, which is currently available in Chinese and English. Make sure you are registered as a member and have the appropriate Chinese online payment method (Alipay, Wechat, etc.)

Get Your Lanzhou Lhasa Train Ticket with Tibet Permit

If you book your Tibet train ticket with us, you can choose the delivery service. Once we get the paper ticket, we will deliver it to your hotel or address in China.

Of cause, whether you book Tibet train tickets yourself or through us, you can choose to pick up the tickets at Lanzhou Railway Station yourself.

When you go to the manual counter to collect the train ticket, you need to show the printed-out confirmation number of your Train ticket, your Tibet travel permit as well as your valid and original passport to the staff.

Notice:
Once getting your train ticket, please read the ticket and double-check Your Name and Passport No. on it. If the name and passport number are not matched with your passport and Tibet Permit, you may not be allowed to board the train.

Some useful phrases you may need to read your Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Ticket:

兰州站：Lanzhou Railway Station
拉萨站: Lhasa Railway Station
xx年xx月xx日: xx Year xx Month xx Date
xx车xx号: xx Carriage xx Berth
上/ 中/ 下铺：Upper/ Middle/ Lower Berth

Information guide on Lanzhou to Tibet Train Ticket

6 Steps to Get on your Train to Tibet

1. Get to the right station in advance

There are four railway stations in Lanzhou, among them only Lanzhou Railway Station serves trains to Tibet.

Located in Chengguan District, Lanzhou Railway Station is around 4km from downtown and 72km from Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport (LHW).

It is suggested that you arrive at Lanzhou Railway Station at least 1 hour in advance, as there is a queue to go through the security check, ticket inspection, etc.

Lanzhou Railway Station

Address of Lanzhou Railway Station: No. 393, Huochezhan East Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou (兰州市城关区火车站东路393号)

From Downtown to Lanzhou Railway Station
Taxi: It takes around 15 minutes to reach Lanzhou Railway Station from downtown by taxi. And the taxi starts from RMB 10 in the daytime.

Bus: There are many buses that arrive at Lanzhou Railway Station, however, due to the language barrier, we don’t recommend international passengers to take a bus.

From Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport to Lanzhou Railway Station
Taxi: It takes about 50 minutes to travel from Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport (LHW) to Lanzhou Railway Station by taxi.

Intercity Rail: Intercity rail trains are available from Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport to Lanzhou Railway Station, taking 39-56 minutes. Trains between the airport and Lanzhou Railway Station cost CNY21.5 for a second class seat and CNY26 for a first-class seat.

2. Check at the entrance

At the entrance, you need to show your passport, Tibet train ticket, and Tibet travel permit. The automatic gates at the entrance of the railway station can only recognize Chinese ID cards. You need to bring your passport, Tibet Travel Permit, and the train ticket to get through the manual entrance check.

3. Go through the security check and Healthy Code check

After getting through the entrance of the station building, you need to line up for the security check to enter into waiting hall.

You should put all your luggage, such as backpacks, carry-on bags on the security scanner conveyor belt, and walk through a detector gate and wait for staff to use a scanner on you to check forbidden articles.

4. Find the right waiting room

Once enter into the waiting hall of Lanzhou Railway Station, you can find an LED screen showing Train Number (车次), Terminal (终到站), Departing Time (开点) and Waiting Room (候车室). Get your waiting room information and wait for check-in there. Train number Z322 is well marked in the correct waiting room.

5. Check in to get to the Platform

Usually, the check-in starts 15 to 30 minutes before departure and barriers close 5 minutes before departure. After passing through the ticket gate, follow the LED screens to find your platform.

Please be careful with your luggage when going up and down the stairs. If you are traveling with children, please also take care of your children.

6. Find your train and seat

There are usually trains stopping on both sides of the platform. Please follow platform instructions to find your train.

The staff waiting at the carriage gate will check your ticket again to make sure you board the right carriage of the right train. You can also ask the staff for help if you have any questions.

After getting on the train, you can find your berth according to your ticket. Put your baggage on the rack overhead or under the lower berth.

Your sleeper ticket will be exchanged for a plastic berth card by staff shortly after boarding. The staff will return your train ticket and get back the berth card about half an hour before arriving at your destination.

Tips for Getting on board the Lanzhou Lhasa Train

1. Carry your Tibet Travel Permit, your passport, and your train ticket with you as you could be checked many timed during the train journey. It is also advisable to have some copies of your Tibet Travel Permit in case you lose it.

2. It is possible to swap a ticket with other people to stay with friends or family in the same cabin. You may ask the conductor to swap tickets with other passengers to stay with your family or friends. Do remember your cabin and seat Number.

3. We offer a pick-up service in Lhasa. After you arrive at Lhasa Railway Station, our guide will greet you and bring you to your hotel in Lhasa.

Life onboard

Like each Lhasa-bound train, the Lanzhou Lhasa train is also specially built for the high altitude environment and equipped with advanced facilities, including air-conditioning, supercharging system, oxygen supply, altitude display, etc.

The train is also tightly sealed so as to firstly keep the inside air pressure normal and secondly prevent passengers from littering.

Besides, all the carriages are installed with double-pane windows and ultraviolet filters to protect passengers from ultraviolet radiation.

These hardware conditions make your Lanzhou Lhasa train journey more comfortable. So what can you do on the train during the train journey from Lanzhou to Lhasa? What to eat on board? What other special experiences during the trip?

Here we are going to show you the real life on the Lanzhou Lhasa train.

Dining and Drinking

You can get 3 meals a day and drinks from the dining carriage located in the middle of the train.

Usually, only Chinese dishes are available onboard. It costs about 20 CNY per meal. You can pay by cash, Wechat, and Alipay.

There are also trolleys loaded with food served in each compartment sporadically. You can buy food and snacks from the staff onboard.

If all that Chinese food is not your taste, you can bring some instant noodles, as you can get free boiled water from a hot water dispenser near the sinks on board.

It is suggested to bring some snacks and fruits on board as a way to pass the time as the long ride begins. Sharing snacks with roommates is also the easiest way to break the silence.

Tourists are having dinner in the dining car onboard Lanzhou Lhasa Train.

Oxygen Supply on Lanzhou Lhasa Train

Oxygen Supply System
As a train to Tibet Plateau, it is important to ensure that passengers do not suffer from hypoxia and other altitude sicknesses on the train.

To better adapt to the high altitude, the Chengdu-Lhasa train is tightly sealed and pressurized like an airplane.

There are two sets of oxygen supply systems on the train: the dispersion-mode oxygen supply system operated by the train staff and the distribution-mode oxygen supply that can be connected to individual passengers.

As the train ascends to Golmud, the oxygen is automatically pumped into the train. You can also use the oxygen outlet with a disposable pipe distributed by train staff. It may help to minimize altitude sickness symptoms such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, etc.

Notice: Smoking is not allowed onboard.

An illustration of how to use oxygen outlet on Qinghai-Tibet train

Altitude Changes along Lanzhou Lhasa Railway
Lanzhou lies at 1,600 meters above sea level. After Lanzhou, the altitude climbs slowly and reaches 2,275 meters at Xining. Xining is the first station where altitude sickness is likely to occur for a few passengers.

After Xining, the altitude starts to ascend and reaches 2,829 meters when arriving at Golmud. And the altitude increases sharply by more than 1,000 meters in less than 100 kilometers, causing altitude sickness for some passengers.

When arriving at the world’s highest railway pass, the Tanggula Pass (5,072m), most tourists will suffer from altitude sickness. Then, the altitude drops slowly as you travel south through Nagqu and finally reaches 3,650 meters in Lhasa.

This graph gives you a rough idea of how altitude changes along Lanzhou-Lhasa railway line

Toilets on board

Toilets onboard are located at the end of each carriage, adjacent to the washbasin, dustbin, and hot water dispenser. Each soft sleeper carriage has one western-style toilet and one squat-style toilet, while each hard sleeper carriage just has two squat-style toilets. The toilet on board will be locked when the train arrives and stops at a station.

Next to the toilets are washbasins. Unfortunately, there is no shower room on the train. Do bring some wet wipes in stores and a small towel. And the small but equally important thing is to bring enough toilet/tissue paper.

Views along Lanzhou Lhasa Railway

Lanzhou to Lhasa railway is 2,188km long. You will travel from north to south deep into the Tibetan Plateau straight to Lhasa.

Major attractions are Qinghai Lake, Yuzhu Peak, Kekexili Nature Reserve, Tuotuo He River, Tangula pass, Tsonag Lake, etc.

The railway from Lanzhou to Lhasa includes 4 major stations, such as Xining, Golmud, and Nagchu.

Tips for Taking Photos on the Train to Tibet
When you enter the Tibetan region, it is not possible to get off the train and take pictures at most stations. Even if you can get off the train, you should be aware that the stopping time is usually very short, so don't go far and miss the boarding time.

Most of the beautiful scenery is encountered while the train is moving. Be aware of the reflections in the windows when taking pictures on board.

It is recommended to keep the lens close to the glass window and use manual focus as the autofocus tends to focus on the glass.

Pass through the boundless Qinghai Lake in the daytime

A glimpse of the stunning sunset in Delingha

Snow-capped Tanggula Mountains along the Qinghai Tibet Railway