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Ride the Qinghai-
Tibet Train to 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.
 
The 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.
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.
News Links
Travelling through Tibet: the Beijing to Lhasa express
tntmagazine.com, January 23, 2012
Hong Kong to Tibet by train
telegraph.co.uk, 12 August 2011
Tibet: Traveling the highest railway
chinadaily.com.cn, 23 June 2011
Qinghai-Tibet railway in snapshots
chinadaily.com.cn, 22 June 2011
Qinghai-Tibet Railway: World's highest and longest plateau railway
xinhuanet.com, 18 July 2011
From Beijing to Tibet
chinadaily.com.cn, 08 July 2011
Tibet: Traveling the highest railway
chinadaily.com.cn, 23 June 2011
Qinghai-Tibet railway in snapshots
chinadaily.com.cn, 22 June 2011
China to Tibet: On the fast track to heaven
thenational.ae, 06 May 2011
Scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet railway
globaltimes.cn, 22 December 2010
Tibet's Wintry Charms Lure Foreign Tourists
cri.cn, 02 November 2010
Tibet railway extension under construction
chinadaily.com.cn, 27 September 2010
Tibet gets closer for Shanghai residents
cnngo.com, 20 September 2010
China's most difficult mountain railway linked up
xinhuanet.com, 18 August 2010
China: To the roof on the rails
smh.com.au, 02 April 2010
Qinghai-Tibet rail line opens way for future
chinadaily.com.cn, 10 January 2009
Railroading the Roof of the World
chinadigitaltimes.net, 25 October 2008
Aboard the Highest Train in the World
huffingtonpost.com, 21 October 2008
China: Ride the highest train in the world
canada.com, 22 June 2008
cnn.com, 07 March 2008
Railway to Lhasa
indiatimes.com, 11 October 2007
Railway brings new era for Tibet
bbc.co.uk, 12 August 2007
China: Riding the Velvet Rails
nytimes.com, 12 August 2007
Qinghai-Tibet Railway employs translators to help passengers
people.com.cn, 22 June 2007
World's highest railway: Beijing to Lhasa by train
prlog.org, 16 May 2007
China's greenest railway
inthenews.co.uk, 27 April 2007
China: World's loftiest train ride a breathtaking feat
chicagotribune.com, 08 April 2007

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