Xining to Lhasa Train

Xining is the start point of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and the capital city of Qinghai Province. The distance from Xining to Lhasa train is 1972km/1233 miles, which takes 21 hours. It's an ideal place to start your Tibet train tour, as you will ascend your altitude from Xining(2,261 meters) to Lhasa(3,650 meters) gradually therefore you will have enough time to acclimatize the elevation.

The railway from Xining to Lhasa was finished until 2006 while the station was set in 1959. It now serves as the main station for trains to Lhasa, and all trains to Tibet pass through the city so it's actually the main train station for many trips to Tibet.

Train Schedules & Ticket Info

The Z6801 is the only train from Xining to Lhasa. It departs from Xining at 14:01 from Xining Train Station every day and arrives in Lhasa at 11:20 on the next day. The train running from Xining is pressurized, supplied with artificial oxygen, and sealed. The windows have ultraviolet filters to protect passengers from UV radiation.

Besides Z6801, you also have other choices,

Facilities Onboard

Cabins on Tibet trains

There are two kinds of cabins onboard where you can sleep overnight during your train journey to Tibet. The first-class cabin is the soft sleeper cabin, with 4 beds in one compartment; And the second-class cabin is the hard sleeper with 6 beds in one compartment. The soft sleeper is recommended.

Oxygen supply

The altitude sickness is always an important and considerable issue for travelers who are planning the train tours to Tibet. As a matter of fact, there are two kinds of oxygen supply systems that can relatively reduce the effect of high altitude on the train. So there is no need to worry too much about suffering from altitude sickness on board.

Life on the train

There is one dining car offering food and drinks on each train to Tibet. At the end of each coach, there are toilets and washing basins. The train from Xining to Lhasa offers spoiled water for 21 hours so you can bring some instant noodles, coffee, and tea with you.

The Advantages of Taking Train from Xining to Lhasa

1. The shortest way to Lhasa by train within 21 hours

Xining is the ideal choice for travelers who want to travel to Tibet by train but not willing to stay too long on the train. The train to Lhasa takes around 21 hours across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with a distance of 1,972km. It is the shortest train journey to Tibet that only takes one night on the train. And travelers can see most of the beautiful sceneries along the Qinghai-Tibet railway in the daytime.

2. More helpful to acclimate altitude changes

It is ideal for travelers to get to Xining (2,261 meters) first, stay there at least 1 day and then take a train to Lhasa. Comparing with departing from Beijing (44 meters), Shanghai (16 meters), Chengdu (485 meters) and other cities,  the altitude changes are the smallest so it's easier for people to acclimate.

3. More chances to get a train ticket to Lhasa from Xining

The demand for the train tickets from Xining to Lhasa is the largest among all the other trains going to Tibet. And it is much easier to get a ticket meeting your required departure time from Xining than from any other city in China. There are about 6 Tibet trains from other cities with larger transportation capacity heading to Lhasa passing from Xining each day.

There are many other attractions for travelers to visit in Xining except the amazing scenery that can be seen along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. As the east gate of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, there are many top attractions in Xining. In the southwest part of the city is the Kumbum Monastery - one of the six Great Monasteries of the Gelugpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. And a 600-year-old Dongguan Mosque, one of the top 4 mosques in Northwest China, just in the Xining city zone. And it’s big enough to hold over 300 Muslims in prayer.

4. No need to transit to the Tibet train

No matter where you start your Tibet train journey, you need to transit to the oxygen-supplied train in Xining except you take Z6801. As the original train can’t adapt to that high altitude and harsh plateau environment, so you have to change trains. When the train arrives in Xining from your original starting city, passengers need to move to the oxygen-supplied train, you have to unload your luggage and move them into the new train. 

5. Numerous tourists attractions around Xining and Qinghai-Tibet Railway

Outside the city lies the Qinghai Lake, with the famous Bird Island in the northwest of the lake. The island is small but becomes the home to millions of migratory birds twice a year, making it an excellent place for bird-watching and seeing several rare species of non-native birds. Along Qinghai Tibet Railway, you will see more attractions such as Hoh Xil Nature Reserve - the largest unmanned area in China and the third-largest in the world, Tangula Mountain Pass - the highest railway station in the world, Namtso Lake - the "heavenly Lake" in Tibetan.