Qinghai–Tibet Railway: Route, Scenery & Highlights

Qinghai–Tibet Railway at a Glance

• Route: Xining to Lhasa, 1,956 km (1,215 mi)
• Highest point: Tanggula Pass, 5,072 m (16,640 ft)
• Above 4,000 m: about 960 km (596 mi) of the route
• On permafrost: about 550 km (341 mi)
• Opened: Xining–Golmud in 1984; Golmud–Lhasa on July 1, 2006
• Best views from the train: Kunlun Mountains, Hoh Xil, Tuotuo River, Tanggula Pass, Tsonag Lake, the Changtang grasslands and the Nyenchen Tanglha range

Qinghai–Tibet Railway Overview

The Qinghai–Tibet Railway is the world’s highest railway, running 1,956 km (1,215 mi) from Xining in Qinghai Province to Lhasa. About 960 km (596 mi) of the route lies above 4,000 m (13,123 ft), and the line reaches 5,072 m (16,640 ft) at Tanggula Pass.

The journey crosses some of the most remote landscapes in Asia: snow-capped ranges, high-altitude lakes, the headwaters of the Yangtze and grasslands where Tibetan antelope and wild yaks still roam. For many travelers, the train ride is a highlight of their Tibet trip in its own right.

How Was the Qinghai–Tibet Railway Built?

The railway was built in two stages. The 814 km Xining–Golmud section opened in 1984. The far more difficult 1,142 km Golmud–Lhasa section was built between 2001 and 2006 and opened on July 1, 2006.

Engineers faced three major challenges: thin air, a fragile ecosystem and permafrost, ground that stays frozen year-round but can thaw and shift in summer. Their solutions include:

• Cooling rods: thousands of metal rods along the track draw heat out of the ground without electricity, keeping the permafrost frozen.
• Bridges instead of embankments: on the most unstable ground, the track runs on long bridges, including the 11.7 km Qingshuihe Bridge, which also lets wildlife pass underneath.
• Wildlife crossings: dedicated passages allow Tibetan antelope to follow their migration routes across the line.
• High-altitude tunnels: the Fenghuoshan Tunnel, at about 4,905 m, is one of the highest railway tunnels in the world.

Trains on the line are sealed and have an oxygen supply for the high plateau. At Golmud, the train changes locomotives before climbing onto the plateau.

What Can You See from the Qinghai–Tibet Train?

From the train window, you can see the Kunlun Mountains, Hoh Xil, the Tuotuo River, Tanggula Pass, Tsonag Lake, the Changtang grasslands and the Nyenchen Tanglha range. These sights all lie between Golmud and Lhasa, so your departure time decides how much you see in daylight.

For the best views, take a late-afternoon or evening train from Xining to Lhasa, or a morning train from Lhasa to Xining. Either way, the most scenic section passes during the day. For specific trains and times, see our Qinghai–Tibet Train Guide.

Kunlun Mountain Pass

Kunlun Pass, about 160 km south of Golmud, is where the train climbs onto the high plateau. The altitude rises from about 2,800 m at Golmud to more than 4,700 m, and the landscape turns to snow-capped peaks and open, treeless highland. The pass itself sits at 4,767 m (15,640 ft). Nearby Mt. Yuzhu, at about 6,178 m, is often visible from the train on clear days.

Hoh Xil

Hoh Xil, also known as Kekexili, is one of China’s largest and most remote nature reserves, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the borders of Qinghai, Tibet and Xinjiang meet. The railway runs along its eastern edge. This is the best section for spotting wildlife from the train, including Tibetan antelope, wild yaks and Tibetan wild asses.

Tuotuo River

The Tuotuo River is one of the main headwaters of the Yangtze, China’s longest river. The train crosses it on a long bridge, with wide views of braided river channels running across the plateau. In winter and spring, parts of the river are frozen.

Tanggula Pass

Tanggula Pass, at 5,072 m (16,640 ft), is the highest point on the railway and the natural border between Qinghai and Tibet. Tanggula Station, at 5,068 m, is often described as the highest railway station in the world. Passenger trains pass through without stopping, so the pass is best enjoyed from your window.

Tsonag Lake

Tsonag Lake, also called Cuona Lake, lies right beside the railway south of Amdo, at about 4,600 m. The track runs close to its shore, so it’s one of the best lake views of the journey.

Northern Tibetan Grasslands (Changtang)

Between Amdo and Damxung, the train crosses the high grasslands of the Changtang, Tibet’s great northern pastures. As one of China’s largest pastoral areas, the Changtang is surrounded by the Kunlun, Tanggula, Gangdise and Nyenchen Tanglha mountains, and is a culturally rich land as well as a haven for wildlife.

On the vast grassland, yak and sheep herds, nomad tents and prayer flags can be seen everywhere. From the window, you may also spot Tibetan gazelles and kiangs (Tibetan wild asses). The colorful, long-standing culture of the nomadic people still shapes life here.

Each August, Nagqu, the main town in this area, hosts the region’s famous horse-racing festival, when nomad families gather on the grassland for races, horsemanship displays and traditional celebrations.

Nyenchen Tanglha Range

Between Damxung and Yangbajain, the snow-capped Nyenchen Tanglha range rises to the northwest of the railway. Its highest peak reaches 7,162 m. This is the last major mountain view before the train arrives in Lhasa. On a trip to Namtso Lake, you cross the same range by road over the Largen La pass, at about 5,190 m.

Which Attractions Need a Side Trip?

Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, Namtso Lake and the Yangpachen Hot Springs can’t be visited from the train itself. Visiting them means a stop before or after your train journey, usually with a day trip by road.

Qinghai Lake

Qinghai Lake is China’s largest lake and largest saltwater lake, covering about 4,600 sq km (1,800 sq mi) at around 3,200 m (10,499 ft). It lies in northeastern Qinghai, west of Xining. The railway passes near its northern shore, but you only glimpse it from the train, so visiting the lake properly takes a day trip from Xining before your train journey.

Shaped like a huge poplar leaf, the lake sits on open alpine grassland, and its scenery changes with the seasons. Summer and early autumn are the best times to visit, when the weather is cool and comfortable and yellow rapeseed flowers bloom around the shore in July. In spring, tens of thousands of migratory birds arrive to breed, making the lake shore a rewarding stop for birdwatchers.

Chaka Salt Lake

Chaka Salt Lake, about 300 km west of Xining at around 3,100 m, is known as the “Mirror of the Sky” for the way its shallow surface reflects the clouds and distant mountains. It covers about 105 sq km (41 sq mi) and is still a working salt mine. Chaka isn’t on the main Qinghai–Tibet line, so most travelers visit it by road from Xining, often combined with Qinghai Lake. A tourist train also runs from Xining on a branch line.

Namtso Lake

Namtso, meaning “Heavenly Lake” in Tibetan, is one of Tibet’s most sacred lakes. It lies at 4,718 m (15,479 ft), stretching about 70 km from east to west and 30 km from north to south, and covers about 1,900 sq km.

Fed by rain and by snowmelt from the Nyenchen Tanglha range, the lake is remarkably clear, its blue water seeming to merge with the sky on calm days. It sits behind the Nyenchen Tanglha range, so you can’t see it from the train. Most travelers visit on a day or overnight trip from Lhasa, about 220 km away by road, after acclimatizing. See our 5 day Lhasa tour that including a day trip to Namtso Lake.

Yangpachen Hot Springs

The Yangpachen Hot Springs, at Yangbajin, about 87 km northwest of Lhasa, are some of the highest hot springs in China, possibly the highest in the world, at around 4,300 m. Steam rises from the geothermal field against the snow-capped Nyenchen Tanglha mountains, and a geothermal power station here supplies electricity to Lhasa. Visitors can bathe in hot-spring pools at about 4,200 m. The railway passes the town, but visiting the springs is a road trip from Lhasa, often combined with Namtso.

Plan Your Tibet Tour with a Train Journey

We can plan a Tibet tour that includes the Qinghai–Tibet Railway, with side trips to Qinghai Lake or Namtso. Explore Tibet Train Tours. Explore Tibet Train Tours

For tickets and sleeper classes, see our Qinghai–Tibet Train Guide.

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