Lhasa to Guangzhou Train

If you failed to take an inbound train to Tibet but still want to experience the epic Qinghai-Tibet Railway, you could opt to take an outbound train from Lhasa to Guangzhou, China’s third-largest city after Shanghai and Beijing. Spanning over 4,980 kilometers and taking 55hrs and 36mins, this route connects the Tibetan Plateau to southern China, showcasing a dramatic transformation in landscape, climate, and culture. This comprehensive guide covers essential travel information, including train route map, train schedules, ticket classes, onboard amenities, and scenic highlights during the train journey, etc.

Basic Facts about Lhasa to Guangzhou Train

Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Open Date: 2006
Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Route: Z266
Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Type: Z-series
Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Departure Station & Time: Lhasa Railway Station (12:35)
Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Arrival Station & Time: Guangzhou Baiyun Railway Station (20:11)
Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Distance: 4,980 kilometers (3,094 miles)
Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Duration: 55 hrs 36 mins
Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Frequency: Daily
Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Ticket Class & Cost: Soft Sleeper ($203), Hard Sleeper ($120), Hard Seat ($62)
Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Avg. Speed: About 120km/h
Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Stops: Lhasa, Nagqu, Golmud, Xining, Lanzhou, Xianyang, Xi’an, Zhengzhou, Wuchang, Changsha, Hengyang, Chenzhou, Shaoguan East, Guangzhou
Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Highlights: Tanggula Mountains, Changtang Grasslands, Cuona Lake, Kunlun Mountains, Yellow River, Loess Plateau, Yangtze River

Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Route Map

As the longest Tibet train route to Lhasa, Lhasa-Guangzhou train is a real fantasy for railway buffs. During the 55hrs 36mins’ journey, the train runs cross 7 provinces and one autonomous region, stopping at 14 cities. These provinces and region include Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, Gansu Province, Shaanxi Province, Henan Province, Hubei Province, Hunan Province, and Guangdong Province. Like other Tibet train journey, the highlights of the window scenery center from the Lhasa to Xining segment. Check the following map for a panoramic view of the Guangdong-Lhasa train route.

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

As the longest railway route out of Tibet, the Lhasa to Guangzhou train Z266 departs every day at 12:35 from Lhasa Railway Station, and arrives at Guangzhou Baiyun Railway Station at 20:11 on the third day, taking 55 hours 36 minutes to cover a distance of 4,980 kilometers. Check the major railway stations, altitude change in the following real time train schedule.

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

Like the train from Guangzhou to Lhasa, there are three categories of accommodations available on Lhasa-Guangzhou train, namely, soft sleeper, hard sleeper, and hard seat. Read the following section to figure out which kind of carriage suits you best.

1. Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Soft Sleeper

On the train from Lhasa to Guangzhou, there are 2 soft sleeper carriages with a total of 18 compartments and 72 berths. In soft sleeper carriages, there are 4 berths in each compartment, two upper and two lower. The width and length of the berth is 75 cm and 190 cm respectively. With spacious space and a lockable door, you can have a safe, private 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 within short distance. The soft sleeper ticket sells at ¥1468 ($203) for the upper berth and at ¥1526 ($211) for the lower berth.

2. Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Hard Sleeper

The Lhasa-Guangzhou train offers 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. Although no door is provided for hard sleeper, tourists can have more chance to enjoy the time with locals or other passengers onboard with lower ticket price. Specifically, the hard sleeper tickets are priced at ¥865 ($120) for the upper berth, ¥892 ($123) for the middle berth, and ¥919 ($127) for the lower berth.

3. Lhasa to Guangzhou Train Hard Seat

The Lhasa to Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou trip. The hard seat ticket price is the cheapest at ¥447 ($62), 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?

The soft sleeper carriage is equipped with the best possible facilities onboard, making it the optimum choice for passengers pursuing good privacy and comfortable travel experience. While for budget travelers, the hard sleeper on Tibet train will be a good option, since it has a lower ticket price and also remains the comfort to some degree. 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 Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou Train Ticket

The Tibet train ticket can be booked at the railway station, which is an obsolete option now, or on China Railway’s official website. As a better choice, you could contact us and we will book your Lhasa to Guangzhou train ticket. With professional and trustworthy services on Tibet train tours, we can help to get your ticket of your preferred travel date.

1. How to book Lhasa to Guangzhou train ticket?

Currently there are basically two common methods to book a Tibet train ticket for foreigners, namely, through the China Railway’s official website, and via a local Tibet travel agency like Tibet Horizon.

Booking Lhasa-Guangzhou train tickets through China Railway’s official website (www.12306.cn) is the most popular choice for domestic travelers. The official website and app are currently available in both Chinese and English. However, you need to register an account and have the appropriate Chinese online payment methods like Alipay, Wechat, Chinese bank cards, which entails quite a lot procedures.

The more convenient way for you is to book tickets online with a registered travel agency like Tibet Horizon, a team dedicated to devising tailored services for Tibet-bound travelers. As the reliable local travel agency enjoying partnership with railway stations nationwide for years, we have more opportunities to get the train tickets for you. 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 Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou train ticket?

拉萨站: Lhasa Railway Station
广州白云站: Guangzhou Baiyun 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 Guangzhou Train Trip

The following tips can help you get better prepared for your Lhasa-Guangzhou train journey.

1. How to get to Lhasa Railway Station?

The station serves as the only station that has regular trains connecting the Chinese Mainland. Due to the huge number of travelers in the railway station, it’s advisable to arrive at the Lhasa Railway Station early to line up to be checked to board the train. But don’t worry, our guide will drive you to Lhasa Railway Station when your Tibet tour ends.

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

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

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

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 Guangzhou train tour?

The best time for a Tibet to Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou train journey?

The Z266 train from Lhasa to Guangzhou is one of the most scenic train journeys in China, crossing a vast range of terrains—from the Tibetan Plateau to the subtropical south.

The early leg from Lhasa to Xining, which is the essence of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, offers some of the most stunning scenery of the entire journey. Riding on the world’s highest railway, you will pass by a range of scenic highlights including Tanggula Mountains, Changtang Grasslands, Cuona Lake, Kunlun Mountains, Qarhan Salt Lake, Qinghai Lake, etc.

The following Gansu-Shaanxi section offers you a glimpse of the Yellow River and the Loess Plateau. As the train enters the central China, you will be greeted with views of the Yangtze River, together with rice paddies and green hills. The last segment of the journey presents you with subtropical charms, like misty hills, lush greenery, and farming villages. So sit on the window and bring your camera for optimal views and lasting memories.

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6. How about Lhasa to Guangzhou train facilities?

Having a ride on Qinghai-Tibet train like Lhasa-Guangzhou route is definitely the experience of a lifetime. Besides, the long distance and pressurized train tailor-made for acclimatization of extreme altitude make the ride different from other train journey.

In addition to the sleeping cabins mentioned above, the train also offers food and drinks. You can get formal three meals and drinks from dining carriage located in the middle of the train, where professional chefs will make mostly traditional Chinese food for you. It costs 25-50 RMB per person and accepts cash payment, Wechat payment and Alipay. Snacks are also available from trolleys that pass by each compartment sporadically. In addition, you can get free boiled water from hot water dispensers near the sinks. Since the journey is as long as 44 hours, it is recommended to buy some food before boarding the train, be it snacks, fruits, bread or instant noodles.

In terms of personal toilet facilities, the soft sleeper carriage has one western-style toilet and one squat-style toilet, while hard sleeper carriage only has two squat-style toilets. Toilets are located at the end of each carriage, adjacent to the washbasin, dustbin and hot water dispenser. When using the washbasin, usually only cold water is available and you need to bring your own towel, wet paper tissue, and toiletries.

For those entering into Tibet for the first time, there is no need to worry about altitude sickness for two reasons. For one thing, the Tibet trains are highly sealed and pressurized like an airplane. For another thing, oxygen supply system is fully equipped onboard. There are two sets of oxygen supply on the train. One is the dispersion-mode oxygen supply system operated by the train staff, which releases oxygen pervasively in the carriages. Another is the distribution-mode oxygen supply that can be connected to individual passenger who still have shortness of breath.

7. What shall l be aware of on Lhasa to Guangzhou 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, still have good rest, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol intake and intense activities to prevent severe altitude sickness.

8. How to get to Guangzhou City from Guangzhou Baiyun Railway Station?

There are many ways to get from Guangzhou Baiyun Railway Station to Guangzhou City.

First, to reach downtown Guangzhou from Guangzhou Baiyun Railway Station, take Metro Line 8 to Shitan Station (Exit B). From there, transfer via the pedestrian walkway to Line 2 or Line 5, which connects you to Yuexiu, Tianhe, and other central areas. The journey takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Second, you can also take a taxi or ride-hailing service, which takes approximately 25 to 35 minutes. This provides convenient and fast transportation.

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

Instead of taking the direct train from Lhasa to Guangzhou, you can first take the train from Lhasa to Xining, and then fly from Xining to Guangzhou. Though it costs a bit more, it saves your time and won’t ruin your planned tour in Chinese Mainland. You will not stay for that long time onboard, but it still allows you to enjoy the highlights of Tibet train journey along Qinghai-Tibet Railway.