China to Tibet by Train
China by train means every kind of train. High-speed trains run at 300 km/h between Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Chengdu, from one city centre to the next in a few hours. Classic overnight sleepers cover a long distance while you sleep and save a hotel night. And the Qinghai–Tibet Railway, the highest in the world, climbs from Xining or Chengdu over the Tanggula Pass at 5,072 m to Lhasa. Every tour on this page uses only trains, no flights, from the first city to Lhasa. Travel with us from start to finish. We run Tibet with our own team. For the inland cities we work with local partners we have known for years, and we stay with you the whole way.
Why go all the way by rail?
You see the country between the cities, not just the cities. You gain altitude over a day or two instead of two hours, which is the gentlest way to arrive in Lhasa. And the nights you spend on a sleeper are nights you do not pay for a hotel.
Tibet last
On these tours Tibet comes at the end. You see the lower cities first and reach Lhasa rested, and the days you travel inland give us time to arrange your Tibet Travel Permit, which is checked when you board the train to Lhasa. Every tour on this page is private, so the cities and the pace are yours to change.
Prefer to fly the last leg?
The same routes with a flight into Lhasa, and other China-plus-Tibet trips, are in our Tibet Tour Plus section. For tours that start the train journey from Xining or Chengdu, see our Tibet train tours.
11 Days China to Tibet by Train: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and the Qinghai–Tibet Railway to Lhasa
Overnight sleeper to Xi’an, high-speed train to Chengdu, then two nights on the Qinghai–Tibet Railway to Lhasa. Great Wall, Terra-Cotta Warriors, pandas and the Potala, with no flights.
12 Days China to Tibet by Train: Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Lhasa, No Flights
High-speed trains from Beijing to Shanghai and Xi’an, then 31 hours on the Xi’an–Lhasa train over the Tanggula Pass. Old and new China, then Tibet, all by rail.
| Route | Length | Best time | Pace | How | Start → finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Days China to Tibet by Train: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and the Qinghai–Tibet Railway to Lhasa | 11 Days / 10 Nights | All year | Easy | Private | Beijing → overnight train → Xi'an → high-speed train → Chengdu → Qinghai–Tibet Railway (2 nights) → Lhasa |
| 12 Days China to Tibet by Train: Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Lhasa, No Flights | 12 Days / 11 Nights | All year | Easy | Private | Beijing → high-speed train → Shanghai → high-speed train → Xi'an → Xi'an–Lhasa train (31 h) → Lhasa |
Frequently asked questions
Can I travel from China to Tibet entirely by train?
Yes. High-speed trains join Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Chengdu in a few hours each, and the Qinghai–Tibet Railway runs to Lhasa from Xining, Chengdu, Xi’an, Beijing and Shanghai. Both tours on this page use only trains.
What kinds of train are used?
Three kinds: high-speed trains between the inland cities, a classic overnight sleeper where it saves a hotel night, and the plateau train to Lhasa with sleeper berths and piped oxygen on the high sections.
How long is the train to Lhasa?
From Chengdu about 36 hours, two nights on board with a morning arrival. From Xi’an about 31 hours, leaving early in the morning and arriving the next afternoon.
Is the train better than flying for the altitude?
It helps. You climb over a day or two instead of two hours, and the carriages have oxygen on the high plateau. Most guests still feel the altitude on the first day, so every tour has a quiet first day in Lhasa.
Do I need a Tibet permit to board the train?
Yes. Every foreign visitor needs a Tibet Travel Permit, and the original is checked at the station before you board the train to Lhasa. We arrange it once your tour is confirmed and bring it to you in the last inland city.
Are these tours private or group tours?
All the tours on this page are private, for your own party and on your own dates, so the cities, the order and the pace can be changed.
We answer within 12 hours, Monday to Saturday.