CHINA
Towards Tibet: The Xining – Lhasa Train
Stretching from Xining in Qinghai Province, cutting across the barren grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau and mounting the foreboding winter fairyland of the Kunlun Mountains before arriving in Lhasa, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is more than just a train from point A to Point B. It’s a journey of literal and figurative transportation, filled with untouched, achingly beautiful vistas.
Only about a day in length (ca. 22 hours and 1.956 km), you’d be hard-pressed to find a moment worth falling asleep for, as tempting as it is to nod off to the gentle rocking and click-clack of the train. However, if you do still plan on getting some shut-eye, here are some stretches that are more than worth looking out the window for: Chaerhan Salt Lake, Kunlun Pass, Hoh Xil, Tanggula Pass and Qiangtang Grassland.
When not gazing in awe out the windows, riders on the train are able to experience some pretty impressive features, all provided to make the journey as comfortable and safe as possible. Like most trains in China’s network, travelers have access to hot water dispensers, a restaurant car and both squat and sit-down toilets. Each car is also pressurised (much like the cabin of an aircraft) and equipped with an oxygen supply system to help prevent any travelers from feeling sick or light-headed. Cabins come with private oxygen-dispensing outlets, and each train has an on-site doctor just in case.
(Top image source: CGTN)
CHINA
Towards Tibet: The Xining – Lhasa Train
Stretching from Xining in Qinghai Province, cutting across the barren grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau and mounting the foreboding winter fairyland of the Kunlun Mountains before arriving in Lhasa, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is more than just a train from point A to Point B. It’s a journey of literal and figurative transportation, filled with untouched, achingly beautiful vistas.
Only about a day in length (ca. 22 hours and 1.956 km), you’d be hard-pressed to find a moment worth falling asleep for, as tempting as it is to nod off to the gentle rocking and click-clack of the train. However, if you do still plan on getting some shut-eye, here are some stretches that are more than worth looking out the window for: Chaerhan Salt Lake, Kunlun Pass, Hoh Xil, Tanggula Pass and Qiangtang Grassland.
When not gazing in awe out the windows, riders on the train are able to experience some pretty impressive features, all provided to make the journey as comfortable and safe as possible. Like most trains in China’s network, travelers have access to hot water dispensers, a restaurant car and both squat and sit-down toilets. Each car is also pressurised (much like the cabin of an aircraft) and equipped with an oxygen supply system to help prevent any travelers from feeling sick or light-headed. Cabins come with private oxygen-dispensing outlets, and each train has an on-site doctor just in case.
(Top image source: CGTN)