Ride the Sky Road to Tibet
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway — the world's highest — connects Xining to Lhasa in one night and one day. Wherever you begin in China, all paths to Tibet meet in Xining.
Which train, and from where?
Every route into Tibet by rail passes through Xining, which is why the journeys below start either there or in a Chinese city that connects to it. From Xining it is one night and one day on the Qinghai–Tibet Railway itself, over the Tanggula Pass at 5,072 m, with the plateau in view from the window for the whole crossing. From Chengdu the line climbs through the Sichuan plateau. From Beijing, Shanghai or Xi’an the journey is really two: a day or two of Chinese highlights, then the train west.
Want the inland cities by train as well, with no flights anywhere? See China to Tibet by Train.
Soft sleeper or hard sleeper?
The train offers soft sleeper compartments — four berths behind a door — and hard sleeper carriages of six berths open to the corridor. Soft sleeper is what most of our guests book, and it is the difference between arriving rested and arriving tired. Supplementary oxygen reaches the carriages once the train is on the plateau.
What the train does not do
It gets you to Tibet comfortably and lets you watch the plateau go past. What it does not do is stop where you would want to stop: much of the most interesting country between Golmud and Lhasa passes at night or in a blur, and the train does not wait for photographs. Guests who want to see the plateau rather than watch it through glass usually pair the train in one direction with the road in the other — see overland journeys for that combination.
Choose your route
- Start in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, or Xi’an — each city offers its own remarkable journey to Xining.
- All paths meet in Xining — Xining is the mandatory gateway for every Tibet train. Board the Qinghai–Tibet Railway here; the real adventure begins.
- One night + one day to Lhasa — the train crosses the Tanggula Pass at 5,072 m, the world’s highest railway pass, and arrives in Lhasa the following evening.
Pure Train Entry from Xining
The simplest start — no extra days, just the train
Beijing to Tibet via Inner Mongolia
Grasslands, the Great Wall, and the world’s highest railway
In the Footsteps of Huc & Gabet
18 days by train from Beijing through Inner Mongolia, Zhongwei and Xining to Lhasa, on the route of two French missionaries
Beijing, Pingyao, Xi'an & Tibet
China’s greatest historical route — all by train
Shanghai, Shaolin Kung Fu & Tibet
The Bund, martial arts, and the roof of the world
Chengdu Giant Pandas & Tibet
From the world’s most loveable animals to the roof of the world
Nyingchi In, Xining Out — Both Halves by Day
Five train rides inside the plateau, and our guide rides with you all the way to Xining
From the Pacific to the Indian Ocean
One high-speed train across China, then Tibet, Everest and Nepal — private, 16 days
11 Days China to Tibet by Train: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and the Qinghai–Tibet Railway to Lhasa
Beijing, Xi’an and Chengdu first, then two nights on the Chengdu–Lhasa train. The whole way by rail, no flights.
12 Days China to Tibet by Train: Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Lhasa, No Flights
Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an by high-speed train, then the 31-hour Xi’an–Lhasa train. No flights.
| Route | Length | Best time | Pace | How | Start → finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pure Train Entry from Xining | 7 Days / 6 Nights | April – October | Easy | Private | Xining → Qinghai-Tibet Railway → Tanggula Pass (5,072 m) → Lhasa → Potala Palace → Jokhang Temple → Sera Monastery → Yamdrok Lake |
| Beijing to Tibet via Inner Mongolia | 10 Days / 9 Nights | April to October | Moderate | Group or private | Beijing → Great Wall of China → Forbidden City → Inner Mongolia Steppe → Qinghai-Tibet Railway → Lhasa → Potala Palace → Yamdrok Lake → Tashilhunpo Monastery |
| In the Footsteps of Huc & Gabet | — | — | — | — | — |
| Beijing, Pingyao, Xi'an & Tibet | 13 Days / 12 Nights | April to October | Moderate | Group or private | Beijing → Great Wall → Pingyao Ancient City → Red Lantern Streets → Xi'an → Terra Cotta Warriors → Qinghai-Tibet Railway → Lhasa → Sera Monastery |
| Shanghai, Shaolin Kung Fu & Tibet | 11 Days / 10 Nights | April to October | Moderate | Group or private | Shanghai Bund → French Concession → Shaolin Temple → Kung Fu Performance → Song Mountain → Qinghai-Tibet Railway → Lhasa → Potala Palace → Yamdrok Lake |
| Chengdu Giant Pandas & Tibet | 9 Days / 8 Nights | April – October | Easy | Private | Chengdu → Giant Panda Research Base → Bullet train to Xining → Qinghai-Tibet Railway → Lhasa → Potala Palace → Jokhang Temple → Sera Monastery → Norbulingka |
| Nyingchi In, Xining Out — Both Halves by Day | 11 Days / 10 Nights | April to October | Moderate | Group or private | Nyingchi → Basum Tso → Sejila Pass → Lhasa → Shigatse → Everest Base Camp or Gyantse → Tanggula Pass → Golmud → Qinghai Lake → Xining |
| From the Pacific to the Indian Ocean | 16 Days / 15 Nights | April to June and September to November | Moderate | Private | High-speed train to Xining → Qinghai–Tibet train → Lhasa → train to Shigatse → Everest Base Camp → Peigutso Lake → Dingjie → Sakya Monastery → Shigatse → Lhasa → flight to Kathmandu → Pokhara → Chitwan → flight to Delhi |
| 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
Do all Tibet trains pass through Xining?
Yes. Xining is the mandatory gateway for every Tibet train — routes that begin in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu or Xi’an all meet there to board the Qinghai–Tibet Railway for the final climb to Lhasa.
How long is the train journey to Lhasa?
The Xining–Lhasa stretch takes about one night and one day, crossing the Tanggula Pass at 5,072 metres — the world’s highest railway pass. Add the travel time from whichever Chinese city you begin in.
Is there oxygen on the train?
Yes. Oxygen is supplied on board the Qinghai–Tibet trains and the carriages are pressurised. We also carry oxygen in the vehicle throughout your tour.
How do I book Tibet train tickets?
We book your train tickets together with your Tibet permit and tour, because the permit must be in place before tickets can be issued. Berths sell out early in peak season, so reserve as far ahead as you can.
We answer within 12 hours, Monday to Saturday.