About Train journey to Tibet

Introduction
After four years' construction, Qinghai-Tibet Railway has been completed and tourist traffic will be operational from July 1, 2006. Starting from Golmud in Qinghai Province, the railway will pass through Nachitai, Wudaoliang, Tuotuohe and Yanshiping before climbing over Tanggula Mountain to get to Amdo, Nakchu, Damxung, Yangbajing and leading to its final destination in Lhasa, Tibet. The railway is the world's highest and longest plateau railway and is expected to make visiting the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (world's most famous plateau) as "golden" tourist routes.

Nine world-class tourist attractions, twenty-three national tourism resources, 6 national nature reserves, and 193 first- and second-class tourism resources distributed along the road. Behind the natural heritage, there are many places of interests that have a distinct Tibetan culture, which has lasted for thousands of years.

When touring here, you can feel the profound culture that is strongly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism. The Tibetan history, culture, and religion are just so enchanting and colorful. Numerous tourists are attracted by its peculiar geological features, magnificent natural scenery, splendid ethnic culture and characteristic local customs and practices.

A Brief Introduction to Qinghai-Tibet Railway
Qinghai-Tibet section of the railway is the world's highest railway, and some 960 kilometers of the tracks were laid at 4,000 meters above sea level, with the highest parts reaching 5,072 meters. The railway is still the world's longest plateau railroad which extends 1,972 kilometers from Qinghai's provincial capital Xining to Lhasa in Tibet. The Golmud-Lhasa section, completed on Oct. 12 this year, zigzags 1,142 kilometers across the Kunlun and Tanggulamountain ranges. Travelers can enjoy the world-class tourist sites along the newly-built line during the trip. According to the official, the trains running on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway are the most advanced ones in China. All the carriages of the trains are installed with oxygen-supplying equipments and every passenger will be provided with an oxygen mask. Passengers will not feel altitude reaction or sickness. The train will run 1,972 kilometers from Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, to Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. It will take 26 hours to complete the one-way travel. Stations are built near scenery spots, according to the Qinghai-Tibet Corporation. As oxygen is thin in the region, trains, including sleeping cars, dining car and sightseeing cars, will be equipped with oxygen system for those who need. The 1,142-km-long section of Qinghai-Tibet Railway from Golmud to Lhasa has been completed on Oct. 12, 2005 and is scheduled to open to traffic on July 1, 2006. In addition to Beijing, some other Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, will also launch direct railway passenger transportation to Lhasa as of July 1 2006.

World Records of Qinghai-Tibet Railway

1. Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the world's highest railway. 960 kilometers' tracks are located at more than 4,000 meters above sea level and the highest point is 5,072 meters, at least 200 meters higher than the Peruvian railway in the Andes, which was formerly the world's most elevated track.

2. The railway is the world's longest plateau railroad. The newly completed Golmud-Lhasa section zigzags 1,142 kilometers across the Kunlun and Tanggula mountain ranges.

3. About 550 kilometers of the tracks run on frozen earth, which is the longest one in the world.

4. Tanggula Railway Station, 5,068 meters above sea level, is the highest railway station in the world.

5. Fenghuoshan Tunnel, 4,905 meters above sea level, is the highest tunnel through frozen earth in the world.

6. Kunlun Mountain Tunnel, running 1,686 meters, is the world's longest plateau tunnel built on frozen earth.

7. Anduo track-laying base at an altitude of 4704 meters in Tibet is the highest track laying base in the world.

8. Qingshuihe River Bridge (11.7 kilometers long) is the longest plateau bridge on frozen earth.

9. Upon its completion, the maximum train speed is designed to reach 100 kilometers per hour in the frozen earth area and 120 kilometers per hour in non-frozen earth area.

Latest Train Schedule to/from Tibet:

NOTE:
1. Soft Berth: 4 persons in 1 cabin Hard Berth: 6 persons in 1 cabin
2. As the sharp demand of the train tickets, all above prices already include service charge. Subject to increase.
3. All meals on the train not included in the prices