Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Route Map: Journey from Gansu’s Heart to Tibet’s Soul

Next to Xining, Lanzhou is the second closest capital city to Lhasa with five Tibet trains passing through. It usually takes you 23-24 hours to traverse through Gansu Province, Qinghai Province, and TAR to complete the 2188-km-long train journey. Here you can take a glance at all the trains via Lanzhou:

Train Z323 from Chengdu-Lanzhou (08:40)-Lhasa (07:41), 23hrs 1min, every other day.
Train Z223 from Chongqing-Lanzhou (08:40)-Lhasa (07:41), 23hrs 1min, every other day.
Train Z21 from Beijing-Lanzhou (12:31)-Lhasa (11:42), 23hrs 11mins, daily.
Train Z265 from Guangzhou-Lanzhou (15:32)-Lhasa (14:54), 23hrs 22mins, daily.
Train Z165 from Shanghai-Lanzhou (16:36)-Lhasa (15:30), 22hrs 54mins, daily.

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Route Map

Pros and Cons of Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Route

The Lanzhou to Lhasa train offers you more options and shorter routes to Tibet. However, this route also has its pros and cons.

Pros:

1. Good viewing experience: The essence focuses on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau section. Iconic landscapes such as Golmud, Tanggula Pass, Hoh Xil, and Tuotuo River are presented continuously, and you can enjoy the plateau scenery for the whole day.

2. Cheaper prices: The soft sleeper is about $114, the hard sleeper is about $72, and the hard seat is about $33. It is more cost-effective than routes like Beijing and Shanghai.

3. Easier to buy tickets: Lanzhou is a transit hub for many routes to Lhasa. Tibet trains from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing will make a stop at Lanzhou, offering you more choices. The pressure of buying tickets becomes much lower.

Cons:

1. Sudden ascent to high altitude: Although there are oxygen supply and pressurization systems, the altitude rises rapidly from Lanzhou (1,520m) to Xining (2,200m) and Golmud (2,780m) in a shorter period. Sometimes, passengers would feel uncomfortable.

Major Railway Stations and Highlights in Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Route

The Lanzhou to Lhasa train route passes through Xining, Delingha, Golmud, Amdo, Nagqu, and Lhasa. Here we take Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Z323 as a reference.

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Trip-Day 1: Lanzhou, Xining, Delingha, Golmud

In the morning, we will depart from Lanzhou Railway Station. You can enjoy the magnificent view of the Yellow River passing through the city on the train. As the train travels westward, the landform gradually becomes more arid and open.

At noon, the train reaches Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province and the largest city on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Xining is China's summer capital, integrating rich ethnic culture and natural landscapes. The main attractions include Ta'er Temple, Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, Sun and Moon Mountain, etc. Then the train continues to Delingha, which is home to many natural attractions and cultural relics.

After passing Delingha, you’ll travel to Golmud, the largest county-level city in China as well as the heart of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Whether you are a natural landscape lover or a cultural experience seeker, Golmud can provide you with a rich travel experience.

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Trip-Day 2: Lhasa

Leaving Golmud, the train will head to Lhasa. Along the Lhasa River, you can catch a glimpse of Tibetan villages, pagodas, and prayer flags. After 23 hours and 1 minute, the train finally arrives at Lhasa Railway Station, where our tour guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Lhasa city.

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  Lifetime train ride experience on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway
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Conclusion

The Lanzhou to Lhasa train route brings you to enjoy dramatic changes in scenery and landforms, from the Loess Plateau to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, from lush grasslands to snow-capped mountains. This scenic train journey will show you the breathtaking highlights of northern Tibet, which is inaccessible by flight to Lhasa. It surely becomes the most precious and unique memory of your Tibet tour.