Lhasa Will Reopen to Foreign Tourists from Apirl 05, 2009

Good news on Tibet Permits for Tibet travel in 2009! Tibet Tourism Bureau will have a meeting on Monday, March 30, 2009 to decide the exact time to reopen Tibet to foreign tourists. Should be no problem to get the Tibet Travel Permit for the people who planned to entry Tibet on April 05, 2009.

Simply send the copies of your passports and Chinese visa to Travel West China, one of the best local Tibet tour operator based in Lhasa, to get the necessary Tibet Permits including TTB-Tibet Entry Permit, PSB-Alien's Travel Permit and Military Permission for Tibet Tours.

Beijing to Lhasa Train Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009

Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009: Beijing to Lhasa Train

Beijing-Lhasa Tibet Train No.: T27
Beijing-Lhasa Train Running Time: 46 hrs. 30 min.
Beijing-Lhasa Train Frequency in 2009: Daily
Beijing-Lhasa Train Fare: Soft Sleeper 1262RMB per ticket, Hard Sleeper 813RMB per ticket.

Read more details through Beijing-Lhasa Tibet Train

Chongqing to Lhasa Train Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009

Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009: Chongqing to Lhasa Train

Chongqing-Lhasa Tibet Train No.: T222/3
Chongqing-Lhasa Train Running Time: 45 hrs. 39 min.
Chongqing-Lhasa Train Frequency in 2009:
Odd Days in Jan/Apr/May/Aug/Nov/Dec
Even Days in Feb/Mar/Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct
Chongqing-Lhasa Train Fare: Soft Sleeper 1168RMB per ticket, Hard Sleeper 754RMB per ticket.

Read more details through Chongqing-Lhasa Tibet Train

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009

Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009: Lanzhou to Lhasa Train

Lanzhou-Lhasa Tibet Train No.: K917
Lanzhou-Lhasa Train Running Time: 28 hrs. 35 min.
Lanzhou-Lhasa Train Frequency in 2009:
Odd Days in Jan/Apr/May/Aug/Nov/Dec
Even Days in Feb/Mar/Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct
Lanzhou-Lhasa Train Fare: Soft Sleeper 854RMB per ticket, Hard Sleeper 552RMB per ticket.

Read more details through Lanzhou-Lhasa Tibet Train

Shanghai to Lhasa Train Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009

Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009: Shanghai to Lhasa Train

Shanghai-Lhasa Tibet Train No.: T164/5
Shanghai-Lhasa Train Running Time: 48 hrs. 52 min.
Shanghai-Lhasa Train Frequency in 2009:
Odd Days in Feb/Mar/Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct
Even Days in Jan/Apr/May/Aug/Nov/Dec
Shanghai-Lhasa Train Fare: Soft Sleeper 1314RMB per ticket, Hard Sleeper 845RMB per ticket.

Read more details through Shanghai-Lhasa Tibet Train

Guangzhou to Lhasa Train Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009

Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009: Guangzhou to Lhasa Train

Guangzhou-Lhasa Tibet Train No.: T264/5
Guangzhou-Lhasa Train Running Time: 56 hrs. 45 min.
Guangzhou-Lhasa Train Frequency in 2009:
Odd Days in Jan/Apr/May/Aug/Nov/Dec
Even Days in Feb/Mar/Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct
Guangzhou-Lhasa Train Fare: Soft Sleeper 1434RMB per ticket, Hard Sleeper 923RMB per ticket.

Read more details through Guangzhou-Lhasa Tibet Train

FAQ on Tibet Train of Qinghai-Tibet Railway and Tibet Train Tickets

Frequently Asked Questions on Qinghai-Tibet Railway and Tibet Train Tickets



Q1. Where can I take the train to Tibet?
A: The Tibet train departs from Beijing (West Railway Station), Chengdu (North Railway Station), Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Lanzhou and Xining.

Q2. When the train will leave Beijing and return from Lhasa?
A: Read through Beijing-Lhasa Tibet Train Schedule, Frequency, Price, Timetable, Train Fare and Lhasa-Beijing Tibet Train Schedule, Frequency, Price, Timetable, Train Fare.

Q3. When the train will leave Chengdu and return from Lhasa?
A: Read through Chengdu-Lhasa Tibet Train Schedule, Frequency, Price, Timetable, Train Fare and Lhasa-Chengdu Tibet Train Schedule, Frequency, Price, Timetable, Train Fare.

Q4. When the train will leave Xining and return from Lhasa?
A: Read through Xining-Lhasa Tibet Train Schedule, Frequency, Price, Timetable, Train Fare and Lhasa-Xining Tibet Train Schedule, Frequency, Price, Timetable, Train Fare.

Q5. Where are the Tibet train tickets issued and where can I buy the train tickets to Lhasa?
A: Passengers can purchase tickets through Ticket Office of Travel West China or the following railway stations, Beijing West Railway Station, Lanzhou Railway Station, Chengdu Railway Station, Xining Railway Station and Chongqing Railway Station.

Related Consulting Telphone Number:
Ticket Office of Travel West China: 0086-28-85143610
Lhasa Railway Station: 0086-891-6756222/6756991
Beijing West Railway Station: 0086-10-95105105
Shanghai Railway Station: 0086-800-820-7890/0086-21-63179090
Nanjing Railway Station: 0086-25-85822222
Guangzhou Railway Station: 0086-20-61346222
Chengdu Railway Station: 0086-28-83322088/83332499
Changsha Railway Station: 0086-731-2637122
Lanzhou Railway Station: 0086-931-4922222
Chongqing Railway Station: 0086-23-63862607
Xining Railway Station: 0086-971-8192832
Golmud Railway Station: 0086-979-7222222
Wuchang Railway Station: 0086-27-67264232
Zhengzhou Railway Station: 0086-371-68356666/68352222

Q6. How much does the Tibet train ticket cost?
A: See online the train fare of soft sleeper tickets prices and hard sleeper tickets prices.

Q7. How many trains will operate in a day?
A: As planned, there will be both a train running from opposite directions in the four express train lines including Beijing west-Lhasa line, Chengdu(Chongqing)-Lhasa express train line, Shanghai(Guangzhou)-Lhasa and Xining(Lanzhou)-Lhasa express train line.

Q8. Can foreigners take Tibet trains to Lhasa?
A: Yes, of course. Qinghai-Tibet Railway train welcomes all the passengers from all around the world.

Q9. How long it will take to travel to Lhasa by train?
A: Please refer to the following lines:

Lhasa-Xining-Lhasa Train
Lhasa-Chengdu-Lhasa Train
Lhasa-Lanzhou-Lhasa Train
Lhasa-Beijing-Lhasa Train
Lhasa-Shanghai-Lhasa Train
Lhasa-Guangzhou-Lhasa Train
Lhasa-Chongqing-Lhasa Train

Q10. How many people can every Tibet train contain?
A: 14 compartments are set on every train including 2 cushioned berths compartments with 64 persons, 8 semi cushioned berths compartments with 480 persons and 4 ordinary seats compartments with 392 persons. So the total capacity of the train is 936 persons.

Q11. How many Tibet train tickets can I buy one time?
A: Every passenger can only purchase at most two berth tickets or three seat tickets once.

Q12. Visas or travel documents required to travel to Lhasa and surrounding areas in Tibet?
A: Passengers should fill in a Health Registration Card when buying railway tickets to travel Tibet and a Tibet permit for entering Tibet is also needed for the foreign tourists. There are two documents required for foreign tourists who want to travel in Tibet.

***One is the China Visa.
Non-Chinese passport holders (including Taiwan)must have a valid passport and a visa (Travelers from countries having visa exemption agreement with HK do not need a visa) to visit Tibet. Visa can be obtained from the local China consulate in your country. If you are coming to Lhasa from Kathmandu, you'd better get China visa from Kathmandu because no matter you've already got the visa in your country or not, you must get a visa in Kathmandu, which is regulated in an official memo between China and Nepal.

***Another is Tibet Permit issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau.
TTB Permit - Tibet Entry Permit When you fly from any city to Lhasa you will need to show this permit when you check in at the airport. Furthermore, whenever you buy a flight to Lhasa you need to show this permit. TTB permits are also needed by groups traveling by Land Cruiser but this will be arranged by local travel agency in Tibet organizing the trip.

PSB Permit - Alien's Travel Permit If you want to go further to the unopened areas, you need an Alien's travel permit issued by PSB of Tibet. It is called Alien's Travel Permit or PSB permit.
All kinds of people can get Tibet permit through a local travel agency based in Lhasa except diplomats, journalists, and government officials who should travel to Tibet under the arrangement by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Government.

Q13. Where I can obtain the TTB permit ?
A. Since July 1, 2007, inland offices of the TAR Tourism Bureau stop transacting the operation of TTB-permit (Tibet Tourist Board Permit).

The TTB-permit will be only issued by the Tourism Bureau in Lhasa, and a new edition for TTB-permit has been launched while the former edition has been called off. There is no charge to apply for the TTB-permit.. You can get the TTB permit through the local Tibet travel agency based in Lhasa.

Chengdu to Lhasa Train Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009

Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009: Chengdu to Lhasa Train

Chengdu-Lhasa Tibet Train No.: T22/3
Chengdu-Lhasa Train Running Time: 44 hrs. 45 min.
Chengdu-Lhasa Train Frequency in 2009:
Odd Days in Feb/Mar/Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct
Even Days in Jan/Apr/May/Aug/Nov/Dec
Xining-Lhasa Train Fare: Soft Sleeper 1104RMB per ticket, Hard Sleeper 712RMB per ticket.

Read more details through Chengdu-Lhasa Tibet Train

Xining to Lhasa Train Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009

Timetable and Prices of Qinghai-Tibet Raiway 2009: Xining to Lhasa Train

Xining-Lhasa Tibet Train No.: N917
Xining-Lhasa Train Running Time: 25 hrs. 22 min.
Xining-Lhasa Train Frequency in 2009:
Odd Days in Feb/Mar/Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct
Even Days in Jan/Apr/May/Aug/Nov/Dec
Xining-Lhasa Train Fare: Soft Sleeper 810RMB per ticket, Hard Sleeper 523RMB per ticket.

Read more details through Xining-Lhasa Tibet Train.

Train to Tibet, Tibet Train, Qinghai Tibet Railway, Train Tickets to Lhasa

Qinghai-Tibet Railway

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway extends 1,956 kilometers from Xining, Qinghai Province to Lhasa, Tibet and is the world's longest railroad built atop a plateau. Construction started on June 29th, 2001 and opened to traffic on July 1st, 2006. The Golmud-Lhasa section extends 1,142 kilometers with the highest elevation being some 5,072 meters above sea level at Tanggula Range making it also the highest railway in the world. Upon its completion, the maximum train speed is designed to reach 100 kilometers per hour in the frozen earth areas and 120 kilometers per hour on non-frozen earth. Construction of the Golmud-Lhasa section of the landmark railway commenced on June 29, 2001 and test runs are set for July 2006.

As the Tibet Railway traverse three ranges and many rivers and lakes, the sceneries along the Railway to Tibet are marvelous and majestic. 45 railway stations offer visitors picturesque sceneries among which nine sightseeing stations have sightseeing platforms. Some of the famous charming sights along the line are Qinghai Lake and Bird Island, Kunlun and Tanggula mountain ranges, Kekexili, Tuotuo Rivers, Yangpachen, and Potala Palace etc. Not only rivers, lakes, grasslands and forests, but also Jokul can be admired along the line.

People have always wanted to go to Tibet – not just because it is a fascinating destination in itself, but part of its appeal lies in the fact that it’s difficult to get there.

You can choose to fly into Tibet and many airlines now have direct flights from Beijing to Lhasa, Chengdu to Lhasa, Guangzhou to Lhasa, Shanghai to Lhasa, Kunming to Lhasa, Shangri-la to Lhasa, Xi'an to Lhasa.

And the Chinese government has begun to build another airport near the Indian border – at 14,000 feet it will be one of the world’s highest. Ngari Airport will open to traffic in 2011. All the runways, terminals, staff apartments and public facilities were completed by the end of 2008. A trial operation is expected on July 1 next year and operation open officially in 2011.

However, Tibet train to Lhasa from various cities in China recently became a lot easier when in July 2006 the first rail service between Lhasa and the outside world was opened. The railway line – a masterpiece of engineering – stretches around 2,500 miles between Lhasa and China’s capital city Beijing and the journey time is around 48 hours.

The line runs through mountain passes of up to 16,000 feet high and large parts of the terrain traversed by the line are frozen all year round. The highest station on the line is at Nagqu at an altitude of around 15,000 feet on the Tibetan plateau.

To increase the comfort of passengers, the cars have oxygen supplies for the thin air and filters in the windows protect against UV rays. A state of the art high-tech cooling system helps to keep the rails frozen. Hopefully, all this is quite safe – although a man has died on board the train! Of course he had heart problems and was traveling against medical advice...

Despite the rail link, Tibet still isn’t the easiest place to travel to. You need various permits from local travel agencies in Tibet, and you will almost certainly have a problem with altitude sickness. Here's something on health of Altitude Mountain Sickness.

Latest Information on Tibet permit, Tibet Travel Permit Situation Update 2009

Latest Information on Tibet Permits for Tibet Travel in 2009-Tibet Will Reopen to Foreign Tourists from April 05, 2009
Good news on Tibet Permits for Tibet travel in 2009! Tibet Tourism Bureau will have a meeting on Monday, March 30, 2009 to decide the exact time to reopen Tibet to foreign tourists. Should be no problem to get the Tibet Travel Permit for the people who planned to entry Tibet on April 05, 2009.

Simply send the copies of your passports and Chinese visa to Travel West China, one of the best local Tibet tour operator based in Lhasa, to get the necessary Tibet Permits including TTB-Tibet Entry Permit, PSB-Alien's Travel Permit and Military Permission for Tibet Tours.

Latest News on Tibet Permit Situation
TTB will begin to accept Tibet permit application from March 23, 2009. Contact us directly to get Tibet permit and book Tibet tours through local travel agent.

Updated Tibet Travel Permit Information in Tibet and Greater Tibet Regions for 2009
If you have travel plans for Tibet for later this spring, summer or fall, not necessary to cancel them at this time. There is a very strong possibility that all Tibetan areas, especially Tibet, will reopen in early April. Will know the exact time to reopen around March 20. It is important to state again that there is no unrest being reported in Lhasa or anywhere else in Tibet.

No Tibet Permits Available for Foreigners in March 2009 except Taiwanese
Tibet is closed to foreingers as of February 17, 2009. No more permits are being issued to travel to Tibet effective immediately. Tibet would close on March 1st, but that date was pushed up to February 17. Only people from Taiwan could get Tibet permit from local Tibet travel agency in Lhasa. Tibet would reopen the first week of April. It is important to state that the Tibet is not reporting any fighting at this time.

Tibetan Regions in Yunnan are Open, No Permits Required
All Tibetan areas in Yunnan province are currently open. No permits are required to go to Dechen Tibet Autonomous Prefecture in northwest Yunnan.

Tibetan Regions in Gansu are Closed
All Tibetan regions in Gansu province (Ganlho/Gannan Tibet Autonomous Prefecture), including Labrang Monastery, are currently closed. During the period of Losar, foreigners being turned back to Lanzhou or Xining along the way to Labrang. The few people who have made it all the way to Labrang report being escorted out of the town within an hour of arriving. The Tibetan areas in Gansu may reopen in early April if the area stays calm.

Some Tibetan Regions in Qinghai are Open, Some are Closed
Only Yushu and Malho/Huangnan Tibet Autonomous Prefectures (Malho/Huangnan is where the town of Rebkong/Tongren is located) are closed. Xining, Qinghai Lake and Kumbum monastery in Qinghai province remain open for foreign travelers.

Some Tibetan Regions in Sichuan are Open, Some are Closed
Tibetan areas in Sichuan including Ngawa/Aba and Ganze/Ganzi Prefectures are also closed, though it seems hard to get an official answer. You are able to travel to Dartsedo/Kangding and even all the way to Dege without any problems. Chengdu and areas around Chengdu such as Wolong Panda Reserve are definitely open for foreign travelers. If you have plans to travel to these areas, there is no need to change them.

Tibet Permit, Tibet Travel Permit, Tibet Entry Permit, Alien's Travel Permit, Military Permission

1. What is Tibet Permit?
All foreigners travel to Tibet including Lhasa and the surrounding area must have a Tibet Travel Permit. Without this permit, you can not board the plane or train to Lhasa.

2. Tibet Entry Permit, Alien's Travel Permit and Military Permission
In addition to your Tibet Travel Permit, there are other permits that are needed for traveling to certain regions of Tibet. If you only plan on being in the Lhasa area or to Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse or Shigatse no additional permits are needed. However, if you plan on traveling west of Shigatse or east of Lhasa to Lhoka, Nyingtri or Chamdo Prefectures, you will also need an Alien Travel Permit. An Alien Travel Permit is usually arranged when you arrived in Lhasa or Shigatse. You cannot get this on your own. If you plan on going west of Lhatse into Ngari or to Mt. Kailash (West Tibet), you will also need a Military Permit in addition to your Tibet Travel Permit and Alien Travel Permit. Military permits usually take several days to arrange and again, can only be arranged by a travel agency. If you plan on traveling to sensitive border areas near India, you will further need a Foreign Affairs Permit in addition to the 3 other permits mentioned above. Again, there are numerous police checkpoints throughout Tibet. It will be nearly impossible to travel without having these permits, a tour guide or a private vehicle with driver. If you are caught without having these permits, you can expect a fine between Y300 and Y500 and to be escorted out of Tibet immediately. In certain areas such as near the India border, you can expect the consequences to be even stiffer with the possibility of being detained by the police for a few days.

3. How to Get the Tibet Permit or Tibet Travel Permit?
Simply send the copies of passports and Chinese visa to the local travel agency based in Lhasa of Tibet to apply and get the Tibet permit or Tibet Travel Permit easily. Generally, it will cost 3 days to get the permits, or 1 day as urgent case.

4. Special Policy for Singaporean to Get the Tibet Travel Permit
People from Singapore only need passport, as they don't need apply for visa if their travel period in China is within 15 days.

5. "L" Chinese Visa and Tibet Permit
"L" visa holder just requires passport and Chinese visa.

6. "F", "RESIDENCE" China Visa and Tibet permit
"F" or "Z" visa holder are required to provide additional information, i.e. a certification with your full names, nationality, passport number, dates of entry and exit China, and the stamps of your company in China.

7. "Z", "WORKING PERMIT" Chinese Visa and Tibet Permit
If you are invited to China for business, research, lecture, scientific-technological and culture exchanges, short-term advanced studies or inter practice for a period of no more than six months, a certification by your Chinese travel agency is required.

Jokhang Temple, Holy of Holies for Life-Sized Pilgrimage

Jokhang Temple is just located on the Barkhor Street of the Old Town in Lhasa. Opening hour 09:00-16:00. Entrance fee is 70RMB. You can take photos in front of the monastery. On the top floor of the monastery, you can see Potala Palace in distance and take photos. Possible to take photos inside the halls, but need to pay extra charges.

The life-sized statue of Sakyamuni aged 12 is the most sacred statue in the eyes of local Tibetan people. It is unkindly to take a picture of Tibetans who stretch their body forward to pay their respects to the buddha in front of them.