| Tibet projects mystic thoughts to many western | | | | 4. 550 kms of the route run on frozen soil |
| travelers. And indeed Tibet never fail to impress. | | | | 5. Tanggula Railway Station is the highest railway |
| Tibetan mountain ranges and landscapes are home to | | | | station in the world (5,068m above sea level) |
| an immense diversity of species of rare plants and | | | | 6. Fenghuoshan Tunnel is the world's highest tunnel |
| birds. Tibetan forests are also famous for its | | | | on frozen soil (4,905 m above sea level) |
| tremendous spectrum of herbs for Chinese | | | | 7. It is the world's longest plateau railroad, extending |
| medicines. But due to the freezing temperatures and | | | | 1,956 kms from Xining, Qinghai to Lhasa, Tibet. |
| geographical altitudes, China's tourist access to Tibet | | | | 8. The Golmud-Lhasa section zigzags 1,142 kms |
| region has been very limited until recently. On July 1, | | | | across the Tanggula and Kunlun Ranges. |
| 2006 Qinghai-Tibet Railroad commenced its passenger | | | | 9. Kunlun Mountain Tunnel is the world's longest |
| service, marking a remarkable milestone in China's | | | | plateau tunnel built on frozen soil(1,686 m) |
| infrastructure building. This opens up a way for | | | | 10. The maximum design train speeds are 100 km/h |
| adventurous tourists to travel from Beijing to the | | | | in frozen zones and 120 km/h on non-frozen areas. |
| remote Tibet by train with a low budget. | | | | Environmental Friendly |
| An estimated 90% of tourists would use the railroad | | | | Chinese authority responded actively to international |
| to reach Lhasa, Tibet. It is an unique ground | | | | call for environmental friendly and sustainable |
| expedition across clear cascading streams, | | | | development. 8% of the total development cost was |
| spectacular mountain ranges, and the colorful | | | | set aside for conservation of environment. |
| landscapes almost untouched by modern civilization. It | | | | Recommendations by the Academy of Environment |
| would be the dream of urban travelers to experience | | | | Protection were taken seriously by the Chinese |
| nature with such a panoramic vision, indulging and | | | | government before construction. Qinghai-Tibet |
| rejuvenating for a true getaway from the hectic | | | | Railroad was credited with the honor of being the |
| city-life. | | | | first environmental friendly railroad in the world. |
| A Centennial Dream Comes True | | | | Train Schedule for Tibet |
| From its initial conception in the early 1950s, the | | | | Tourists can join in this rail route from several |
| construction of Qinghai-Tibet Railroad went through a | | | | different cities in China. |
| lengthy 50 years to build. The first section of 814 | | | | 1. Western Beijing Train Station to Lhasa, the whole |
| km, from Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, to | | | | journey is 4,064Km and takes 47 hours and 28 |
| Golmud began operation in 1984. The Golmud-Lhasa | | | | minutes. The ticket fee is RMB389 (USD48) for a |
| section commenced construction in June 2001. On | | | | hard seat, RMB813 (USD102) for a hard sleeper and |
| July 1, 2006, the 1,956-Km Qinghai-Tibet Railroad | | | | RMB1262 (USD160) for a soft sleeper. It leaves |
| started its full-length operation. Its 2 inaugural trains, | | | | Beijing at 21:30 every night and arrives in Lhasa at |
| "Qing 1" and "Tibet 2", started service from Golmud | | | | 20:58 on the third day. Another train leaves Lhasa for |
| and Lhasa separately. China President Hu Jintao | | | | Beijing at 8:00 each morning and arrives in Beijing at |
| labeled the project as an unbelievable achievement | | | | 8:00 the third day, via Xian, Lanzhou, Xining, Golmod |
| both in China and the World's railway construction. | | | | and Nacku. |
| This completed mission also realized a centennial | | | | 2. Chengdu Train Station to Lhasa, the whole journey |
| dream of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the pioneer of China's | | | | is 3,360km. The ticket fee is RMB331 for a hard seat, |
| democratic revolution. | | | | RMB712 for a hard sleeper and RMB1104 (USD140) |
| The Physical Deterrents | | | | for a soft sleeper. It leaves Chengdu at 18:18 on the |
| Geographical conditions from Golmod to Lhasa are | | | | odd days and arrives in Lhasa at 18:28 on the third |
| especially harsh. Perennial icy soil as hard as steel, | | | | day. It leaves Lhasa for Chengdu at 9:05 and arrives |
| thick blankets of Winter snow and the high altitudes | | | | in Chengdu at 9:55 the third day, Via Guangyuan, |
| deterred and slowed down project progress through | | | | Baoji, Lanzhou, Xining, Golmod and Nacku |
| the many years of site execution. An American, Paul | | | | 3. Chongqing Train Station to Lhasa. The whole |
| Theroux, prophesized that Kunlun Range was a | | | | journey is 3,654Km The ticket fee is RMB355 for a |
| definite impossible geographical barrier for railroad to | | | | hard seat, RMB754 for a hard sleeper and RMB1168 |
| get to Lhasa. But the inauguration of Qinghai-Tibet | | | | for a soft sleeper. It leaves Chongqing at 19:20 on |
| Railroad, now the world's highest railroad terminating | | | | the even days and arrives in Lhasa at 18:28 on the |
| in Lhasa, has proven Theroux's prophesy untrue. | | | | third day. It leaves Lhasa for Chongqing at 09:05 and |
| Key Facts of Qinghai-Tibet Railroad | | | | arrives in Chongqing at 09:55 the third day, Via |
| 1. Qinghai-Tibet Railroad is the world's highest. | | | | Guangan, Dazhou, Xian, Baoji,Lanzhou, Xining, Golmod |
| 2. 960 kms of its tracks are located 4,000 m above | | | | and Nacku. |
| sea level. | | | | Enjoy your Tibet trip and write to share with others |
| 3. The highest point is 5,072 m above sea level or | | | | your memorable adventures in this rugged part of |
| 200 meters higher than the 2nd highest Peruvian | | | | China! |
| railroad in the Andes. | | | | |