Rail journey · Qinghai & Tibet
Qinghai–Tibet Railway
The highest railway in the world: nearly 2,000 kilometres climbing from Xining onto the Tibetan plateau, crossing the Tanggula Pass at 5,072 m on the way to Lhasa.
Qinghai–Tibet Railway · Henry Chen on flickr · CC BY-SA 2.0
Typical time21 h 30 min
Route length1,215 miles
FromXining
ToLhasa
The ride
What you'll see
01
Tanggula Pass at 5,072 m — the highest point on any railway
02
Qinghai Lake views
03
Permafrost engineering across the plateau
04
Arrival into Lhasa after the high desert
The route
Station by station
- Xining
- Golmud
- Tanggula
- Nagqu
- Lhasa
Route sketch · station coordinates · not to scale
Before you go
Good to know
01
Acclimatise in Xining or Golmud before the full crossing.
02
Oxygen is supplied in the carriages above the plateau.
03
Tibet travel permits apply to foreign visitors — check current rules before booking.
Typical times and distances are for guidance only — check the operator's timetable before you travel.
Photography credits
- Qinghai–Tibet Railway — Henry Chen on flickr · CC BY-SA 2.0
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