Lhasa to Beijing Train

For those who have failed to book inbound tickets from Beijing to Lhasa but still want to savor the breathtaking scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, it is a good choice to take the Lhasa-Beijing train for the higher possibility of successful booking and lower ticket price.

Traveling on Z22 is more than just transport -- it’s a slow journey from the sacred landscapes of Tibet to the bustling capital, offering unforgettable views and a smooth altitude transition back to lower terrain. Now read this article that provides you with all-encompassing information from Lhasa to Bejing train route map, train schedule, train cost for each type of carriage, documents needed in the journey, and scenic highlights during the train journey, etc.

Basic Facts about Lhasa to Beijing Train

Lhasa to Beijing Train Open Date: 2006
Lhasa to Beijing Train Route: Z22
Lhasa to Beijing Train Type: Z-series
Lhasa to Beijing Train Departure Station & Time: Lhasa Railway Station (15:50)
Lhasa to Beijing Train Arrival Station & Time: Beijing West Railway Station (09:11)
Lhasa to Beijing Train Distance: 3,757 kilometers (2,334 miles)
Lhasa to Beijing Train Duration: 41 hrs 21mins
Lhasa to Beijing Train Frequency: Daily
Lhasa to Beijing Train Ticket Class & Cost: Soft Sleeper (from $161), Hard Sleeper (from $101), Hard Seat ($51)
Lhasa to Beijing Train Avg. Speed: About 120km/h
Lhasa to Beijing Train Stops: Lhasa, Nagqu, Golmud, Delingha, Xining, Lanzhou, Zhongwei, Taiyuan, Shijiazhuang, Beijing
Lhasa to Beijing Train Highlights: Tanggula Mountains, Kekexili Nature Reserve, Qinghai Lake

Lhasa to Beijing Train Route Map

Departing form the holy city Lhasa, the train passes through 5 provinces and 1 autonomous region before reaching Beijing, including Qinghai Province, Gansu Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Shaanxi Province, Shanxi Province and Hebei Province. The train stops at several major stations in China, namely, Lhasa, Nagqu, Golmud, Delingha, Xining, Lanzhou, Zhongwei, Taiyuan, Shijiazhuang, and Beijing.

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

Lhasa-Beijing train Z22 departs daily from Lhasa Railway Station at 15:50 and arrives at Beijing West Railway Station at 09:11 on the third day, taking 41:21 hours to cover 3,757 kilometers over 5 provinces and 1 autonomous region. As the return train of Beijing to Lhasa train Z21, Lhasa to Beijing train stops at the same stations in reverse order. Check the major railway stations, altitude change along the way in the following real time train schedule.

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

The same as the inbound Beijing to Lhasa train, outbound train offers three types of carriages: soft sleeper, hard sleeper, and hard seat, each providing travelers with different levels of comfort and facilities. The following section provides you with the features and prices of different types of carriages, helping you figure out which kind of carriage suits you best.

1. Lhasa to Beijing Train Soft Sleeper

On the train from Lhasa to Beijing, there are 2 soft sleeper carriages with a total of 18 compartments and 72 berths. In soft sleeper, there are 4 berths in each compartment, two upper and two lower. The width and length of the berth is 75cm and 190cm respectively. With spacious space and a lockable door, you can have a safe and comfortable journey on the train. In addition, each compartment in soft sleeper carriage has luggage space beneath the lower berths and beside the upper berths, allowing you to store your belongings with short distance. The soft sleeper ticket sells at ¥1144.0 ($161) for the upper berth and at ¥1186 ($167) for the lower berth.

2. Lhasa to Beijing Train Hard Sleeper

Like the Beijing to Lhasa train, the return train also has 8 hard sleeper carriages with 88 compartments and a total 528 berths. A typical hard sleeper compartment consists of 6 berths, two upper, two middle and two lower, with no door for each compartment. The length and width for hard sleeper berth are 180cm and 60cm respectively. With no door and cramped space, you have less privacy and may get interrupted by passengers walking by the aisle. On the other hand, you can chat and make friends with different people with lower ticket price. Specifically, the hard sleeper tickets are priced at ¥720 ($101) for the upper berth, ¥742 ($104) for the middle berth, and ¥763 ($107) for the lower berth.

3. Lhasa to Beijing Train Hard Seat

The Lhasa to Beijing train has 3 hard seat carriages with a total of 354 seats. Hard seat is the least comfortable one as you could only sit upright on the nun-adjustable seats, together with other 117 passengers in a single carriage. Hard seat is not recommended for a long-distance traveling like Lhasa to Beijing trip. The hard seat ticket price is the cheapest at ¥360 ($51), with the sacrifice being the comfort and good sleep. So, think twice before booking hard seats.

4. Which kind of train ticket should I choose?

There are distinct pros and cons for each type of carriages. Soft sleeper carriage, with spacious space and higher level of privacy, is ideal for those pursuing a comfortable journey. Hard sleeper strikes a balance between cost and comfort, providing chances for sociable travelers to make new friends with other passengers. Hard seat, on the other hand, is the cheapest but least comfortable way to travel on Tibet train. The following table summarizes the distinct features of three types of carriages.

About Lhasa to Beijing Train Ticket Price: The ticket prices above are the net price. Actually, an additional service fee is charged since the demand for Tibet train ticket far exceeds the supply. Once entrusted, we will manage to secure the ticket and ensure a seamless Tibet train journey for you.

Lhasa to Beijing Train Ticket

Since more people are keen on taking an inbound ticket from Beijing to Lhasa, the outbound train leaving Tibet to Chinese Mainland is less difficult to book. Thus, it’s highly recommended to fly to Tibet and leave Tibet by train as an alternative.

1. How to book Lhasa to Beijing train ticket?

The same as booking an inbound train ticket, three ways are available to book an outbound Lhasa to Beijing train ticket, namely, through the China Railway’s official website, at the train station, and via a local Tibet travel agency like Tibet Horizon.

Booking Lhasa-Beijing train tickets through China Railway’s official website (www.12306.cn) is the most popular choice for domestic travelers. However, despite that an English version is available, it is not convenient for foreign travelers due to the complexity of payment. The website typically accepts only Chinese bank cards, Wechat Pay, and Alipay.

You can also book the Lhasa-Beijing ticket in person at Lhasa railway station, which is less chosen even among the domestic travelers for its inconvenience. For foreign travelers, it is quite an effort to go to the railway station by yourself, let along the language barriers you are to encounter.

You are best recommended to book tickets online with a registered travel agency like Tibet Horizon, a team dedicated to devising tailored services for Tibet-bound travelers. Please contact us and book the train ticket at least one month prior to your departure date.

2. Where and how to get Lhasa to Beijing 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 and visa is all you need to board the train at Lhasa Railway Station.

If you’ve booked the ticket with Tibet Horizon, we will give the ticket to you. Then you can use the train ticket, a valid passport, and your visa to enter the railway station and board the train.

Please note that currently, a paper ticket is not mandatory to board trains in China.

3. How to read Lhasa to Beijing train ticket?

拉萨站: Lhasa Railway Station
北京西站: Beijing West 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

Lhasa to Beijing Train Trip

Still have questions about the Lhasa-Beijing train trip? Read ahead and the following section will dispel most of your confusion.

1. How to get to Lhasa Railway Station?

At an altitude of 3,641 meters, Lhasa Railway Station is one of world’s highest railway stations. Decorated in both traditional Tibetan and modern styles, the station is a landmark building and looks like an ancient Tibetan Palace but equipped with modern facilities such as escalators and LED screens. When tour ends, our guide will drive you to Lhasa Railway Station.

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

A valid passport and a Chinese Visa are needed to board a Lhasa to Beijing train.

3. How to board the train from Lhasa to Beijing?

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

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

The best time for a Tibet to Beijing train tour is from April to October. April, May, June, and September are ideal for the pleasant weather, clear sky and less crowd compared to the peak summer months. July and August are the peak travel season with warmer weather and live festivals. October offers cooler temperature and stunning autumn landscapes. All factors considered, April to June and September to October is best recommended for its combination of good weather, beautiful scenery and moderate crowds.

5. What to See in Lhasa to Beijing Train Journey?

As an engineering miracle on the earth, it is a unique part of your Tibet journey to take the train running on the roof of the world. If you have failed to book a Beijing to Lhasa train, the return train is worth taking since you can appreciate the same scenery along Qinghai-Tibet Railway with less efforts and lower price.

The first scenic highlight you will encounter is Tanggula Mountains, the highest railway point in the world at an altitude of 5072 meters. If you're awake or it’s still light in summer, you may catch views of snow-capped peaks and vast open sky, as if you are touching the sky. Then in early morning, you will be passing by Kekexili Nature Reserve, one of the most remote and untouched natural areas in China. It is a national park for Tibet fauna and flora, also home to wild yaks, antelopes, wild donkey, and other rare plateau species. Later in the early afternoon, you will pass by Qinghai Lake, China’s largest saltwater lake. You can catch sight of a picturesque blue waters framed by distant hills, with birds and wildflowers dotted around.

As the train descends from the Tibetan Plateau, you'll also pass through mountain ranges, deserts, and river valleys in Gansu, Shaanxi, and Hebei provinces -- offering a complete picture of China’s diverse geography. Although the travel time is much longer, it is definitely worthwhile because of the sheer amount of things you can see on the way to Lhasa from Beijing.

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6. How about Lhasa to Beijing train facilities?

The stunning high plateau scenery along the rail, the pressurized train tailored-made for acclimatizing altitude change, and the tourist-friendly facilities on the train, together make the ride on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau different from any other train journeys. Read the following section to better enjoy the life on the Lhasa-Beijing train.

In addition to the sleeping cabins mentioned above, the train also offers food and drinks. You can either buy boxed meal or snacks from the trolley that comes through the carriages, or order formal dishes in the dining carriage where professional chef will make mostly traditional food for you. The meal costs around 25-50 RMB for each person. You can also buy some snacks or fruit before you board the train to kill the leisurely time when enjoying the stunning views outside the window. And hot water dispensers are also equipped, providing boiling water for you to make tea, coffee or instant noodles.

The train is also equipped with basic toilets and washing facilities, including Chinese and Western-style toilets, and shared washbasins. Toiletries and tissues are not supplied, so bring enough amount of them.

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

The top priority is to keep your travel documents handy, including your passport and Chinese Visa, since they may still be checked along the journey. In addition, you may still feel mild sickness when the altitude ascends from Lhasa (3650 m) to over 5000 meters at Tanggula Pass though you’ve spent days in Tibet. Use the oxygen outlet if needed, drink plenty water and avoid alcohol intake.

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

Beijing West Railway Station is about 9 km from Tian’anmen Square. Like many other cosmopolitan cities around the world, Beijing has one of the most sophisticated subway systems that allow travelers to get to any major scenic spots and railway stations easily. If you opt for a taxi, it takes around 20 to 30 minutes with the price ranging from 25 to 45 RMB. If you choose the subway, the time spent on the way ranges from 25 to 35 minutes, with much lower cost within 10 RMB. For specific subway routes from Beijing West Railway Station to your destination in downtown Beijing, you could search the detailed routes in digital maps like AMap (Gaode Map) in Apple App Store or Google Play.

9. How to shorten Lhasa to Beijing train travel time?

If you want to save some time on the way while appreciating the beauty along Qinghai-Tibet Railway, you can first take the train from Lhasa to Xining, then take a flight from Xining to Beijing on the same day or later. The essence of Qinghai-Tibet Railway lies in Lhasa-Xining section, so you won’t miss much along the way. Additionally, compared with the 41 hours’ Lhasa-Beijing train, it only takes you 21 hours on Lhasa-Xining train and 3 hours on Xining-Beijing flight, greatly shortening the whole travel time on the train.