11 Days China to Tibet by Train: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and the Qinghai–Tibet Railway to Lhasa
- Duration
- 11 Days / 10 Nights
- Pace
- Easy
- Group size
- Private, on your dates
- Best season
- All year
The trip at a glance
The whole way by rail, from the Great Wall to the Potala Palace. An overnight sleeper from Beijing to Xi'an, a high-speed train from Xi'an to Chengdu, and then the Qinghai–Tibet Railway from Chengdu to Lhasa: two nights on the train and a morning arrival on the roof of the world. Eleven days, no flights, as a private tour for your own party.
Three kinds of train. China’s railways are not one thing. You ride a classic overnight sleeper out of Beijing, a 300 km/h high-speed train across to Chengdu, and the long plateau train to Lhasa, which climbs over the Tanggula Pass at 5,072 m with the Changtang grassland outside the window. Each one is part of the journey, not just a way to get there.
Read the full overview
Two hotel nights saved. The sleeper from Beijing and the two nights on the Tibet train replace three hotel nights, which is part of why a rail tour costs less than it looks. You also gain altitude slowly over two days, the gentlest way to arrive in Lhasa.
We run Tibet with our own team. For Beijing, Xi’an and Chengdu we work with local partners we have known for years, and we stay with you the whole way, with one point of contact from your first email to the last day.
Prefer to fly the last leg and keep a day in Chengdu? See the same route with a flight from Chengdu to Lhasa.
Photo credits: Great Wall at Juyongguan, Peter K Burian, CC BY 4.0; Terra-Cotta Army, Joe Hart, CC BY 2.0; giant panda, George Lu, CC BY 2.0; Xi’an City Wall, xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0; Shanghai skyline, Ernest Jourdier, CC BY 4.0; Forbidden City, Gisling, CC BY 3.0; all via Wikimedia Commons. Tibet photos are our own.
- Beijing
- overnight train
- Xi'an
- high-speed train
- Chengdu
Qinghai–Tibet Railway (2 nights)- Lhasa
Where you go, and how high you sleep
The route, stop by stop
Beijing → overnight train → Xi'an → high-speed train → Chengdu → Qinghai–Tibet Railway (2 nights) → Lhasa
- Arrive in BeijingDay 1
- Juyongguan Great Wall and Yonghegong Lama TempleDay 2
- Tian'anmen and the Forbidden City, overnight train to Xi'anDay 3
- Xi'an: Terra-Cotta Warriors, Qin Mausoleum and Huaqing Hot SpringDay 4
- Xi'an city tour, then high-speed train to ChengduDay 5
- Giant Panda Base and Kuanzhai Alleys, evening train to LhasaDay 6
- On the train across the plateauDay 7
- Arrive in Lhasa, rest dayDay 8
- Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor StreetDay 9
- Tibet Museum, Norbulingka and the Sera Monastery debateDay 10
- Depart from LhasaDay 11
Day by day
Days 1–2 · Beijing hotel
Arrive in Beijing
Our guide meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. In the evening, a Peking duck dinner at a well-known restaurant.
Juyongguan Great Wall and Yonghegong Lama Temple
Walk on the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall, built through a mountain pass. In the afternoon visit the Yonghegong Lama Temple, a Tibetan Buddhist temple in the middle of Beijing.
Tian'anmen and the Forbidden City, overnight train to Xi'an
Walk across Tian'anmen Square and through the Forbidden City, the palace of the Ming and Qing emperors. In the evening board the overnight sleeper train to Xi'an.
Xi'an: Terra-Cotta Warriors, Qin Mausoleum and Huaqing Hot Spring
Arrive in Xi'an in the morning. Visit the Terra-Cotta Warriors, the army buried with China's first emperor more than 2,200 years ago, then the Qin Mausoleum and the Huaqing Hot Spring at the foot of Mount Li.
Xi'an city tour, then high-speed train to Chengdu
Visit the Wild Goose Pagoda, walk on top of the Ancient City Wall and spend time in the Muslim Quarter. In the afternoon take the high-speed train to Chengdu, about four hours.
Giant Panda Base and Kuanzhai Alleys, evening train to Lhasa
Visit the Giant Panda Base in the morning, when the pandas are most active, then walk through the Kuanzhai Alleys and rest in a teahouse. In the evening board the Qinghai–Tibet train to Lhasa, with sleeping berths.
On the train across the plateau
A full day on the train. The line climbs through Qinghai and onto the Tibetan plateau: Qinghai Lake in the distance, the Kunlun Mountains, then the Changtang grassland with its lakes and herds. Oxygen is piped through the carriages on the high sections. Second night on the train.
Arrive in Lhasa, rest day
The train crosses the Tanggula Pass at 5,072 m in the small hours and reaches Lhasa in the morning. Our Tibetan guide meets you at the station. The rest of the day is free to settle in.
Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street
Visit the Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas, then the Jokhang Temple, the holiest temple in Tibet, and walk around Barkhor Street with the pilgrims.
Tibet Museum, Norbulingka and the Sera Monastery debate
Start with the Tibet Museum and the Norbulingka summer palace, opposite each other across the road. After lunch watch the monks debate in the courtyard of Sera Monastery.
Depart from Lhasa
Our guide takes you to Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa railway station for your onward journey.
What is included
Included
- Airport and station pick-ups and transfers
- Private vehicle and English-speaking guide in each city
- Hotels as listed in the itinerary, with daily breakfast
- Entrance tickets for the sights listed in the itinerary
- Overnight sleeper Beijing–Xi'an, high-speed train Xi'an–Chengdu, and the Chengdu–Lhasa train (sleeper berth)
- Tibet Travel Permit
- Tibetan guide and city transport in Lhasa
Not included
- International flights
- China visa
- Lunches and dinners not listed, including meals on the trains
- Personal expenses and tips
- Single room supplement
Photos from this route
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How long is the train from Chengdu to Lhasa?
About 36 hours: you board in the evening, spend two nights on the train and arrive in Lhasa the following morning. Berths are in soft-sleeper or hard-sleeper compartments; we book soft sleeper when it is available.
Is the Tibet train a good way to deal with the altitude?
It helps. You climb over two days instead of two hours, and the carriages have piped oxygen on the high sections. Most guests still feel the altitude on the first day in Lhasa, so Day 8 is a rest day.
Can I take the train all the way from Beijing to Lhasa instead?
Yes, but it is more than 40 hours and you would miss Xi'an and Chengdu. On this tour you see three cities on the way and still ride the plateau line, which is the scenic part.
Do I need a permit to board the Tibet train?
Yes. Every foreign visitor needs a Tibet Travel Permit, and the original is checked when you board the train to Lhasa. We arrange it once your tour is confirmed and bring it to you before you leave Chengdu.
Can I fly the last leg instead?
Yes. The same route with a flight from Chengdu to Lhasa is our 11 Days China Trains Tour, which gives you an extra day in Chengdu. Both are private tours, so either can be changed.
What does it cost?
Please send us your dates and the number of travellers, and we will reply with the price within 24 hours.
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