On May 9th, Tibet starts to open its gate to China expats. That means expats in Chengdu can finally get the opportunity to travel to Tibet. No matter you want to get to Tibet again to enjoy its breathtaking scenery and culture, or you are the first time to plan a tour to Tibet, you should be happy right now because it’s time to make it happen.

As a city of charm, many tourists will also choose Chengdu as their gateway to get into Tibet. But many Chengdu expats were depressed in the past year because Tibet was not able to get in due to COVID-19. But thanks to the successful results of COVID-19 control measurement, Chengdu expats can now connect with Tibet again. It is true that taking a train or taking a flight from Chengdu to Lhasa is a perfect start for a Tibet train tour. So, Chengdu expats can seize this chance to enjoy an easy and pleasant journey on the road to Tibet.

Namtso Lake in Tibet

What Documents Chengdu Expats Need for a Tibet Tour?

Chengdu expats to Tibet will require a Tibet Travel Permit. All foreign tourists need to apply for it if they want to get into Tibet. The policy states clearly that no individuals are allowed to apply for Tibet Travel Permit because individual foreigners are not accepted to get into Tibet. If you are ready to have a Tibet tour in the near future, you can immediately find a professional Tibet travel agency to help you submit the application. You need to send the copies of your Chinese Visa, your passport and some other required documents once you confirm the service with your travel consultant. The Tibet Travel Permit will be delivered to the address you provided after it is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau. The process from applying for the document to your receiving of it may take about at least 8 working days.

For those Chengdu expats who want to travel to other places in Tibet except Lhasa and its surrounding places, they need to apply for other documents in advance. Tibet Travel Permit can get to places like Lhasa, Shigatse, Lake Namtso, etc. Mount Everest regions and Nyingchi requires Aliens’ Travel Permit. If you want to explore Ngari, a Military Area Entry Permit should be obtained ahead of time. You can share the ideas for your Tibet tour, and we will provide detailed suggestions and useful help according to your requirements.

Because the epidemic of COVID-19 is not over globally, tourists need to follow the local rules for prevention and control measures. It requires all China expats to carry a  negative nucleic acid test report within 7 days. And tourists also need to show the Green Health Code and 14-day Dynamic Trip Record on the app of Alipay and WeChat.

Chengdu Expats How to Get to Tibet?

Chengdu is one of the easiest gateways for tourists to get to Tibet. If you are working or living in Chengdu, then you will find it is convenient to travel to Tibet from this charming city. You can enter Tibet from Chengdu by train, by plane, or by overland.

Train Z322 will take tourists from Chengdu to Lhasa every other day, only taking 36 hours and 19 minutes on the road. It starts at Chengdu Train Station at 21:37 and arrives at Lhasa Train Station at 09:56 on day three. You will wake up in the morning and follow the Lhasa river to get to this magical land.

Due to the schedule of the train to Lhasa from Chengdu, the train tickets may be sold out quickly during the peak season of Tibet tourism. So, tourists can also choose the alternative of Tibet train tour from Chengdu. They can book a flight ticket to get to Xining and take a train from Xining to Lhasa. It takes less than two hours from Chengdu to Xining by flight. Train tickets from Xining to Lhasa are sufficient for tourists to book.

At present, there are about 18 direct flights from Chengdu to Lhasa. You can take your time and choose the best flight to get to Tibet. Chengdu expats don’t need to take flights with a stopover. All flights departing from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport will only take a little over two hours.

If you prefer to get to Tibet by overland from Chengdu, you can follow the Sichuan-Tibet Highway to realize it. It takes about 50 hours on the 2,293-length road. Make sure that you book with the most professional Tibet travel agency since you need an experienced driver to lead you to get to Tibet.

Tips for Chengdu Expats to Tibet

Chengdu expats are the luckiest group since they enjoy some advantages over other expats in China. Chengdu is situated in a place near Tibet and it offers the most convenient means of transportation to Chengdu expats to travel to Tibet.

If you choose to take a train to get to Tibet, remember to be careful with your personal belongings, even if you are in the soft sleeper compartment. the dining car will be crowded with passengers during the lunch and dinner time. You can avoid the peak time but do not miss the time. Even if the train will offer oxygen supply systems, you can also get sick and uncomfortable due to the high altitude. Try to lie down and adjust yourself on the train. But you can ask for help from the train attendants anytime.

If you choose to take a flight from Chengdu to Lhasa, you should pay high attention to your body after arriving in Lhasa. You may feel very sick due to the sudden change of the altitude later. Try to get to your hotel quickly and have some rest as soon as possible.

An overland tour from Chengdu will take nearly 50 hours, which requires you to endure the exhaustion of long distance. But you can take pictures and enjoy the scenery along the road.

Even if Tibet remains one of the safest places in China, you need to wear a mask when you are in public places. Do not try to challenge the local prevention and control measures against COVID-19.