{"id":1027,"date":"2019-06-21T23:00:06","date_gmt":"2019-06-21T21:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hallofernweh.de\/?p=1027"},"modified":"2024-02-10T21:07:08","modified_gmt":"2024-02-10T20:07:08","slug":"lhasabahn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fernwehmotive.de\/en\/lhasabahn\/","title":{"rendered":"With the Lhasa Railway to Tibet - Tips for your Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

China \u2013 Tibet.<\/strong> Taking the train to Lhasa is both an adventure and a lot of fun. If you want to experience the Chinese and Tibetan culture intensively, can do without private sphere and a shower for some time, I can warmly recommend you a train ride with the Lhasa railway to the roof of the world. The route is simply breathtaking. And not only because of the average height of 4.000 m. The vastness of the landscape brings your mind to rest, while snow-capped peaks, rivers and lakes regularly crowd the windows. In my following article you will learn all my tips for your trip with the Lhasa Railway to Tibet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Non-solicited, unpaid advertising. This article contains affiliate links*, marked with an asterisk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Table of Contents and Quick Navigation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To get in the Mood for the Train Journey to Tibet<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Slow Travel - a great Way to Travel<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>The Route of the Lhasa Railway to the Roof of the World<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>From Xining to Lhasa - A few Pictures<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Ticket Classes and Prices of the Lhasa Railway<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Tips for your Ticket Purchase for the Lhasa Railway<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Pick-up of Tickets at the Train Station<\/strong><\/a>
Tips for the Organization of Luggage in the Lhasa Railway<\/a>
<\/strong>Orientation at Xining Station<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>How to find your Carriage and your Bed<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Where to put the Luggage?<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Equipment in the Hard Sleeper Class<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Altitude Sickness <\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>The physical Well-Being<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Tips for the Packing List for the Lhasa Railway<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Arrival in Lhasa<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get in the Mood for the Train Journey to Tibet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My earpax is penetrated by a pimped rumble. I feel the vibration of the wheels and the unevenness of the tracks. From the corridor light shines into our dark cabin. I roll to my other side, carefully not to fall out of the narrow top bed. A glance at the altimeter lets me breathe a sigh of relief. After four hours driving time, it is 23:30 we are again under 3,000 m. Finally I fall asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I wake up in the morning we are at 4.200 m. I look into a hilly landscape covered with icing sugar. On the horizon there are higher mountains with snow-covered peaks. From time to time I can spot wild donkeys, Tibetan antelopes or yaks, sometimes also a nomad hut. Again and again there are small houses of track marshals along the parallel road and now and then we pass a settlement. I am looking forward to the day in the train that lies ahead of me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Zugstrecke
You can often see grazing yaks along the way to Lhasa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Slow Travel - a great Way to Travel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Travelling by train produces less carbon dioxide than travelling by plane. That alone is reason enough to travel more often by train. But there are even more advantages over travelling by plane. Because one approaches a new country or a new culture more slowly and has more time to perceive the changes more consciously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Slow Travel, I feel less foreign and more connected to my destination and the people who live there. So somehow more like a traveller than someone who just consumes. In addition, a train journey like this trains one's own travel skills, self-confidence and openness. And a long-distance train ride always has the potential for great travel stories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lhasabahn\"
Slow Travel with the Lhasa Railway to the Roof of the World<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Route of the Lhasa Railway to the Roof of the World<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are several railway lines that go to Lhasa. However, most travellers take the train from Xining in Qinghai Province to Lhasa<\/strong>. This is the shortest train journey to Tibet with only one night on the train. The route also has the most beautiful landscapes to offer. The train even runs five times a day and takes about 21 hours to cover the distance of 1,956 km. If you want to travel longer by train, you can choose the longer route from Beijing to Lhasa<\/strong> . However, here the train only travels once a day and it is therefore more difficult to get a ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We chose Xining as the departure station because we were more flexible in our choice of departure time. Because if you leave Xining in the evening, then you will drive through the most beautiful landscape in daylight<\/strong>. If you start from Beijing, you have no choice in this respect and the most beautiful landscape you will experience only in the dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xining also has a lot to offer. And if you spend a few days in Xining at an altitude of 2,200 m and maybe go on a day trip to Qinghai Lake at 3,200 m, you'll already have quite a good altitude adjustment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From Xining to Lhasa - A few Pictures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The drive takes us past Cona Lake in the afternoon. This is a holy lake for the Tibetans and also one of the highest freshwater reservoirs. On the shore of the lake black-necked cranes fly up, geese and ducks look for food in the water, seagulls fly just above the water or clean their plumage on the shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along the way there are countless small police stations. Each of them carries a Chinese flag. As soon as we drive past, the police stations come out in their yellow warning vests and salute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Streckenposten
Track marshal along the Lhasabahn with basketball court<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Streckenposten
One of countless track marshals along the Lhasa Railway<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We pass small settlements. Small one-storey stone houses, white, the roof decorated with colourful prayer flags. Around the houses there is a walled courtyard, next to it there is a second courtyard with shelters for the cattle. The paths are unpaved, at the roadsides there are mopeds and older cars. Around noon we see more and more yaks and sheep on the grazing grounds next to the railway line. It is lunchtime, almost everyone touches his instant noodles in the colorful plastic packaging. In the wagon there is a pleasurable smacking and burping from all directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ticket Classes and Prices of the Lhasa Railway <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are three different classes in the Lhasa Railway. The following prices apply to a single ticket from Xining to Lhasa in the summer season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n