Expats in Xi'an to Tibet in 2021

Tibet is open for tourism to expats in China from May 9th. This magic land has been closed for more than 15 months due to the outbreaks of COVID-19, making everyone who loves this land sad for a long time. Now, Xi’an expats can start to fulfill their dreams again and make a plan to have a perfect Tibet tour. Contact a professional Tibet travel agency and book a customized our with everything prepared.

Thanks to the rich culture and inclusive society, Xi’an has remained one of the most popular cities for foreigners who choose to live and work in China from ancient times. So, the content below for Xi’an expats to Tibet is published for expats who live in Xi’an and want totravel to Tibet recently.

What Documents Do Xi’an Expats Need for a Tibet Tour?

First of all, all foreign tourists need to apply for a Tibet Travel Permit to get into Tibet. It should be done by the travel agency that you choose. And the Tibet travel agency will apply for it after you book the tour route with it. Your tour group number, Tibet tour date, itineraries, the number of travelers, and the tour operator all need to be printed on the paper. So, you just need to send the copies of your passport information page and Chinese Visa to your travel consultant. Then all your information will be submitted to Tibet Tourism Bureau when applying for the Tibet Travel Permit. And it will be delivered to the address that you provide once it is issued.

However, if you are planning to visit Mt.Everest, Mt.Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, Samye Monastery, Tomb of Tibetan King, Yungbulakang Palace and other places outside Lhasa and its surrounding places, you need to apply for an Alien’s Travel Permit. However, there are some military sensitive areas in Tibet that require a Military Area Entry Permit, like Mt. Kailash and Rowok Lake. Don’t worry about it since we, an expert local Tibet travel agency, can help you get all the necessary papers that you need to finish your tour route.

To enter Tibet, Xi’an expats also need to prepare a negative nucleic acid test report within 7 days, the Green Healthy Code, and 14-day Dynamic Trip Record on the app of Alipay and WeChat.

Terracotta Warriors and Horses

How to Get to Tibet from Xi’an

Taking Qinghai-Tibet Trains or flights to Lhasa are the major two options for Xi’an expats to get to Tibet. If you have enough time, you can take the train to Lhasa and enjoy the scenery along the railway. If you want to save time for your tour in Tibet, you can take a flight to Lhasa from Xi’an.

Xi’an is not a departure city for the trains to Tibet. But train from Shanghai and Guangzhou will stop by and Xi’an expats can take the chance to jump into the train to Lhasa. Train Z265 from Guangzhou will stop at Xian Train Station at 09:46 daily. It departs Xi’an at 09:54 after 8 minutes and arrives in Lhasa at 15:45 on the second day. The whole journey will take only 29 hours and 51 minutes in total. Tourists will transfer to a train with oxygen supply systems in Xining. If you are lucky, you will have a glimpse at the beautiful Qinghai Lake in the evening and get a chance to see the breathtaking sunrise in the morning. You may have high altitude symptoms when the train starts to climb Tanggula Mountains. In the afternoon, you will pass Namtso Lake and arrive in Lhasa finally.

Train Z165 from Shanghai will arrive at Xi’an Railway Station at 11:14 daily. After 8 minutes, the train will start to head to Lhasa at 11:22. On the second day, it will finally stop at Lhasa Train Station at 19:30. Taking this train will miss Qinghai Lake because it arrives in Xining at 21:00. But you can see the starry night on the land of Kunlun Mountains and wait for the sunrise. And the Hohxil region will never let passengers down with the wildlife running on the land. After passing Tanggula Train Station, the train will continue to get to the beautiful Cuona Lake and splendid Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains. And the train arrives at Lhasa Train Station in the evening.

At present, there are total 8 direct flights from Xi’an to Lhasa, which is very convenient for Xi’an expats to get to Tibet. The traveling time of the flights will take are about 3 hours. Xi’an expats who wish to get to Tibet by air can choose one of those direct flights according to their schedule.

However, Xi’an expats can also choose to take a flight to Xining and then take a train to Lhasa. It will not only save time for them, but also allow them to have a lifetime Tibet train tour. What’s more, tourists can have a one-day tour in Xining to visit Ta’er Lamasery and Qinghai Lake. There are more than 10 direct flights from Xi’an to Xining and tourists can definitely pick one that suits their travel time. There, they can choose the most recommended train line to get to Lhasa that can allow passengers to view most of those views along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

What Xi’an Expats Need to Notice When Traveling in Tibet?

Even if COVID-19 is under control in most places in mainland China, you need to be careful when you are traveling outside. Wear your mask when it is necessary or when you are in a public place where is full of passengers.

Besides, tourists need to be positive when they are having high altitude sickness on the train or in Tibet. On the train, you can lie down and breathe slowly to adjust your body. You can ask for car attendants and require a pipe to use the individual oxygen system. Medical service is provided for passengers on the train. After arriving in Lhasa, do not hurry to take a shower since you may feel worse due to lacking oxygen in the bathroom. You should walk slowly in the first few days to acclimate to the environment with low oxygen.

Mobile payment is now available in most restaurants and stores of in Tibet. However, it is also a good habit to carry some cash in case of some unexpected moments. For more questions you can contact us!