The Beijing-Lhasa train, Z21, leaves Beijing at 20:00 and arrives in Lhasa at 12:26 approximately two days after the departure date. This 3,735km long journey takes a good 40.5 hours to complete, which might sound like a shockingly long duration to some people. Fortunately, the time can pass by quickly with an appreciation of the two sunrises and two sunsets along the varying landscape. Crossing through 8 provinces of China, from the northeast to the southwest, this train is also an important communication bridge which links the capital of China and Tibet.
Please note that there are five railway stations in Beijing. The train from Beijing to Lhasa departs from the Beijing West Railway Station.
| Train No. | From / To | Dep. / Arr. | Duration | Distance | Hard Sleeper | Soft Sleeper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z21 | Beijing/Lhasa | 20:00/12:26 | 40:40 | 3757km | CNY720 | CNY1144 |
| Station | Altitude | Arrival | Departure | Stop Time | Distance | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Beijing | 44m | -- | 20:00 | -- | -- | Day 1 |
| Shijiazhuang | 80m | 22:33 | 22:37 | 4min | 291km | Day 1 |
| Taiyuan | 820m | 00:19 | 00:25 | 6min | 516km | Day 2 |
| Zhongwei | 1225m | 07:05 | 07:16 | 11min | 1263km | Day 2 |
| Lanzhou | 1530m | 12:17 | 12:32 | 15min | 1569km | Day 2 |
| Xining | 2200m | 15:01 | 15:21 | 20min | 1785km | Day 2 |
| Delingha | 2980m | 19:23 | 19:25 | 2min | 2306km | Day 2 |
| Golmud | 2780m | 22:10 | 22:35 | 25min | 2615km | Day 2 |
| Nagchu | 4500m | 08:41 | 08:48 | 7min | 3435km | Day 3 |
| Lhasa | 3650m | 12:26 | -- | -- | 3757km | Day 3 |
| Train No. | From / To | Dep. / Arr. | Duration | Distance | Hard Sleeper | Soft Sleeper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z22 | Lhasa/Beijing | 16:30/08:28 | 39:58 | 3757km | CNY720 | CNY1144 |
| Station | Altitude | Arrival | Departure | Stop Time | Distance | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lhasa | 3650m | -- | 16:30 | -- | -- | Day 1 |
| Nagchu | 4500m | 19:53 | 19:59 | 6min | 322km | Day 1 |
| Golmud | 2780m | 06:10 | 06:35 | 25min | 1142km | Day 2 |
| Delingha | 2980m | 09:02 | 09:04 | 2min | 1451km | Day 2 |
| Xining | 2200m | 13:25 | 13:45 | 20min | 1972km | Day 2 |
| Lanzhou | 1520m | 16:15 | 16:30 | 15min | 2188km | Day 2 |
| Zhongwei | 1225m | 21:27 | 21:35 | 8min | 2494km | Day 2 |
| Taiyuan | 820m | 03:54 | 04:00 | 6min | 3241km | Day 3 |
| Shijiazhuang | 80m | 05:45 | 05:56 | 11min | 3466km | Day 3 |
| West Beijing | 44m | 08:28 | -- | -- | 3757km | Day 3 |
1. How can we get the train tickets from Beijing to Lhasa?
You can get the train tickets in any ticket office of the train station by showing the Tibet Permit, train ticket booking code and your passport. We will mail the permit to your hotel in Beijing and send you the code once the booking of the tickets is confirmed.
2. Where should we take the train to Lhasa in Beijing?
The train from Beijing to Lhasa departs from Beijing West Railway Station. If you collect the train ticket before you board the train, please make sure that you arrive at the train station at least one hour before the departure time in case there is a long queue to wait.
3. Can we get any discount on the train ticket for early booking?
In China, there are discounts available only for some of the high-speed trains on specific dates. For the train from Beijing to Lhasa, the price is the same every day. The tickets will be sold one month before the departure date and might be sold out within the first several minutes. It is suggested that you book your tickets with us or any other ticket agent in advance to ensure their availability. Because of the great demand for the tickets, you normally need to pay an extra fee to guarantee the tickets.
4. What is needed to take the train from Beijing to Lhasa?
It is the same as taking flights to Lhasa; you will need the original permit to get on the train to Lhasa from Beijing. Some cities only require a copy of the permit.
5. Is there a luggage weight or size limitation for the train ride from Beijing to Lhasa?
Each adult can take 20kg of luggage at most for free while each child can take 10kg of luggage. The size cannot exceed 160cm in total for the three dimensions. But, in reality, no one will check the weight and size of your luggage when you get on the train. You can bring all your luggage inside the train if it is not too big or heavy.
6. Is Wi-Fi available on the train?
No, there is no Wi-Fi on the train. The mobile phone signal is weak too.
7. Can we charge our phone or iPad on the train?
Yes, there are electric outlets in the cabin and aisle of the soft sleeper, the corridor of the hard sleeper and near the wash-basin of the hard seats’ carriage.
8. Should we worry about getting altitude sickness on the train?
There will be an oxygen supply in the train once it reaches Golmud at an altitude of 2780 meters. Since the oxygen content is still thinner than in the plains area, you might feel kind of drowsy and develop a headache and loss of appetite. But you will feel better gradually as time goes on. It is recommended that you speak with your indoor voice, walk slowly and drink plenty of water.
9. What are the highlights of the scenery along the railway route?
Xining is the starting point of Qinghai Tibet Railway. All the trains from other cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu etc., will pass through Xining. Starting from Xining, you will first see Qinghai Lake which is the biggest salt-lake in China. After that, the train goes through the Hoh Xil (Kekexili) Nature Reserve. This is the third largest no-man's land in the world, and a haven for wild animals like the Tibetan antelope, wild Yak, wild donkey, white-lip deer, brown bear, and so on. It still has a pristine landscape with vales, glaciers, stone forests, and boiling springs. You will also see the mystic Kunlun Mountain Range, the Tuotuo River (the source of Yangtze River), the majestic Tanggula Mountains, the holy Tsonag Lake, the vast Changtang Grassland, and the Yangpachen which is renowned for its geothermic hot springs.
