Xian to Lhasa Train

As one of the must-visit destinations in China, Xi'an attracts lots of foreign tourists to have a short tour here. For those who want to get to Tibet by train when you have a tour plan in Xi'an for your tour in China, you should know that there are two pairs of Tibet trains that will make a stop at Xi'an Train Station. Although Xi'an is not a departure city in Chinese Mainland for Tibet trains, train Z165 from Shanghai and train Z265 from Guangzhou will stop here for eight minutes and ten minutes respectively. This Xi'an to Lhasa train guide covers information such as train route map, train schedule, the train ticket class and cost, required documents, and attractions during the train journey, etc.

Basic Facts about Xi'an to Lhasa Train

Xi'an to Lhasa Train Open Date: 2006
Xi'an to Lhasa Train Route: Z265 / Z165
Xi'an to Lhasa Train Type: Z-series
Xi'an to Lhasa Train Departure Station & Time: Xi'an Railway Station (07:53 / 09:27)
Xi'an to Lhasa Train Arrival Station & Time: Lhasa Railway Station (14:54 / 15:30)
Xi'an to Lhasa Train Distance: 2,864 kilometers (1,748 miles)
Xi'an to Lhasa Train Duration: 31hrs 1min / 30hrs 3mins
Xi'an to Lhasa Train Frequency: Daily
Xi'an to Lhasa Train Ticket Class & Cost: Soft Sleeper (from $135), Hard Sleeper (from $83), Hard Seat ($41)
Xi'an to Lhasa Train Avg. Speed: About 94 km/h
Xi'an to Lhasa Train Stops: Xi'an, Xianyang, Baoji, Lanzhou, Xining, Delingha, Golmud, Amdo, Nagqu, Lhasa
Xi'an to Lhasa Train Highlights: Yuzhu Peak, Hoh Xil, Tuotuo River, Tanggula Mountain

Xi'an to Lhasa Train Route Map

As one of the most classic Tibet railways to Lhasa, the Xi'an to Lhasa train is comfortable for railway enthusiasts. During the journey of 31 hours and 1 minute for Z265 and 30 hours and 3 minutes for Z165 respectively, the train will pass through 3 provinces and 1 autonomous region, including Shanxi Province, Gansu Province, Qinghai Province and Tibet Autonomous Region. The train stops at several major stations en route, namely, Xi'an, Xianyang, Baoji, Lanzhou, Xining, Delingha, Golmud, Amdo, Nagqu, Lhasa. Check out the map below to get a panoramic view of the Xi'an to Lhasa train route.

Xi'an to Lhasa Train Schedule: Station, Altitude, Time, and Distance

Both Z265 train from Guangzhou and Z165 train from Shanghai would make a stop at Xi'an.

Train Z265 from Guangzhou will arrive at Xi'an Train Station at 07:43 and departs at 07:53. The whole journey will cost 31 hours and 1 minute. On the second day, the train will end at Lhasa Train Station at 14:54. This train line will pass through Baoji, Lanzhou, Xining, Delingha, Golmud, Amdo, Nagqu and arrive at Lhasa in the end. And Train Z165 from Shanghai will stop at Xi'an Train Station at 09:19. Departing Xi’an at 09:27, the train will take you to get to Lhasa at 15:30 on day 2 after 30 hours and 3 minutes. The whole journey will pass through Xianyang, Baoji, Lanzhou, Xining, Golmud, Amdo, Nagqu and end at Lhasa. Check the major railway stations, altitude ascent and descent along the way in the following real time train schedule.

Xi'an to Lhasa Train Z265

Xi'an to Lhasa Train Z165

Xi'an to Lhasa Train Ticket Class & Cost: Soft Sleeper, Hard Sleeper, Hard Seat, and Ticket Price

Like other Tibet train, the Xi'an to Lhasa train offers the same types and number of carriages. The following sections help you choose the ticket that suits you best.

1. Xi'an to Lhasa Train Soft Sleeper

Each soft sleeper carriage contains 9-11 private compartments. Each compartment has four berths – two upper and two lower – and its own lockable door. Amenities include western and squat toilets, a washbasin with hot water, air conditioning, and an oxygen supply. With spacious space and a lockable door, you can have a safe and comfortable journey on the train. The soft sleeper ticket sells at bout ¥969.5 ($135) for the upper berth and at about ¥1005.5 ($140) for the lower berth.

2. Xi'an to Lhasa Train Hard Sleeper

Hard sleeper carriages have 11 open compartments, each with 6 bunks (upper, middle, lower). Despite the name, the hard sleeper includes cushions, pillows, and blankets. Each carriage offers a squat toilet, viewing windows along the corridor, folding seats, and the same air conditioning and oxygen supply as soft sleepers. The hard sleeper tickets are priced at ¥611.5 ($83) for the upper berth, about ¥629.5 ($87) for the middle berth, and ¥647.5 ($90) for the lower berth.

3. Xi'an to Lhasa Train Hard Seat

Hard sleeper cars have 4 carriages with row seating. Seats don't recline; only basic padding is provided. Oxygen and carriage facilities are shared with sleeper cars, but there are no bunks. Considering the long distance from Xi'an to Lhasa, the hard seat is not a good choice for travelers to Tibet. The hard seat ticket costs about ¥293.5 ($41). The sacrifice you've made is the comfort and good sleep. So, think twice before booking hard seats.

4. Which kind of train ticket should I choose?

Soft sleepers offer the most space and privacy, perfect for a relaxing trip. Hard sleepers are a good compromise between cost and comfort. Hard seats are the cheapest but least comfortable option on the Tibet train. The following table compares the three carriage types.

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

Xi'an to Lhasa Train Ticket

Once you’ve decided to take the train from Xi'an to Lhasa, be sure to book Tibet train tickets as early as possible since the Qinghai-Tibet train is truly popular and the demand always exceeds the supply. Currently, you can book Tibet train tickets 15 days earlier before you leave for Lhasa.

1. How to book Xi'an to Lhasa train ticket?

Relatively speaking, the train from Xi'an to Lhasa is shorter than most of those Tibet trains originated from other major cities in China. But you need to notice that since Xi'an is just a middle stop of Shanghai Lhasa Train and Guangzhou Lhasa Train, there is a great chance that you will not be able to book the train ticket that matches your tour in China. Even as a professional Tibet tour agency, we cannot guarantee you that we can help you book a train ticket from Xi'an to Lhasa successfully. But it is better than booking by your own because we know better about the train ticket booking process. Just contact us first to get to know more information and get expert advice.

We highly suggest that you have a backup plan for your tour to Tibet. You have four alternatives if you haven't booked a Xi'an Lhasa train ticket with a perfect date.

Fly from Xi'an to Lhasa: The first choice, you can take a flight to get to Lhasa from Xi’an. It will short your traveling time on the road and save more time to travel in Tibet. However, you will never get the chance to enjoy the Tibet train tour along with the breathtaking scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

Fly from Xi'an to Xining and take the train to Lhasa: However, for those tourists who don’t want to miss the chance to have a train tour to Tibet, there is another way to fulfill their dream. They can take a flight to get to Xining and then take the train to Lhasa from Xining, the start point of Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Xining can also be added to your travel list in China. After spending one or two days in Xining, you can board a train to Lhasa. All trains to Tibet will stop at Xining. And Xining is also a departure city that runs trains to Lhasa. So, it is easier to book a Xining Lhasa train ticket than Xi'an.

Travel from Xi'an to other cities and take Tibet train inbound: Besides, if you are OK to adjust your tour schedule, you can travel to Xi'an first and make a plan to another major cities in China like Beijing, Shanghai or Chengdu, where you can book a train ticket easily to get to Lhasa. The unique culture of these cities will definitely leave a deep impression on you. Beijing has a profound historical and cultural heritage; Shanghai has a lively urban atmosphere; and Chengdu is a food capital and panda home. If you are interested in these cities and are eager to have a special trip, you can choose to take the high-speed rail or plane from Xi'an to these cities, and then take the Tibet train to Lhasa.

Fly from Xi'an to Lhasa and take Tibet train outbound: Of course, flying from Xi'an to Lhasa and leaving Tibet by train not only saves time, but also allows you to get the train tickets more easily and gain a wonderful rail experience. It is an ideal combination of efficiency and plateau scenery.

2. Where and how to get Xi'an 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 Xi'an 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: 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.

3. How to read Xi'an to Lhasa train ticket?

西安站: Xi'an 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

Xi'an to Lhasa Train Trip

Read the most frequently asked questions on a Xi'an to Lhasa train trip to get better prepared.

1. How to get to Xi'an Railway Station?

Tourists can only get to Xi'an Railway Station, located at No.44 of North Huancheng Road in the Xincheng District, to board a train to Tibet. Bus No.6, No.46, No.41, No.611, etc. are available for passengers to get to Xi'an Train Station.

If you want to get to Xi'an Railway Station from Xianyang International Airport, you can take the airport shuttle bus to get to Longhai hotel and then walk to the train station. The shuttle bus runs every 30 minutes and it will take about 1 hour. It is the most convenient and the cheapest way to get to Xi'an Railway Station from Xianyang International Airport. Besides, you can also take a taxi, which will cost you four to five times of the fare of the airport shuttle bus.

If you are in downtown Xi'an, you can take a bus to get to Xi'an Train Station since there are numerous bus lines in downtown Xi'an that will stop at the train station. Or, you can take a taxi if you are standing at a place that serves no bus to the train station. It is more convenient but more expensive than taking a bus to there. If you are running out of time, taking a taxi will be a smart choice for passengers to choose.

2. What travel documents do l need for Xi'an to Lhasa train?

For foreign travelers heading to Tibet, three main documents are needed, including a valid passport, a Chinese Visa and a Tibet Travel Permit. Specifically speaking, Tibet Travel Permit is required when you get the ticket, pass the security checkpoint, and board the train. Issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau, this permit can only be applied by a registered travel agency on your behalf. So contact us at least one month prior to your travel date.

3. How to board the train from Xi'an to Lhasa Tibet?

1) Get your train ticket firstly and then pass the security check into the waiting hall of 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 show;
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 berth card. Train boarding ends.

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

The best time for a Xi'an to Tibet 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 are recommended for good weather, beautiful scenery and moderate crowds.

5. What to see in Xi'an to Lhasa train journey?

The Xi'an to Lhasa train journey is known as the "Sky Road", which will take you from the Loess Plateau to the Snowy Plateau, with magnificent scenery along the way. At the beginning of the journey, you will pass through the Loess Plateau to experience the majestic and rugged landscape; after passing Golmud, you will climb the Kunlun Mountains. Through the window, you can see the Yuzhu Peak (about 6178m) towering in the sky, covered in silver, like a pearl in the sky. Then, the train enters the rarely visited Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, where you may have the opportunity to see Tibetan antelopes and wild yaks walking through the grasslands. The train will then head to the Tuotuo River, where you can witness the melting snow at the source of the Yangtze River flowing quietly into a river; then reach the Tanggula Pass at an altitude of 5072m, and feel the shock of being "closest to heaven". As the train approach Lhasa, you may see Cuo Na Lake, one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world at 4594 m.

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6. How about the Xi'an to Lhasa train facilities?

In addition to the carriages mentioned in the article, the train also provides catering. You can enjoy formal meals and drinks prepared by professional chefs in the dining car on the train. The meal fee is RMB 25-50 per person, and cash, WeChat payment and Alipay payment are accepted. Some snacks can be purchased when the food trolley passes by irregularly in the carriage. Since the journey is about 30-31 hours long and the food prices on the train are more expensive than usual, we recommend that you buy some fruits and instant noodles before boarding the train. And, you can enjoy free boiled water at the water heater next to the sink.

The train is equipped with two sets of oxygen supply systems. One is a diffuse oxygen supply system, which is operated by the train staff and provides diffuse oxygen supply in the carriage. The other is a distributed oxygen supply, which provides individual oxygen supply for passengers. So you do not need to worry about the supply problem.

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

Upon your arrival at Lhasa Railway Station, you will be greeted by our guide with Khata and then transferred to your hotel. It usually takes about 20 minutes from Lhasa Railway Station to downtown Lhasa. On the way, you will catch the sight of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the longest and largest river in Tibet. Finally, your tour guide will help you check in and you can have a rest and get prepared for your upcoming trip in Tibet.