What to Expect for the Highlights of Qinghai-Tibet Railway

The Qinghai-Tibet railway is totally 1,956 kilometers (1216 miles) long, consisting of 2 phases: the first phase 814 km (506 miles) from Xinning - the capital of Qinghai Province to Golmud opened in 1984; the second phase 1142 km (710 miles) from Golmud to Lhasa. Watching out through the train’s window as it passes the snow-secured prairies of the northern Tibetan Plateau is a lifetime encounter.

Xining to Lhasa — the route to the Sky

Duration: 22 hours approx.
Length: 1,956 km (1,215 mi)
Price: 781 yuan (126 USD)
Scenery: snowcapped mountains and incredible lakes

This train course is well known for explorers who need to visit Tibet. It is the longest train trip on the planet. The view is lovely, stark and powerful and hence is named as the "route to the sky". A large portion of this course is more than 4,000 meters and it goes over 5,000 meters (16,400 feet). The reward of the course is to see an excellent piece of the world that was practically out of reach. Rather than city sees, you'll see for the most part the fields and wildlife. After the train has left Xining Railway Station for around 60 minutes, you can see the vast blue lake — Qinghai Lake. The staggering perspectives outside the train's windows will greet you amid your excursion.

Sceneries along the Tibet Railway

As the Tibet Railway crosses mountain ranges, streams, prairies and goes by icy mass and lakes on its way to 'the Roof of the World' (Qinghai-Tibet Plateau), the view along it is as grand and amazing as a canvas. The Mani Stones, supplication banners, Tibetan society houses, gazelle, cranes, yak, mandarin ducks and swans make this work of art a striking and energetic one.

1. Jinyintan Prairie

Running west out of Xining, the train will move to an increasingly elevated zone as the height rises. Here. The vegetation gets to be distinctly exiguous and land is scantily populated. Abruptly, travelers will be stunned by an unlimited land covered by lavish green grass and blooming little blossoms. This is the Jinyintan Prairie, found 75 miles (120 kilometers) far from downtown Xining. Covering a zone of 425 square miles (1100 square kilometers), this fruitful land has a lovely view and a lot of natural life. The best time to have a view of it is July to September when many will be attracted here to appreciate the mind-blowing scene.

Jinyintan Prairie

2. Qinghai Lake

Toward the west of Jinyintan Prairie lies the biggest inland salt water lake in China, Qinghai Lake. The rail line reaches out along its north bank, when travelers can see a huge region of clear water and impressions of inaccessible snow-topped mountains. The most wonderful time to catch a sight of the lake is July and August, when the encompassing Cole blossoms are in full sprout. The brilliant floods of Cole blooms, the dull blue water and the splendid daylight look like a delightful oil painting. Also, when it is icy winter, the charm of Qinghai Lake remains and pulls in various individuals to appreciate the particular winter view.

Qinghai Lake

3. Qarhan Salt Lake

The following astounding view after Qinghai Lake is the Qarhan Salt Lake. The highlight of this salt lake is the "Long Salt Bridge", a wide over-bridge made of salt over the lake. With an aggregate length of 19.8 miles (32 kilometers), this resembles an extension coasting over the brackish water. The railroad bed going here is likewise worked with a wide range of salt gems.

Qarhan Salt Lake

Tibet Railway in Kunlun Mountain Area

1. Kunlun Mountains

When you continue onwards after a short stop in Golmud, the train will begin its adventure inside the "paunch" of Kunlun Mountains, which are the fundamental skeleton of the leveled scene and a key common limit line of Qinghai Province. Looking through the windows, travelers can even observe its east pinnacle, Mt. Yuzhu which remains secured by snow even in summer. This area of rail line goes through many raised scaffolds including the acclaimed Kunlun Mountains Tunnel, known as the world's longest permafrost burrow. When leaving the passage, travelers may see a couple of Taoist sanctuaries, petition banners, some Mani Stones of Tibetan Buddhism, stone steles and obscure stone statues. Albeit plain and basic, it is a look at neighborhood individuals' lives.

Kunlun Mountains

2. Hoh Xil / Kekexili

The train will bear on into Hoh Xil, China's biggest and the world's third biggest uninhabited ranges. The essential landscape here includes jokul, stone woods, goerge and saline. There are numerous waterways and creatures living here. In the event that one is fortunate, travelers may see uncommon wild creatures like Tibetan eland and yak. An area of the railroad which is around 12 miles in length is particularly hoisted like an extension. Other two extensions over Chamuer River and Tuotuo River (upper reach of Yangtze River) along this area are likewise extremely terrific and worth seeing. The rail line around there at times strays and runs straight to the 'paradise' which is a great depiction of the notoriety of the Tibet 'Grand Road'.

Hoh Xil / Kekexili

3. Tanggula Mountains

Proceeding onwards, the train will move over its most astounding area in Tanggula Mountains. The oxygen here is just around 60%. The world's most elevated rail station, Tanggula Station, is situated here. It has an elevation of 16,627 feet (5,068 meters). Looking toward the west from the station, one will get to be distinctly intoxicated with the magnetic landscape of the mountain secured with snow all year around. Likewise, the endless fields, Tanggula River and ice sheet are what one sight catches hold of.

Tanggula Mountains

Tibet railway in astounding countryside of Nakchu

1. Nakchu

Twisting out of the Tanggula Mountains, the train will maneuver into Nagqu, a highly famous district in northern Tibet. Nakchu Railway Station remains on the Qiangtang Pasture, which is one of the five greatest fields in China. From the station, awesome vistas of lakes, clear blue sky, fields, groups of wild flying creatures and the heavenly jokul are all that the travelers' will visualize. The Qiangtang Pasturehas an extraordinary notoriety and in the month of August, the Nakchu Horse Race is held here pulling in numerous guests.

Horse Race Festival in Nagqu

2. Cuona Lake

The train will pass Cuona Lake soon thereafter. With the closest shore just many yards away, travelers can appreciate the quietness of the lake without hardly lifting a finger. Covering a territory of more than 154 square miles (400 square kilometers), Cuona Lake is viewed as the most astounding freshwater lake on the planet. Like Namtso Lake in Lhasa, Cuona Lake signifies 'Grand Lake' to local people, drawing in various admirers. The water here is perfectly clear with fish bouncing unreservedly. Together with the endless meadow and clear sky, the landscape encompassing Cuona Lake is of extraordinary excellence, drawing in cranes, mandarin ducks, swans and other wild creatures. The train will then pass Damxung. Bottomless with fields, it is additionally celebrated for its stallion race.

Cuona Lake

3. Nyainqentanglha Mountains

Next, the railroad will go through another mountain called Nyainqentanglha Mountains. These are the last mountains the railroad will take you through before achieving its final spot of halt. At the mountain pass, a goliath petition banner is hung to venerate the Mountain God. On the off chance that it is sunny, travelers can value the perfect Nyainqentanglha mountain crest which surpasses the mists.

Nyainqentanglha Mountains

4. Yangpachen

When you continue traveling south, you will be astounded to see some hot gasses and hot springs ascending from the earth. This is Yangpachen, a place rich in earth warm assets and hot springs. The most sizzling namma in China and the biggest hot power plants are arranged here.

Yangpachen Hot Spring

5. Dagze County

The train will then experience a valley with a quick streaming waterway. In spite of the fact that the height is not as high as you might think it to be, it is more extreme and more hazardous. When achieving Dagze County, the elevation all of a sudden gets lower and the atmosphere gets to be distinctly lovely. Travelers will see trees and additionally little towns. You will for sure be awed by the landscape.

Scenery in Dagze County

6. Lhasa

With the valley extending considerably further, the train enters Lhasa stream valley and goes by the fantastic Lhasa River Bridge. It lastly comes to a halt at Lhasa. Here, travelers can visit the well-known Norbulingka,Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street. Click here to see more about Lhasa City Tours.

Potala Palace

An extraordinary approach to arrange an effective train trip through Tibet is to plan your flight to Lhasa and afterward from that point take the train. In spite of the fact that the capital city of Tibet has a large number of the metropolitan elements, some vacationers are discovering more enthusiasm for the littler and more grand urban areas inside Tibet. As Tibet is developing in the field of tourism you will discover numerous incredible inns, eateries and amusement places.

This Tibet train travel is an exceptionally reasonable choice and a must have experience for anybody hoping to investigate this baffling and excellent place with least anxiety. Despite the fact that there still are a few places this new railroad framework does not pass through, it is a work in advance and one of the best transportation choices Tibet has found till date. Visit Tibet today and experience its magnificence, secret and culture direct on this extraordinarily breathtaking train ride.