Lanzhou to Lhasa Train

Lanzhou once was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road due to its location. Today, it has grown to be a comparatively prosperous and modern city in Gansu Province. And many tourists come here to visit the Maiji Caves, Bingling Temple Grottoes, Labrang Monastery, Dunhuang Mogao Caves, etc. Besides, this city is also well famous for its Lanzhou beef noodles and the special night markets.

At present, there is no direct train from Lanzhou to Lhasa. But tourists can take other Tibet trains from other cities to get to Lhasa in Lanzhou. Train from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Chongqing will make a stop at Lanzhou Train Station. All trains will stop here for more than 10 minutes for passengers to board. It should be easy for tourists in Lanzhou who want a Tibet train tour to book a ticket to Lhasa if they can make their plan to Tibet ahead of time. And then they still need to contact a local Tibet tour agency and book a tailor-made tour in advance to make sure they can have a perfect Tibet tour without regret.

This article provides you with detailed information about the Lanzhou to Lhasa train route map, train timetable, ticket prices for each carriage, documents required during the journey, and highlights of the attractions during the train journey.

Basic Facts about Lanzhou to Lhasa Train

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Open Date: 2006
Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Route: Z323 / Z223 / Z21 / Z265 / Z165
Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Type: Z-series
Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Departure Station & Time: Lanzhou Railway Station (08:40 / 12:31 / 15:32 / 16:36)
Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Arrival Station & Time: Lhasa Railway Station (07:41 / 11:42 / 14:54 / 15:30)
Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Distance: 2188 kilometers (1,350 miles)
Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Duration: 23hrs 1min for Z323 and Z223 / 23hrs 11mins for Z21 / 23hrs 22mins for Z265 / 22hrs 54mins for Z165
Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Frequency: Daily
Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Ticket Class & Cost: Soft Sleeper (from $114), Hard Sleeper (from $72), Hard Seat ($33)
Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Avg. Speed: About 100km/h
Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Stops: Lanzhou, Xining, Delingha, Golmud, Amdo, Nagqu, Lhasa
Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Highlights: Qinghai Lake, Yuzhu Peak, Nyainqentanglha Mountain, Yangbajing, Lhasa River

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Route Map

The route starts in Lanzhou and passes through Gansu Province, Qinghai Province and Tibet Autonomous Region. Lanzhou to Lhasa Train stops at major Chinese stations, namely, Lanzhou, Xining, Delingha, Golmud, Amdo, Nagqu and Lhasa.

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Schedule: Station, Altitude, Time, and Distance

There are five trains to Lhasa making a stop at Lanzhou as follows:

Train Z323 from Chengdu and Train Z223 from Chongqing will arrive at Lanzhou Train Station in the morning at 08:20 every other day. And it will take 23 hours and 1 minute to get to Lhasa on these two trains the next morning. These two trains will arrive in Xining at 11:32. After transfer to another train equipped with oxygen supply systems, the rain will head to the most amazing part of your Tibet train tour.
Train Z21 is the train connecting Beijing and Lhasa and it will stop at Lanzhou at 12:19 daily. After 23 hours and 11 minutes, the train will arrive in Lhasa at 11:42 the next day.
Train Z265 from Guangzhou will arrive at Lanzhou Train Station at 15:05 every day. It will take tourists to get to Lhasa at 14:54 in the next afternoon.
Train Z165, originated from Shanghai daily, will stop at Lanzhou Train Station at 16:16. After staying here for 20 minutes, it will leave Lanzhou at 16:36 and arrives in Lhasa at 15:30 the next day.

These five trains will allow tourists in Lanzhou to get to Tibet daily. But those trains will offer them different scenery on the road because the difference of the departure time. Which train to board is totally up to you. After you get to know your needs, you can share your thoughts with your Tibet tour consultant as detailed as possible. So, if you want to see Qinghai Lake in daytime, you should take train Z223, Z323, and Z21 because the train will pass the lake after 1.5h departing from Xining. Only train Z165 will bring you the splendid Hoh Xil in daytime. It will be in the middle of night to arrive at the highest point along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway - Tanggula Pass if tourists choose train Z323, Z223, and Z21, which means that they will probably avoid being feeling extremely sick while asleep. However, tourists on Train Z323, Z223, and Z21 may miss the chance to enjoy the breathtaking Cuona Lake because they will pass the lake in the early morning. Check the major railway stations, altitude ascent and descent along the way in the following real-time train schedule.

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Z323 and Z223

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Z21

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Z265

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Z165

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Ticket Class & Cost: Soft Sleeper, Hard Sleeper, Hard Seat, and Ticket Price

Like other Tibet trains, the Lanzhou to Lhasa train also offers three types of carriages: soft sleeper, hard sleeper and hard seat, each of which provides you with different levels of comfort and amenities. So, please read the following section to choose the ticket that suits you best.

1. Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Soft Sleeper

The soft sleeper compartments on the Lanzhou to Lhasa train are quite comfortable. Each compartment is divided into four-person rooms (the upper berth costs $114/￥823), the lower berth costs $118/￥852), and offers spacious beds with soft cushions, making it suitable for passengers who want to rest for a long time and enjoy a quieter and more private environment.

2. Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Hard Sleeper

The hard sleeper cars are relatively simple, with each compartment containing six people (upper berth price is $72/￥522, middle berth price is $74/￥535, lower berth price is $76/￥550), and are relatively compact. The hard sleeper provides basic sleeping facilities and a harder mattress, making it suitable for travelers with a limited budget but still in need of a rest.

3. Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Hard Seat

The hard seat is the most economical option, suitable for passengers with limited budgets and who can adapt to a longer ride, but the seats in the carriage are relatively compact and there are no berth facilities. Long-distance travel may make you feel tired, especially when the carriage is crowded, but the price is only $33/￥240, which is the most economical.

4. Which kind of train ticket should I choose?

Each option offers its own unique experience and you can choose based on your personal needs and budget. You can check the following table for your reference.

About Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Ticket Price: The ticket prices above are the net price. The actual ticket booking price is higher with the service fee included, and we suggest you book your train ticket as soon as possible.

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Ticket

When you decide to go to Lhasa by train, be sure to book your train ticket to Lhasa as early as possible. Currently, you can book your Tibet train ticket 15 days before your departure to Lhasa.

1. How to book Lanzhou to Lhasa train ticket?

If you choose to book a tour with us, we will guarantee you a train ticket from Lanzhou to Lhasa that matches the date of your Tibet Tour. You can just send us your passport information and we will proceed to the next step. Tourists can choose the way to collect their tickets. If they want to collect the ticket at the train station, they can require their order number from their travel agency and show the number and the passport to the staff at Lanzhou Train Station. They can also choose to collect their train ticket directly by asking their travel agency to deliver to the address they provide.

If you want to book a train ticket by yourself, you can try to use www.12306.cn and register an account on the official website. Usually, it will require a confirmation code from a telephone number that is registered in Chinese Mainland . You should prepare for it in advance. Without an account on the website, you will not be able to book a train ticket successfully. So, it is highly recommended to leave the task to your Tibet travel agency.

2. Where and how to get Lanzhou to Lhasa train ticket?

If you’ve book the ticket on China Railway’s official website, you can get an E-ticket, which together with your passport, Chinese Visa, Tibet Travel Permit is all you need to board the train at the Lanzhou Railway Station.

If you’ve booked the ticket with us, we will deliver the ticket (E-ticket or printed paper ticket) to you. Then you can use your valid passport, Chinese Visa, train ticket, and Tibet Travel Permit to enter the railway station and board the train.

Notice:
1. Once getting your train ticket, please read the ticket and double-check Your Name and Passport Number on it. If the name and passport number are not matched with your passport and Tibet Permit, you may not be allowed to board the train.
2. If you fail to get a ticket from Lanzhou to the Lhasa train, you can change the starting station like Xining, which offers a bigger chance of getting a ticket.

3. How to read Lanzhou to Lhasa train ticket?

兰州站: Lanzhou Railway Station
拉萨站: Lhasa Railway Station
xx年xx月xx日xx开: xx Year xx Month xx Date xx Departing
xx车xx号上/中/下铺: xx Carriage xx Upper/Middle/Lower Berth
新空调软卧/硬卧/硬座: Soft Sleeper/Hard Sleeper/Hard Seat

Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Trip

Lanzhou to Lhasa trains will take you through the breathtaking Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, where you can admire China's beautiful mountains and rivers and immerse yourself in Tibetan culture.

1. How to get to Lanzhou Railway Station?

Lanzhou Railway Station is located at No.393 Huochezhan East Road, Chengguan District. Tourists can take bus 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 16, 29, 31, 110, 114, 124, 126, 131, 302, 601, 801, k102, etc. to get to Lanzhou Railway Station in downtown Lanzhou. If you want to get to it from Lanzhou Airport, you can take the airport shuttle bus No.1, which will take about 1.5 hours on the road. And there are currently about 14 bullet trains connecting Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport and Lanzhou Railway Station, which will only take 12-20 CNY. Or you can take a taxi, which will cost you about 180-200 CNY.

2. What travel documents do l need for Lanzhou to Lhasa train?

In addition to your passport and Chinese Visa, you will also need to carry a Tibet Travel Permit on your trip, especially when traveling to Tibet by train from Lanzhou.

3. How to board the train from Lanzhou to Lhasa, Tibet?

1) Get your train ticket first and then pass the security check into the waiting hall of the train station;
2) Fill in the health form in the waiting hall;
3) Pass the ticket checkpoint;
4) Find your train carriage according to your train ticket and the LED screen shows;
5) Board the train and pass the ticket check again;
6) Find your berth according to your train ticket;
7) Change your train ticket paper to a berth card. Train boarding ends.

4. What's the best time for Lanzhou to Tibet train tour?

The ideal time for a Lanzhou to Tibet train journey is in spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October). During these months, the weather is mild, the skies are clear, and the landscapes are at their most beautiful. Spring offers lush greenery, while autumn dazzles with vibrant fall colors and stable conditions. These seasons are also less crowded than summer, ensuring a more relaxed and scenic travel experience.

5. What to see on Lanzhou to Lhasa train journey?

The train departs from Lanzhou Station and the altitude continues to rise. The scenery around the train will slowly change. The train route will first pass Qinghai Lake, where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of China's largest saltwater lake. The lake is blue, surrounded by vast grasslands and snow-capped mountains, forming a peaceful and charming natural landscape.

Then, you will see Yuzhu Peak, 6,178 meters above sea level, the main peak of the eastern section of the Kunlun Mountains, with several snow-capped mountains on both sides. The top of the mountain is covered with snow, and glaciers are crisscrossed. Even in midsummer, it is covered with snow, creating a famous and unique landscape - Kunlun June Snow. The Nyainqentanglha Mountains on the way from Nagqu to Lhasa will allow you to see the world's highest geothermal power station - Yangbajing.

Then, when you see the Lhasa River, it means that you arrived at the final stop of this train journey - Lhasa Station.

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6. How about the Lanzhou to Lhasa train facilities?

Each carriage is equipped with a public washroom, providing hot and cold water 24 hours a day; Carriage 4 is equipped with a disabled toilet; the dining car is equipped with LCD TVs; the train uses central air conditioning for cooling and heating; it is equipped with a plateau oxygen supply system, which automatically supplies oxygen in the Golmud - Lhasa section, so that the oxygen content in each carriage reaches 23%, maintaining a comfortable level for the human body. In addition, each carriage has an independent oxygen distribution box interface under the seat, next to the berth and at the top of the berth corridor, and you can insert a straw into the oxygen interface to directly inhale oxygen.

7. What shall l be aware of on Lanzhou to Lhasa train ride?

Since the Lanzhou to Lhasa train runs on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, there are some special precautions that need to be known in advance.

Altitude sickness: Many areas that this train passes through are at high altitudes. You can bring some anti-altitude sickness medicines, such as Rhodiola rosea.
Temperature changes: Although the temperature in the train compartment remains relatively stable, the temperature in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau area is lower, especially at night and in the early morning, so it is recommended to bring suitable cold-proof clothing to cope with the sudden drop in temperature.
Food and meal: Although the train provides a dining car and simple meals, the variety is limited and the price is relatively high. You can bring some dry food such as biscuits, nuts, instant noodles, etc.

8. How to get to Lhasa City from Lhasa Train Station?

Your local guide will pick you up at Lhasa Railway Station and take you to a hotel in Lhasa City. It takes about 20 minutes from Lhasa Railway Station to downtown Lhasa.Upon arrival at the hotel, your guide will assist you with check-in. You can take a rest and prepare for your upcoming trip to Lhasa.