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China confirms luxury Qinghai-Tibet train service coming
tibetanreview.net, 21 January 2009
Qinghai-Tibet rail line opens way for future
chinadaily.com.cn, 10 January 2009
Construction of 2nd phase of Qinghai-Tibet railway from Xining to Golmud starts
people.com.cn, 25 December 2008
A New Approach to Very-High-Altitude Land Travel: The Train to Lhasa, Tibet
annals.org, 16 December 2008
Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to embrace 6 more railway lines by 2020
xinhuanet.com, 03 December 2008
China invests more in railways
cctv.com, 02 November 2008
India: States eyes bullet trains for big cities
indiatimes.com, 02 November 2008
Thousands take joyride in Kashmir's first train
hindu.com, 31 October 2008
India: Now a 'Village on Wheels' from railways 
timesnow.tv, 30 October 2008
China will spend $292B to expand rail system
cnn.com, 27 October 2008
On the Train to Tibet: Railroading the Roof of the World
chinadigitaltimes.net, 25 October 2008
Aboard the Highest Train in the World: China's Railroad to Tibet
huffingtonpost.com, 21 October 2008
China to add six new lines to Tibet railway
alwatan.com.kw, 19 August 2008
China: Ride the highest train in the world
canada.com, 22 June 2008
cnn.com, 07 March 2008
indiatimes.com, 11 October 2007
bbc.co.uk, 12 August 2007
nytimes.com, 12 August 2007
people.com.cn, 02 July 2007
chinadaily.com.cn, 02 July 2007
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people.com.cn, 22 June 2007
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people.com.cn, 15 February 2007
easier.com, 13 February 2007
people.com.cn, 15 January 2007
Chinadaily.com, 17 December 2006
cafebabel.com, 06 December 2006
World's highest railway is one hell of a ride
sfgate.com, 05 November 2006
people.com.cn, 02 October 2006
People's Daily Online, 02 October 2006
Epoch Tmes, 11 September 2006
Telugu Portal, 11 September 2006
Times of India, 29 August 2006
Spiegel, 16 August 2006
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eKantipur.com, 12 August 2006
bbc.co.uk, 10 August 2006
ShanghaiDaily.com, 10 August 2006
guardian.co.uk, 29 July 2006
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CNN, 26 July 2006
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ShanghaiDaily.com, 19 July 2006
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World Socialist Web Site, 17 July 2006
deseretnews.com, 16 July 2006
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washingtonpost.com 04 July 2006
chinaknowledge.com, 04 July 2006
English.eastday.com, 03 July 2006
People's Daily Online, 03 July 2006
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Xinhua, www.chinaview.cn, 01 July 2006
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CRIEnglish.com, 26 June 2006
Xinhua, CRIEnglish.com, 22 June 2006
People's Daily Online, 16 June 2006
English.eastday.com, 14 June 2006
TravelVideo.tv, 08 June 2006
Commercial Appeal, 04 June 2006
chinabroadcast.cn, 22 May 2006
Reuters, Phayul.com, 18 May 2006
chinadaily.com.cn, 02 March 2006
chinabroadcast.cn, 14 December 2005
people.com.cn, 12 December 2005
eastday.com, 12 December 2005
mg.co.za, 20 September 2005
innovations-report.de, 12 December 2004
xinhuanet.com, 23 June 2003
chinatoday.com.cn, 16 November 2002
xinhuanet.com, 15 April 2002
usatoday.com, 16 August 2001
related links
Official site of the Qingnai-Tibet Railway
China-Tibet Information Center
Qingnai-Tibet articles
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China's "Sky Train" Leaps Across the
Roof of the World

The soaring Sanchahe Bridge is the highest span along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.Sanchahe Bridge is the highest span along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Photo: tibetinfor.com.cn.
 
Travel FeatureThe People's Republic of China has realised its long-held dream of extending rail service across "the roof of the world." The landmark Qinghai-Tibet (Qingzang) Railway crosses the Tibetan Plateau connecting China's cities to Lhasa; the cultural and spiritual heart of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
 
Some fifty years in the making, the railway's first leg, between Xining and Golmud, was completed over twenty years ago. But it has been construction of the final stretch, extending from Golmud to Lahasa, which has presented the project's most daunting challenges.
 
The "Sky Train" is a marvel of modern engineering. Much of the rail bed crosses fragile perma frost. At altitudes exceeding 3-mi/5-km, Tibet's first railway counts the world's loftiest train depot and highest rail tunnel among its superlatives.
 
Completion of the 4.2 billion (USD) project has vast implications for the social and economic fabric of northwest China. The new train penetrates geographic barriers that have long impeded access to this remote region. Tourism is chief among targeted growth areas with the number of visitors expected to redouble over several of the coming decades.
 
Travel aboard the so-called "Lhasa Express" is a rarified experience. The exotic high country route offers captivating panoramas of the snow-capped Kunlun Range, the salt waters of Quinghai and Namtso Lakes and sprawling tundra grasslands where yak and chiru graze and rare snow lotus bloom.
 
At Lhasa, tourists flock to the red and white palaces of the world-famous Potala and Buddhist pilgrims converge on the great Gelugpa monasteries of Sera and Drepung and on the sacred Jokhang Temple in the heart of the bustling Barkhor District.
 
Onboard accommodations range from spartan "hard seats" to soft, cushioned sleepers. Amenities range from flat screen TVs in first class to special sightseeing platform cars accessible to all. Advanced oxygen controls counter the sometimes stressful effects of the thin mountain air.
 
Daily trains to and from Lahasa make same-day connections with Golmud, overnight links with Xining and Xian and provide two-night service between Tibet and Beijing. Passengers must secure Tibet entry permits prior to arriving in China. High-altitude travel waivers are required before boarding.
 
The "Sky Train" has met with some criticism. Some Tibetan exile groups have criticized China for what they believe is the railway's illegal intrusion into a sovereign Tibet. And some scientists have predicted that global warming may lead to a dangerous thawing of the railway's permafrost track bed.
 
Meanwhile planners are looking ahead. By 2017, service is anticipated to extend beyond Lahasa, to Linzhi in the East and to Xigatse, Tibet's second city. A new deluxe five-star tour train which will cater to a mere 100 passengers. Among its features wil be unique transparent coaches affording 360° views.


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