After four years of construction, the high-elevation Lhasa – Shigatse Railway was finally open to the public on August 15, 2014. It was an extension line of Qinghai-Tibet Railway with altitudes ranging from 3,600 to 4,000 meters. Z8801was the exact train one needs to take from Lhasa to Shigatse and its return train was Z8802.
Timetable of Lhasa to Shigatse Train – No.Z8801
| Station | Altitutde | Arrival | Departure | Stop Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lhasa | 3,650 m | — | 08:30 | — | — |
| Qushui | 3,700 m | 09:08 | 09:10 | 2 min | 192 km |
| Shigatse | 3,836 m | 11:25 | — | — | 248 km |
Timetable of Lhasa to Shigatse Train – No.Z8803
| Station | Altitutde | Arrival | Departure | Stop Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lhasa | 3,836 m | — | 17:20 | — | — |
| Shigatse | 3,650 m | 15:59 | — | — | 248 km |
Timetable of Shigatse to Lhasa Train – No.Z8804
| Station | Altitutde | Arrival | Departure | Stop Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shigatse | 3,836 m | — | 12:05 | — | — |
| Lhasa | 3,650 m | 14:40 | — | — | 248 km |
Timetable of Shigatse to Lhasa Train – No.Z8802
| Station | Altitutde | Arrival | Departure | Stop Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shigatse | 3,836 m | — | 18:40 | — | — |
| Qushui | 3,700 m | 20:49 | 20:51 | 2 min | 192 km |
| Lhasa | 3,650 m | 21:33 | — | — | 248 km |
Please Note:
About Lhasa Railway Station
Situated at an altitude of 3600m, Lhasa railway station was the largest railway station along the Qinghai-Tibet railway line, covering an area of 22 thousand square meters. The successful completion of Lhasa railway station signaled that the overland bridge between Tibet & inland China officially took shape, a vital passage to the economic prosperity and cultural exchange of Tibet.
Tel: 9823-985-059 or 9888-036-007
Add: Liuwu Village, Deqing County, Lhasa City (拉萨市堆龙德庆县柳梧乡)
Travel Tips:
However we do not recommend tourists taking this newly-built train from Lhasa to Shigatse because it would be more rewarding if tourists travel to Shigatse by Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse Highway, you can visit Yamdrtso Lake, Karola Glacier, Gyantse Pelkor Monastery etc and then return to Lhasa by Shigatse-Lhasa Railway along Yarlung Tsangpo River after finishing sightseeing in Shigatse. This loop trip combined with road and railway tour will allow tourists to have both unparalleled land sightseeing and railway experience.
Interesting things about Lhasa-Shigatse train
Lhasa-Shigatse train, the extended railway line of Qinghai-Tibet railway, takes on an utterly different picture from the scenery of Qinghai-Tibet railway. What sets this railway line apart from the Qinghai-Tibet railway lies in the following three aspects:
- a.The train runs through the valley of Yarlung Tsangpo River that stretches as far as 90 miles, which brings the magnificent view of Yarlung Tsangpo River within your sight.
- b. The pastoral and farming scene along the railway line is another picturesque sight one couldn’t afford to miss. Normally peasants would sow the seeds of barley in spring and work hard to harvest full-grown barley from the field in autumn.
- c. The last feature of Lhasa-Shigatse train is that the train runs at an average altitude of 3500m, an altitude sickness-free environment that is perfect for sightseeing.
