Sichuan Tibet Railway

As the second sky road to Tibet, Sichuan-Tibet railway has been expected for many years to come into service for Tibet tourism and the national stability. No matter it is for the people along the railway, or it is for the tourists who want to get to Tibet by train without spending much time on the road, the construction of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway will bring so many advantages to them. With a total length of 1,838 kilometers, Sichuan-Tibet Railway will shorten the whole trip from about 36 hours to 13 hours.

The Sichuan-Tibet Railway starts from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, and gets to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. The construction of this amazing railway divides into three sections. The first section is from Chengdu to Ya’an, which has been in operation since December 2018. Lhasa to Nyingchi section is still under construction from June 2015. The third section, also the most challenging section of Sichuan-Tibet Railway starts from Ya’an to Nyingchi, had been scheduled to open in December 2020.

Sichuan Tibet Railway

The difficulties that the whole construction will encounter is rarely seen elsewhere, which makes Sichuan-Tibet Railway the focus of China’s development. Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is one of the most geologically active areas in this world. The railway will be built on Sichuan Basin, Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 600 meters to nearly 4,500 meters above sea level. Along with the extreme climatic conditions and fragile ecological environment, the construction of this railway will last more than ten years from the start of the construction of the first section. But once completed, the Sichuan-Tibet Railway will be served as the busiest channel that connects tourists from inland China and Tibet area. Tibet tourism will flourish to the most as well. By that time, the number of tourists who travel to Tibet will explode, which will make the infrastructure in Tibet better and better.

But at present, tourists can only choose to get to Tibet from Sichuan by train that runs on Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Besides, taking a plane or traveling by overland are also great choices for people who want to enjoy what Tibet can offer. Currently, Train Z322 can take you to Lhasa from Chengdu every other day. It will take 36 hours and 19 minutes with a 3,079-long railway. And Train Z324 departing from Lhasa Railway Station to Chengdu will take 35 hours and 46 minutes on the road. For more details, you can check our Chengdu to Lhasa Railway information on another page.

It is also convenient for tourists to take a flight to get Lhasa from Chengdu. In a general way, the flight from Chengdu to Lhasa will take about two and a half hours. All flights will take off at Terminal 2 in Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. You can take metro Line 10 or an airport shuttle bus to get to the airport located 16 kilometers southwest of Chengdu. Or, you can take a taxi to take your flight in downtown Chengdu.

An overland trip from Chengdu to Lhasa is also a popular choice for many tourists since they can have enough time to enjoy the picturesque scenery along the road. But the trip may be tough since you will stay in a car about eight hours a day. You definitely know that G318 National Highway in China is the most beautiful road that every wanderlust is hankering in the entire life. If you get the chance to have an overland trip on G318, just go ahead. But due to its dangerous road condition, it is not recommended for a tourist to drive alone. So, you’d better contact us firstly and book a Chengdu Lhasa overland trip with us. We will provide cars with good conditions and drivers who are experienced to ensure a wonderful journey for you. Heading west, tourists will pass through so many splendid mountains, lakes, villages, and grasslands. And you get enough time to acclimate the high altitude sickness.