The Ultimate Guide about How to Take Tibet Train to Lhasa

Tibet, the roof of the world and a hugely popular tourist destination, has various routes to use to get there. While flying from Nepal or China is a fast way to get there, it can never beat traveling by train. The scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is breathtakingly spectacular, and is certainly not something to miss. The train runs from eight different cities in China: Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Xi’an and Xining. You can choose which departure point you wish to take, and book tickets through us.

Step 1: Book Tibet Train Ticket and Get Tibet Travel Permit

Due to the high demand of Tibet train tickets, you usually can’t book a ticket by yourself. All tourists to Tibet must book their tours through a registered tour operator with helping your train ticket booking, Tibetan local tour guide, vehicle, etc. You just need to let us know what station you will depart from, and we will try our best to guarantee you can get a ticket on the extremely popular routes to Tibet. There are 3 plan types we use; annual, three-month, and monthly. Obviously, the earlier you book your ticket, the more likely you are to get the date of travel that you require. We just need your passport and birth date to buy the train tickets and It is best to book at least 1 month in advance. We will deliver the ticket to your hotel room or other designated places of mainland China.

Upon arriving at Lhasa Railway Station, our Tibetan local tour guide will pick you up.

Obtain Tibet Travel Permit You Need

There are a number of documents you will need for your trip to Tibet by train, as well as your passport and Chinese Entry Visa - which you can get from the Chinese Embassy in your home country before you travel. The most important of these is your Tibet Travel Permit, also known as a Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit. Without this, you will not even be able to board the train in China. This document is obtained by us, and will be sent to you at your hotel. We have many years experience in obtaining the permits, which normally takes around three working days.

However, as this only allows you to travel direct to Lhasa, and nowhere else, you will also need an Alien’s Travel Permit. This is needed when traveling to places outside Lhasa region, such as Mt. Everest or Shigatse. It is obtained by your tour operator using your Passport and Tibet Travel Permit once you get to Lhasa, and takes a few hours. We’ll take care of it when you arrive in Lhasa.

Tibet Travel Permit

Another important document you will need, if you are thinking of going to places like holy Mt. Kailash, is the Military Area Entry Permit. Some areas of Tibet are sensitive military areas, and travel is strictly controlled there. You may also need the Foreign Affairs Permit for certain areas, and some parts of western Tibet will require local permits from the Cultural Antiquities Department. But do not worry, as we will obtain these permits for you once your Tibet Travel Permit has been issued.

While it all seems very complicated, we have made it easier for you by taking care of many of the documentary requirements for you, allowing you to better enjoy planning your trip without the stress and worry.

Step 2: Board the Tibet Train

Arrive at the station in advance

With the trains often being fully booked, it is advisable to get to the station early, so that you can get in line. There are always long lines to board the train, and queuing is required. You cannot just walk to the platform and board as you do in the west. If you have already collected your ticket, which is advisable, you can proceed to the check area, where you and your luggage will be checked by security. Your ticket an ID (Passport) will be checked first and then you move to the luggage check. Make sure you prepare your ticket and passport for the checks, as well as your Tibet Travel Permit, and keep them on your person at all times. There may be another 1-2 ticket checks before you reach the train.

Where to wait for boarding the train and how to find your seat in the right cabin?

When you have had your luggage checked, you can go to the waiting area for your train. Large LED screens will tell you which waiting area you need, and which gate to go to afterwards to board. The train’s number is printed on the top-middle part of the ticket; e.g. K9821 or Z6801. The waiting room will be displayed as a floor and room number, such as 2楼1候, meaning second floor, first waiting room.

From the large LED screen, you'll know where to get on the train to Tibet.

As each waiting room may service several trains, make sure you get the right gate, and platform from the LED screens. Once you have the right gate, you can normally check in and board 15 minutes before departure. The stairs show the platform number above each, so you can easily find your platform.

Each car is numbered, and has staff at the door who will help if you have problems. Board the car, and check for your bunk number, which is also on your ticket. A good tip is to have some phrases in Chinese on your phone, so you can ask help more easily.

What is the information on your train ticket?

Your ticket is full of information that you will need to find the right waiting room, platform, train, carriage and berth. The top of the ticket has the departure and destination in Chinese and English, with the train number in between. The departure date and time is below to the left, with the car and berth numbers to the right. Your berth position will be shown in Chinese, with 上 for top, 中for middle, and 下 for bottom.

You can find all the information you need on the train ticket.

Below your berth details you can see your ticket class, and to the left you will see the price of the ticket, your name and passport number, and some helpful tips in a little box, which are useful, if you can read Chinese. On some tickets, your departure platform will be listed in the top right corner.

Step 3: Enjoy your Stay on the Tibet Train

Put your luggage in the right position

Your luggage should always be in your cabin with you, and can be stored on the luggage shelf above the top berth, or below the bottom berth. You will need to carry the luggage on the train yourself, as there is no luggage check-in service.

How to use dining, restrooms and oxygen on the train

On every car there is a washroom, as well as restrooms. The trains have both Chinese and western style toilets, and are clean and well sanitized. Unfortunately, the trains do not have private washrooms in the sleeper cabins, and all are shared facilities.

For those who are feeling the effects of altitude sickness, there are oxygen points on the train, as well as the train having a general oxygen supply system to keep the oxygen levels up to normal during the trip. The oxygen tubes are available from the conductors, and there are outlets in every cabin, as well as along the wall in the corridors.

Oxygen outlet on Tibet train

There is food available on the train, and it is freshly prepared in the onboard kitchen. The dining car seats around 40-50 people and has wide windows to enjoy the view while you dine. The food served is a mixture of Chinese and Tibetan dishes, and is all of average quality, albeit a lot more expensive for what you are getting. That said, the food is tasty and nutritious, and it is a good start to sampling some of the Tibetan foods prior to arriving in Lhasa. There are several Tibetan dishes you can try, or there is a selection of decent Chinese meals available.

If you do not want to eat in the dining car, there is a food trolley brought to the cabins with a selection of Chinese dishes, packed in styrofoam food boxes. Prices range between 18-25 Yuan and there are snacks available from the train attendants who deliver the boxed meals to the cabins. Boiled and drinking water is available in all cars as well.

Step 4: Arrive in Lhasa Finally

Once you get to Lhasa, one of our Tibetan local tour guides will meet you off the train, and take you to your hotel. Lhasa train station is situated on the south bank of the Lhasa River, in Liuwu village, 25km from Lhasa itself. The front of the station boasts a 60,000 square meter square, and to make things easier in the high elevation, there are no long distances to walk between your train and the exit.

Lastly but most significantly, you’re now starting your lifetime Tibet tour from this moment, and we’ll do our best to ensure you a pleasant trip in Tibet. Please kindly feel free to let us know if you have any problems during the trip.