[2025 Lhasa ] Travel Guide for Qinghai Tibet Train (Lhasa Express) (Updated Mar)

the highest railway in world with 80% over 4000m asl and 960km at high altitude. This is the Beijing-Lhasa (also called Qinghai-Tibet) Railway that connect Xining capital of Qianhai province with Lhasa capital of Tibet. Tangula Station is the highest in world at 5200m. The trains have free oxygen on board. I spent 24h between Xining and Lhasa, I was the only foreigner on board and I met many friendly passengers! The scenery along the journey changes based on the altitude and …just can’t stop taking photos! #2023travelwish

Some people say that Tibet is a pure land for the soul and a paradise of beautiful scenery, but most people don’t know that there is such a magical place in Qinghai. Here you can find sacred mountains, holy lakes, grasslands, beliefs, etc. that are comparable to those in Tibet. All your fantasies about Tibet can be satisfied here. Apart from the Tibetan areas, this is the place where you can best experience Tibetan culture. This is Golmud, the second largest city in Qinghai and known as the Pearl of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Golmud, in Mongolian, means "a place with dense rivers". It is located in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, in the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, connecting Lhasa in the south, Dunhuang in the north, Xining in the east, and Xinjiang in the west. It is a strategic fortress leading to Tibet, Xinjiang, and Gansu, and an important transportation hub in western my country. The Qinghai-Tibet, Qinghai-Xinjiang, and Dunhuang-Golmud highways meet here. To the east of Golmud is Xining, to the north is Dunhuang, and to the south is Lhasa. Its geographical location is very important, and it is a transit station to Xinjiang, Tibet and other places. Golmud is rich in tourism resources, with unique natural landscapes such as the source of the Yangtze River, the thousand-meter salt bridge, snow-capped mountains and glaciers, Kunlun snow scenery, sunrise over the vast sea, and desert forests. Today, let’s take a look at the most beautiful attractions in Golmud. 『Chaluhan Salt Lake』 Chaluhan Salt Lake is located in Golmud City, Qinghai Province. It is the largest salt lake in China and one of the most famous inland salt lakes in the world. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway passes through it. It is difficult for any green plants to grow in the Qarhan Salt Lake, but it has given birth to magical salt flowers that are as crystal clear as jade and have various shapes. Salt flowers are the name of the beautiful crystals formed when salt crystallizes in the salt lake. During the crystallization process of brine, due to different concentrations, different durations of time, and different components, salt flowers of various shapes are formed, which are like the work of nature. 『Kunlun Mountain Pass』 The Kunlun Mountain Pass is located in the southwest of Qinghai, in the middle section of Kunlun Mountain, 160 kilometers south of Golmud City. It is a must-pass place for Qinghai and Gansu provinces to Tibet, and is also a major pass on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. It is named after the valley pass and is also called the "Kunlun Mountain Pass". Kunlun Mountain is the symbol of the Chinese nation and the cradle of Chinese myths and legends. The ancients revered it as the "ancestor of all mountains" and the "ancestor of dragon veins", and thus it has the beautiful name of "the mother of national mountains". In Tibetan, it is called "Amani Muzhan Musong", which means ancestral mountain. The vast Kunlun Mountains are majestic and magnificent. In winter all year round, the mountains are covered in silver, and the sky is high in the sky. Climbing to the top of the mountain, the thousands of peaks and valleys of the majestic Kunlun Mountains are like herds of galloping horses in silver-gray armor, rolling forward with the wind and clouds. 『Yuzhu Peak』 Yuzhu Peak, also known as Kekesaijimen Peak, is 6,178 meters above sea level. It is located 10 kilometers east of Kunlun Pass, 160 kilometers south of Golmud, Qinghai. It is the highest peak in the eastern section of Kunlun Mountains. It is gentle in the south and steep in the north. The end of the glacier on the south slope is about 5,100 meters above sea level; the glacier on the north slope extends to 4,400 meters. The top of the mountain is covered with ice and snow all year round, with no exposed rocks. The snow and ice slope is relatively gentle. The glaciers below the grain snow basin are retreating continental glaciers due to the high annual temperature, rapid melting, little precipitation, and greater melting than accumulation. 『Hoh Xil』 Hoh Xil means "beautiful girl" in Mongolian. It is located in the northwest of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, sandwiched between the Tanggula Mountains and the Kunlun Mountains. It is one of the main source areas of the Yangtze River. The Hoh Xil Nature Reserve is one of the areas in the world with the most perfectly preserved original ecological environment. It is also one of the largest, highest-altitude and most abundant wildlife resources nature reserves in China. The climate in Hoh Xil is harsh and the natural conditions are adverse, making it impossible for humans to live there for a long time. It is known as the "forbidden zone of life." However, precisely because of this, the plateau has created unique living conditions for wild animals, making it a "wildlife paradise" and the Tibetan antelope is called the pride of Hoh Xil. 『Tanggula Pass』 Tanggula Pass is the boundary between Qinghai and Tibet provinces, with an altitude of about 5,231 meters, and is the highest point on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. "Tanggula" means "mountain on the plateau" in Tibetan. Due to the wind and snow all year round, it is known as the "wind and snow warehouse". Tanggula is the dividing line between Qinghai and Tibet, with an altitude of 5,231 meters. There are monuments and signposts at the mountain pass. It is the only way to enter Tibet along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway and is the source of the Yangtze River. This is the highest highway in the world. 『Summary』 Golmud, the pearl on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has attracted countless travelers to explore with its unique natural scenery and profound cultural heritage. Whether it is the magnificent natural scenery or the rich cultural history, Golmud can bring you an unprecedented travel experience. If you want to take a trip on a whim, Golmud is definitely a destination not to be missed.

#chinatransit Dear friends, Take this train if you visit China! If you travel to China, you must try taking the train to travel between different cities, because it's very comfortable and safe on the train, and the scenery is beautiful. These photos were all taken by me on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway from Xining to Lhasa, Shigatse and Nyingchi...I love this experience that’s why i share it with you guys. Highly recommended for travelers who love to discover more about China… #travel #trip #localguides #historicallandmarks #localguides #familytrip

Tibet, this mysterious and beautiful pure land, attracts countless people to explore. I have compiled a simple and easy-to-understand travel guide to Tibet for everyone, please read it patiently. [Grin][Grin][Grin]1. Best travel time March to May, peach blossoms are in full bloom, spring is in the air; September to November, autumn is crisp and the scenery is magnificent. The climate during these two periods is relatively pleasant, avoiding the rainy season and severe cold in winter. [Chin][Chin][Chin]2. How to enter Tibet Planing✈️: Fly directly to Lhasa Gonggar International Airport, which is fast and convenient, but you may experience altitude sickness due to the sudden increase in altitude. Train: The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is a good choice. You can enjoy the magnificent plateau scenery along the way and let your body gradually adapt to the high altitude. Self-driving: Suitable for tourists with plenty of time and rich driving experience. You can arrange your itinerary freely and experience the Tibetan customs in depth. [Coke][Coke][Coke]3. Necessary items Documents: ID card, border pass (necessary for going to the border areas such as Mount Everest). Clothing: There is a big temperature difference between morning and evening, so you need to prepare thick coats, thermal underwear, hats, scarves, gloves, etc. Medicines: Anti-altitude sickness drugs (such as Rhodiola rosea), cold medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, motion sickness medicine, etc. Others: sunscreen, sunglasses, moisturizing skin care products, thermos cup, camera, etc. [Trick][Trick][Trick]4. Main attractions [Yeah] Lhasa: Potala Palace: an outstanding representative of Tibetan architecture and a world cultural heritage. Tickets must be booked in advance. Jokhang Temple: A pilgrimage center for Tibetan Buddhists, where you can feel the strong religious atmosphere. Barkhor Street: A prayer path around the Jokhang Temple where you can taste Tibetan cuisine and buy special souvenirs. [Like] Nyingchi: Basongcuo: The lake is clear and surrounded by mountains, just like a fairyland. Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon: The deepest canyon in the world, where you can see the majestic Mount Namjagbarwa. [Clap][Clap][Clap]Shigatse: Tashlhunpo Monastery: The residence of successive Panchen Lamas, with a grand scale and exquisite architecture. Mount Everest: The highest peak in the world, you can experience its majesty up close at the Everest Base Camp. [Clink][Clink][Clink]V. Food Recommendations Tibetan noodles: chewy texture, paired with beef soup and Tibetan hot sauce, unique flavor. Butter tea: a traditional Tibetan drink that can resist the cold on the plateau. It may be difficult to get used to it at first, but the more you drink it, the more delicious it becomes. Tsampa: It is made from roasted highland barley and then ground into powder. Butter tea, sugar, etc. can be added according to personal taste. Yak meat: The meat is delicious and can be cooked in many ways, such as yak jerky, yak beef hotpot, etc. 🏠🏠🏠6. Accommodation suggestions Lhasa: There are hotels and inns of various grades in the city, and you can choose according to your budget. It is recommended to stay near Barkhor Street for convenient transportation. Nyingchi: Bayi Town is the main accommodation location, with a good environment and relatively complete facilities. Shigatse: There are many hotels to choose from in the city, and the ones near Tashilhunpo Monastery are ideal. ⚠️ ⚠️⚠️VII. Precautions Altitude sickness: Prepare in advance before entering Tibet, avoid strenuous exercise, and get enough sleep. If you experience symptoms of altitude sickness, take a rest or seek medical attention immediately. Religious customs: Respect the religious beliefs and customs of the Tibetan people, such as circumambulating the temple in a clockwise direction and not touching Buddha statues at will. Environmental protection: Tibet's ecology is fragile. Please pay attention to protecting the environment during your trip and do not discard garbage at will.

Taking a train journey to Tibet, every track of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway unfolds like a magnificent painting. As the train moves slowly forward, the scenery outside the window constantly changes, gradually transitioning from plains to plateaus, with the vast horizon connecting the sky and earth. In the distance, towering snow-capped mountains stand majestically, with white snow reflecting the blue sky, seemingly within reach, bringing a breathtaking purity. Crossing the Naqu Grassland, flocks of sheep dot the lush green landscape, gently swaying with the highland breeze, as if greeting the travelers. Occasionally, you can see Tibetans riding yaks, leisurely blending into the vast nature, as if time flows slowly here. When the train climbs to the Tanggula Pass, the rising altitude brings a slight ringing in the ears, but the magnificent scenery before your eyes makes it hard to close them. The sky outside the window transitions from blue to purple, displaying different layers of color, like a beautiful dream. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is not just a route to Tibet but a cleansing and shocking experience for the soul. In this mysterious plateau, the vastness of the world makes the soul seem to soar freely.