Flights to Tibet from Shanghai

Shanghai is a favorite gateway of travelers coming from Europe, North and South America, Australia, and Southeast Asia, and from any other part of the world. It is a major hub for international flights from the most important cities around the world and from the major domestic cities of China. Moreover, Shanghai is a tourist destination on its own. So, if you are planning a trip from Shanghai to Lhasa, you can also allot one or two days for touring this awesome city of Shanghai.

Although Shanghai is 2,944 kilometers away from Tibet, you can reach Tibet from Shanghai within 7 to 9 hours of air travel. At present, two direct flights operate between Shanghai and Lhasa every day. These direct flights are operated by Tibet Airlines and China Eastern Airlines. China Eastern Airlines offers direct flights between Lhasa and Shanghai via Xi’an with a 2hrs 20mins stopover, and the whole duration takes 8hrs 40mins. Tibetan Airlines offers direct flights via Chengdu with a 1hr 35mins stopover, and the whole duration takes 7hrs 25mins. There are also several flights to Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, and Xi'an airports from where you can board a connecting flight to Tibet. These flights are operated by Eastern Airlines, Tibet Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, Air China, and Sichuan Airlines. If you can’t buy the direct flight to Lhasa from Shanghai, you can fly to Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming or Xián firstly and then transfer another flight to Lhasa.

Facts in Brief About Shanghai-Lhasa Flight

• Distance: 3,107 kilometers (1,930 miles)
• Flight Duration of One-stop Flight: 7 hours to 9 hours
• Frequency: 5 to 7 flights per day
• Major Airlines: Air China, Eastern Airlines, Tibet Airlines
• Ticket Average Price: 3,360 CNY (economy)
• Flight Type: One-stop flights and Connecting flights
• Airport Name and IATA Codes: Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), Lhasa Gonggar International Airport (LXA)
• Altitude Difference: Shanghai—4 meters above sea level; Lhasa—3,650 meters above sea level

Air route from Shanghai to Lhasa.

Airports of Shanghai that Operates Flight to Tibet

There are several airports in Shanghai, but only two airports operate flights to Tibet. These are the Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). Hence, when you book a flight to Tibet from Shanghai, you should take note of the name of the airport; otherwise, you may get confused as to which airport you are going to board your flight.

1. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)—is 30km away from the center of the city. It is situated in No. 300, Qihang Road, Pudong New Area and belonged to the three busiest airports in China. It is truly a major gateway for international travelers. It caters to international flights from 90 international cities. It also caters to domestic flights from all over China. At present, there is only a single direct flight from PVG to LXA and this flight usually departs at around 6:45 in the morning, although there are several connecting flights to Lhasa.
3. Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)—is another international airport in Shanghai that is situated in Changning District. It's around 13 km to the west of the city. Unlike the PVG, it offers limited international flights, but many domestic flights. A single direct flight to Lhasa leaves SHA every day and makes a stop in Chengdu. Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport also operates several connecting flights to Lhasa that make plane transfers in Chongqing, Dazhou, and Xi'an. 

Shanghai to Lhasa Flight Chart

Flights from Shanghai to Lhasa

Flights from Lhasa to Shanghai

The above-mentioned schedules and flight data should be used only for reference. You can contact us or refer to the different flight websites for a complete list of Shanghai-Lhasa flights. The number of flights daily is also subject to the changes in the weather and the seasons.

Necessary Documents

There are several documents that you need to carry around when traveling to Shanghai and Tibet. These documents include your Chinese Visa, Tibet Travel Permit, and Passport.

Tibet Travel Permit is a must-have document to board a flight to Tibet as you need to present it when you check-in the airports. You should also have three duplicates of this permit to ensure that you can present them on several occasions. Moreover, you need to carry around the original copy of the Tibet Travel permit in case you are asked to present it.

The Tibet Travel Permit is issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau. You can never apply for this permit on your own. Your travel agency will be the one to apply for it on your behalf. Hence, you need to sign up with a Tibet travel agency and ask your agency to obtain Tibet Permit for you by providing them a scan of your passport and Chinese visa. Additionally, the processing of this permit may usually take up to 10 days.

Arrival at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

After 2.5 hours of air travel, you will arrive at the largest airport called "Lhasa Gonggar International Airport" (LXA). This airport is the most important airport in Tibet. It's 62 kilometers from Lhasa, being located in Gonggar County, Shannan Prefecture. It is situated 11,710 ft above sea level and only Boeing 747 and Airbus A340 can lad in this airport.

This airport is serviced only by one international flight from Kathmandu. During peak season, there are one or two daily direct flights that ply the Kathmandu-Lhasa air route. These flights are operated by Sichuan Airlines and Air China.

FAQs about Shanghai Lhasa Flight

• When is the best season to visit Tibet?

The summer months from April to October are the best months for traveling to Tibet, especially, if you are going to visit the snowy regions of Mt. Kailash, Mt. Everest, and Namtso Lake. Besides, your flight options during these months are aplenty. During other months, many airlines lessen the number of flights that they provide, thus, during those months, you have limited flight schedule options. Moreover, you should take the early morning flights for enough time to acclimate yourself to the high-altitude weather of Tibet.

• Would I experience altitude sickness in my Shanghai-Lhasa Flight?

During the flight to Tibet, you will not experience altitude sickness because the inside of the plane is pressurized. But when the plane arrives in Lhasa, and you get out of the plane, you may experience symptoms of altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is the effects of high altitude on a person. Its symptoms may include vomiting, headaches, tiredness, dizziness, and trouble sleeping. It may also develop into high-altitude pulmonary edema, shortness of breath, high-altitude cerebral edema, and chronic mountain sickness. You should first have your checkup before embarking on a tour of Tibet. If you are physically in good condition, chances are, you will be able to acclimate yourself immediately to the high-altitude weather of Tibet. 

• Do they offer discounted fares for kids?

Your kids who are aged 2 to 12 will surely get around a 50% discount. Moreover, your child will be exempted from paying Airport Construction Fee. If you bring an infant 2 years old below, you will get a 90% discount for the infant, but the infant won't get a separate seat.

• How can I book a Shanghai-Tibet flight?

You can book a flight ticket online on different online booking websites. You can book a ticket at the airports in China or get your ticket from flight resellers. If you choose us as your travel agency, we can help you book your flight ticket at a lower price.

• How can I get my booked flight tickets from you?

You don’t need to get any paper tickets from us. We usually book e-tickets and will send you the detailed flight information. With this information, you can get them easily from the counter of the related airline with your passport.

• How to get discounted flight tickets?

From November to March, airlines will give some discounts. In peak season, the demand far exceeds the supply, so it's tough to get a discounted ticket.

• Can I board a direct plane to Tibet from my home country?

No, the only international flight to Tibet is from Kathmandu, Nepal. You need to fly to Nepal or mainland China, and then board a direct flight to Tibet.

• What is the kids' flight fare?

Kids (ages from 2 to 11) will save 50% of the adult flight fare, about USD240.