There are two trains from Xi’an to Lhasa. the first one is Train No Z265, which starts from Guangzhou station, passes through Xi’an and ends at Lhasa Station. The other train is No Z165, which starts from Shanghai station, passes through Xi’an and also ends at Lhasa.
Both Train Z265 and Z165 from Xi’an to Lhasa passes through Lanzhou station, Xining station, Delingha station, Golmud station and Naqu station.
The city has always had close ties to Tibet and was the ancient seat of the Tang Dynasty, then known as Chang’an. It was the home of Princess Wencheng, who traveled to Tibet to marry Songtsan Gambo, the then first emperor of Tibet. Her marriage to the king strengthened the ties between the Tibet Empire and the Tang dynasty for a few hundred years. The story of Princess Wencheng has become a part of Tibetan history and had a major effect on Tibetan Buddhism in the region.
Booking Ticket Xian Lhasa Train Ticket
Xian is not a starting point for the train to Tibet. Only The Trains from Guangzhou and Shanghai to Lhasa would pass through and stop in Xi’an which makes the Xian-Lhasa train tickets booking more difficult. Therefore, we do not recommend tourists to arrange Xian to Lhasa train journey in their China tours. especially in peak tourist seasons like a summer holiday.
Lhasa train Schedule and Fare
| Train No. | Destinations | Depart | Arrival | Run Time | Distance | Hard Sleeper | Soft Sleeper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z265 | Xian to Lhasa | 10:09 | 18:10 (3rd day) | 32h 01m | 2832 km | CNY 629.5 | CNY 1005.5 |
| Z266 | Lhasa to Xian | 12:05 | 21:15 (3rd day) | 33h 10m | 2832 km | CNY 629.5 | CNY 1005.5 |
| Frequency: Depart daily | |||||||
| Train No. | Destinations | Depart | Arrival | Run Time | Distance | Hard Sleeper | Soft Sleeper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z223 | Xian to Lhasa | 05:59 | 15:40 (3rd day) | 33h 41m | 2832 km | CNY 629.5 | CNY 1005.5 |
| Z224 | Lhasa to Xian | 10:00 | 21:50 (3rd day) | 35h 50m | 2832 km | CNY 629.5 | CNY 1005.5 |
| Frequency: Depart every other day | |||||||
Shanghai Lhasa train Schedule and Fare
| Train No. | Destinations | Depart | Arrival | Run Time | Distance | Hard Sleeper | Soft Sleeper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z165 | Xian to Lhasa | 10:17 | 19:10 (3rd day) | 32h 53m | 2832 km | CNY 629.5 | CNY 1005.5 |
| Z166 | Lhasa to Xian | 11:15 | 20:49 (3rd day) | 33h 34m | 2832 km | CNY 629.5 | CNY 1005.5 |
| Frequency: Depart every other day | |||||||
Timetable of Xi’an to Lhasa Train – No.Z65
| Station | Altitude | Arrival | Departure | Stop Time | Days | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xian | 385 m | — | 09:45 | — | Day 1 | — |
| Lanzhou | 1,520 m | 16:35 | 16:50 | 15 min | Day 1 | 676 km |
| Xining | 2,200 m | 19:25 | 19:45 | 20 min | Day 1 | 892 km |
| Delingha | 2,982 m | 23:51 | 23:53 | 2 min | Day 1 | 1,209 km |
| Golmud | 2,780 m | 02:40 | 03:05 | 25 min | Day 2 | 1,722 km |
| Nagchu | 4,500 m | 13:03 | 13:09 | 6 min | Day 2 | 2,542 km |
| Lhasa | 3,650 m | 17:05 | — | — | Day 2 | 2,864 km |
Timetable of Lhasa to Xining Train – No.Z165
| Station | Altitude | Arrival | Departure | Stop Time | Days | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xian | 385 m | — | 11:24 | — | Day 1 | — |
| Lanzhou | 1,520 m | 18:17 | 18:34 | 17 min | Day 1 | 676 km |
| Xining | 2,200 m | 21:12 | 21:32 | 20 min | Day 1 | 892 km |
| Delingha | 2,982 m | 01:34 | 01:36 | 2 min | Day 2 | 1,209 km |
| Golmud | 2,780 m | 04:26 | 04:26 | 25 min | Day 2 | 1,722 km |
| Nagchu | 4,500 m | 14:42 | 14:51 | 9 min | Day 2 | 2,542 km |
| Lhasa | 3,650 m | 19:17 | — | — | Day 2 | 2,864 km |
| The timetable and schedule are just for reference. | ||||||
Location of Xian Railway Station
Xi’an Railway Station is a major junction for trains traveling to northwest China, as well as a transfer center for travel to southwest China and is a major gateway to the entire western region. With trains running through the station from the Longhai Railway, the Xikang railway, the Ningxia Railway, and the Baoxi Railway, you can reach every major city in China from Xi’an.
The two-story terminal building that houses the platforms was built in the style of the Tang Dynasty and has four main waiting rooms, luggage storage, ticket offices, and a gamut of food stands. Unlike most stations in China, the square in front is sunken, with many cafes and restaurants, and is surrounded by trees. The ticket hall is easily located, to the left of the main entrance. The station lies on Huancheng Road, just north of the ancient city wall, just 3.5km from the center of the city.
Xianyang International Airport is 39km away, and the Shuttle Bus runs between the airport terminals and the Jiefang Hotel, near the train station. The trip takes about 90 minutes and costs 25CNY per person. Taxis are freely available for the trip as well and cost around 100CNY for the one-hour drive to the station.
Important Notice:
- Despite its vital place as one of the major gateways from inland China to Tibet, Xian is not a city that all trains have to pass. Currently, there are only three trains (i.e. Chongqing-Lhasa[Z222], Guangzhou-Lhasa[Z264], Shanghai-Lhasa [Z164]) that will make a stopover in Xian en route for Tibet.
- There is no train bound for Lhasa from Xian as the initial railway station. Yet, Xian serves as a crucial transit station for Lhasa-bound trains. Theoretically, tourists can buy a Xian-Lhasa train ticket and head for Lhasa. However, it is virtually impossible (especially during the peak season of Tibet travel, e.g. May-October) for tourists to successful purchase the train ticket.
- The reason is that the railway agency is prone to sell tickets to passengers who have a longer ride than offer tickets to riders with a shorter journey and cheaper tickets. If a tourist wants to travel to Lhasa by train from Xian esp. during the peak Tibet travel season, it is highly recommended to have a backup plan, i.e. Going to Lhasa by plane.
- In fact, We offer a better solution, namely tourists may first take a train or plane to Xining, the real starting station of Qinghai-Tibet railway and then take Xining-Lhasa train to Lhasa as many trains will pass Xining railway station, which makes it easier for tourists to buy train tickets.
- Tibet Travel Permit is required to be checked if one travels to Lhasa by train from Xian. Do inform your travel agency to deliver your Tibet Travel Permit to the hotel you live in.
What sort of window view do we expect to see?
Just like the road trip by car, one could enjoy the scenery on both sides of the road. The stunning scenery along the Tibet railway line will never let you down. As the train passes Xining and enters Golmud region, the breathtaking view appears one after another. Be sure to capture the memorable experience with your camera. Major attractions are Qarhan Salt Lake, Yuzhu Peak, Kekexili Nature Reserve, Tuotuo He River, Tangula pass, Tsonag Lake, Qiangtang prairie, Namtso, etc.
Having a ride on Qinghai-Tibet train route is definitely the experience of a lifetime. Besides, the long-distance and pressurized train tailor-made for acclimatization of extreme altitude make the ride different from another train journey. Following tips are suggested for tourists to better enjoy the Views on Tibet train. See more: the detailed introduction of the scenery of Qinghai-Tibet railway.
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