Xining to Lhasa Train

The Xining to Lhasa train covers a distance of 1,956km, departs from Xining Railway Station, and arrives at Lhasa Railway Station in about 20-22 hours. It is the shortest of all the train routes to Lhasa from the seven gateway cities across China. There are 4 direct trains from Xining to Lhasa every day, including Z8981, Z9821, Z8991, and Y971. The return trains are Z8982, Z9822, Z8992, Y972. In addition, all trains from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing to Lhasa will stop in Xining. So, you can enjoy different trains from Xining to Lhasa in a single day. Since different trains stop at different stations, the running time of the Xining to Lhasa train is also different, and the running time is about 20-22 hours.

Xining to Lhasa train was launched in July 2006, while the Xining Railway station was set in 1959. It is one of the three initial railway routes of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, and the other two lines moved from Beijing to Lhasa and Chengdu to Lhasa. Xining is the capital of Qinghai Province and the largest city on the Tibet Plateau. In addition, it is also the east portal of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. About a quarter of passengers travel from Xining to Lhasa by train every year.

The Xining to Lhasa train is the starting point of the Qinghai-Tibet train. It is one of the most favorite routes to Tibet. The famous Qinghai-Tibet railway starts from Xining to Lhasa. Since trains from Chengdu and Chongqing depart every other day, there are 8 trains departing from Xining to the holy city of Lhasa every day. To enjoy more chances of getting a Tibet train ticket for the planned travel date, tourists can also book the train to Tibet originating from other cities.

Xining to Lhasa train Schedules and Tickets（2024）

There are two types of Xining to Lhasa trains. One is a direct train from Xining to Lhasa. The other is a train that departs from other cities, stops in Xining, and then arrives in Lhasa. There are 4 direct trains from Xining to Lhasa every day, including Z8981, Z9821, Z8991, and Y971. The return trains are Z8982, Z9822, Z8992, and Y972. On the other hand, 5 trains stop in Xining, departing from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing. Since trains from Chengdu and Chongqing depart every other day, there are 8 trains departing from Xining to the holy city of Lhasa every day.

There are three ticket prices from Xining to Lhasa: hard seat ¥224, hard sleeper ¥495, and soft sleeper ¥781. The ticket price is the same for all trains. Therefore, you can choose any train from Xining to Lhasa according to your time. It is worth noting that there are no hard seat tickets for Y971 train.

Xining to Lhasa Direct Train Schedule（2024）

Xining to Lhasa Train Schedule via Xining（2024）

*Note:The actual arrival and departure time of train, please refer to the information on your ticket, or consult your travel consultant.

Xining to Lhasa Train Ticket Fares

There are three types of train tickets on all Xining Lhasa trains – Soft Sleeper, Hard Sleeper, and Hard Seat. The fares differ a lot. Soft Sleeper, the most luxurious type of train tickets, is the most expensive, and costs around CNY 781. The Hard Sleeper, the second-class ticket, is cheaper, and costs around CNY 495. The Hard Seats, less chosen by foreign travelers, is much cheaper and costs only about CNY 224. To enjoy a quieter and more comfortable train journey, we strongly suggest you choose a Soft Sleeper. Check the following table for details about Xining Lhasa Train Fares:

About ticket price:

The ticket prices above are the net price. In reality, as traveling in Tibet is so popular that the actual ticket demand far exceeds the supply, in-bound and out-bound tourists have to pay more than the net price to buy tickets. The actual price is subject to the market fluctuation. In some cases, the actual price could be double than the net price. Despite the uncertainty and difficulty in purchasing train tickets, TTC would manage to book tickets at a reasonable price ( usually 20 percent lower than the market price) and promise to offer free service for it. If tourists only want to buy train tickets via TTC without intending to travel to Tibet, TTC will have to charge a small amount of service fee.

Which Seat Class should I take, Soft Sleeper, Hard Sleeper or Hard Seat?

Each year, there are around one-quarter of tourists taking trains to Lhasa from Xining. The famous Qinghai-Tibet railway starts from Xining to Lhasa. It is the most essential part of all railways to Tibet.

As the capital of Qinghai Province and the largest city on the Tibet Plateau, Xining is also an important transfer and commercial hub that connects west China with other parts of China.

It is convenient to get to Xining from other cities and then take a Tibet train from Xining to Lhasa.

According to our local experience, we strongly suggest travelers choose the Soft Sleeper instead of the Hard Sleeper and Hard Seat to ensure a more comfortable and safer trip because passengers will have to stay a night on the train.

Comparison between Soft Sleeper and Hard Sleeper

Notice: Since there are usually about 64 Soft Sleepers on each train to Tibet, so you’d better confirm your trip and book the train tickets as early as possible. Currently, passengers can book the train ticket 30 days in advance.

Some useful phrases you may need to read your Xining to Lhasa Train Ticket:

西宁站：Xining Railway Station
拉萨站: Lhasa Railway Station
xx年xx月xx日: xx Year xx Month xx Date
xx车xx号: xx Carriage xx Berth
上/ 中/ 下铺：Upper/ Middle/ Lower Berth

Why Xining to Lhasa Train is Recommended?

1. It costs less time (only about 21hours) and money (soft sleeper around CNY 780) for a Xining Lhasa train journey compared with Beijing Lhasa train, Shanghai Lhasa train, Chengdu Lhasa train and other routes.

2. Spending one or two days in Xining to visit the beautiful Qinghai Lake is a wonderful experience as well as a very helpful way to acclimatize the plateau altitudes.

3. Passengers have a more flexible choice between different train timetables because there are usually 5 trains to Lhasa from Xining each day.

The length of Xining Lhasa Railway (Qinghai Tibet Railway) is 1972km (1225 miles). It takes only about 21 hours to take a train to Lhasa from Xining. Currently Xining Railway Station has 5 trains to Lhasa, including one exclusive train Z917 which only runs from Xining to Lhasa, and 4 trains from other cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, etc.

Xining to Lhasa Train from Xining and Tibet Travel Permit

To take a train to Lhasa from Xining, you will have to hold a Tibet Travel Permit (Tibet Entry Permit) which is issued only by Tibet Tourism Bureau, and also can only be applied by travel agency behalf of travelers. When you check in at railway station, you have to show the permit. The Entry Permit is also required when you or your agent book train ticket at railway station or branch offices.

It needs about 15~20 days to apply for and get the Tibet Travel Permit. But there is no limitation on the months and dates except March. While the train ticket can only be booked about 30 days in advance, so you can first contact us to apply for the permit first, then move on to next step to book train tickets.

How to Apply for Tibet Travel Permit

1. Contact a us to work out and confirm an itinerary in Tibet;

2. Send us the scanned copies of your passport, and provide an available address in China(hotel or local agency) to receive your permit;

3. We apply for the Tibet Travel Permit from Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa;

4. Once the permit is issued, we will send the original permit to you by post. >> Learn more detail about Tibet Travel Permit Application

Facilities on Xining Lhasa Train – Life on the Train

Altitude Change of Xining to Lhasa Train

Xining to Lhasa Railway, measuring 1,956 km, starts from Xining (2,275m) to Lhasa (3,650m). This railway with the highest altitude around the world reaches its highest point at Tanggula Pass (5,072m) and the entire railway line is built over 4500m. It is known that high altitude may trigger physical discomforts such as headache, dizziness and other altitude sickness symptoms. Yet, this specially-built train is equipped with oxygen supply system that will automatically release oxygen into the carriage to minimize altitude sickness when reaches Golmud (2,829m).

Oxygen Supply and Altitude Sickness on the Xining to Lhasa train

Sometimes called “mountain sickness”, altitude sickness is a group of symptoms that can strike if you walk or climb to a higher altitude too quickly. Characterized by symptoms such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, altitude sickness is the biggest concern for traveling to Tibet.

Air-conditioning alone is not sufficient to make a cozy environment on the train to Tibet. The oxygen supply is the key element to ensure passengers' comfort and safety. There are two oxygen-supply systems on each train. One is used for increasing the oxygen level in the train, by temperature and air pressure controlling systems, when the train enters into the plateau zone. The other is directly used by passengers through an independent port. There are oxygen supply tubes and masks in each cabin for emergencies. Private oxygen masks are provided to every passenger, whatever ticket they have. In sleeping berth cars, you can find outlets on the wall beside the windows, while in seat cars, you can find outlets under your seat.

How to choose the Xining to Lhasa by train or Lhasa to Xining?

Take a train to Lhasa from Xining or from Lhasa to Xining are both great. What matters most is to get a train ticket as it is usually not easy to book train tickets especially a soft sleeper during traveling peak seasons (usually from May to October). But we recommend Xining to Lhasa train ride more if you are able to obtain the tickets because you can spend one or two days to acclimatize the high altitudes of Qinghai Tibet Plateau firstly so that you won’t suffer from high altitude sickness on the train and during you trip in Tibet. At the same time, you will have chance to take the Train Z164 from Shanghai and Z264 from Guangzhou at Xining. These two trains allow more daytime to enjoy the beautiful landscape along the Golmud Lhasa section which is the most beautiful section among all.

How to Book Xining Lhasa Train Tickets

Currently all trains to Tibet will make stop at Xining, which means you can choose to take any one of the 6 trains from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Lanzhou to Tibet. Plus, Xining also operates one exclusive train Z6801 to Lhasa.

You can book train ticket on your own at any railway station or branch office in China or contact a travel agency to book for you. Generally speaking, the travel agencies always have the bigger chances to obtain a Tibet train ticket especially during tourism peak season because they can book tickets both online and off line. They also always keep up with the latest situations. Both the passport and Tibet Travel Permit are needed to book train tickets at railway station, but only passport information is needed if you let a travel agency book train tickets online.

Some useful tips to increase the chance of successful ticket booking

1. If you fail to book the ticket of Xining to Lhasa train, you can try booking tickets of former stations (cities) to Lhasa, such as Lanzhou, Xian, etc. If you have managed to obtain a ticket from those cities, you can also board the train at Xining Railway Station.

2. When you find it hard to book a ticket for Xinig to Lhasa train, you can change a starting station, such as Lanzhou, Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai.

How to Get to Xining Railway Station

There are three railway stations in Xining – Xining Railway Station (西宁站), Xining East Railway Station (西宁东站), Xining West Railway Station (西宁西站). But only the Xining Railway Station provide passenger transport service. The other two stations are for freight transport. Xining Railway Station is the starting station of Qinghai Tibet Railway. It is also the joint railway station for all trains to Tibet, including trains from Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Lanzhou, Chongqing and Guangzhou.

Xining Railway Station is located at Huzhu Road, Chengdong District, Xining City (西宁市城东区互助路), about 2 miles (3 km) from central city area, 19 miles (30 km) from Caojiabao Airport, and 20 miles (32 km) from Ta'er Monastery. You can take a taxi to Xining Railway Station conveniently from any region in Xining. It is suggested to get to the railway station at least 1 hour before the train departure so that you will have enough time to collect ticket, check in and find your train. Currently there is no subway in Xining City.

Xining Railway Station Outlook

How to Plan a Travel in Xining

Xining not only provides the shortest train road to Tibet, but also offers a great opportunity to enjoy a short-break trip. You can spend about 2 or more days in this exotic city in northwestern China to explore its beautiful nature and charming culture.

Classic Xining Two Days Tour

Day 1: drive about 155km (about 2.5hrs) to visit the best highlight of Qinghai Lake – Erlangjian Scenic Spot. After Qinghai Lake sightseeing, drive back to Xining for accommodation.

Day 2: In the morning, you can go to take a half day tour to Taer Monastery, the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhism master – Tsongkhapa. Then drive back to city to catch a train to Tibet.

Xining – Qinghai Lake- Zhangye – Jiayuguan – Xining Circuit

Xining is also the gateway to northwestern China - Ancient Silk Road Region. If time allows, you are suggested to take following Silk Road Adventure from Xining

Day 1 drive about 155km (about 2.5hrs) to visit the best highlight of Qinghai Lake – Erlangjian Scenic Spot. After Qinghai Lake sightseeing, drive back to Xining for accommodation.

Day 2 Take a high speed train Zhangye in the morning, and visit the famous natural wonder – Zhangye Danxia Landform;

Day 3 Visit Giant Buddha Temple, and then take a high speed train to Jiayuguan City to visit the ancient project Jiayuguan Pass Fortress.

Day 4 Drive to Dunhuang. Visit Yulin Grottoes along the road.

Day 5 Visit the world famous Mogao Grottoes in the morning, and explore wonderful Crescent Lake and Sand Echoing Mountian in the afternoon.

Day 6 Take a flight back to Xining to catch your train to Tibet.

Abouts Xining to Lhasa Train FAQs

Q1. Where to recharge your mobile phones and electronic devices?

The power plug for chargers are located in the corridors OR under your table in the cabin with the 4 soft sleepers (in between the 2 lower bunks).

Q2. Can tourists have shower in the train?

Unfortunately, there is no shower room in the train. Do bring some wet wipes in stores and a small towel. And small but equally important thing is to bring enough toilet/tissue paper.

Q3. How to Get Help on the Train?

Some of the staff on the train speak English and they are easy-approaching and hospitable to foreign tourists. If one runs into any trouble, you may ask the head of conductor for help. Most of the passengers may have symptoms of altitude sickness (such as headache, fatigue, difficult sleeping, lack of appetite, etc.) as the train reaches Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Now, you may switch on the oxygen outlet to inhale oxygen to ease the discomfort. If the symptom gets worse, you may find the conductor for help and the doctor on the train will come and give you timely treatment.

Q4. How can we minimize the effect of altitude sickness?

The effect of altitude sickness on passengers varies. Yet, to minimize or ease the impact of altitude sickness, one may prepare some altitude sickness tablets before boarding the train and take some when the train climbs to plateau. There is no need to worry too much the altitude sickness, the train is built with oxygen supply system which is easy to use.

Q5. Is smoking allowed in the cabin?

Smoking is strictly forbidden in the train as the train is tightly sealed and pressurized and oxygen is pumped into the carriage when the train ascends to extreme altitude.It would be devastating if the train caught fire.