As one of the coastal cities of China, Guangzhou serves as a gateway city to the central and western parts of China. The train linking Guangzhou and Lhasa is the Z264, which departs daily and arrives in Lhasa after 53 hours.
The Guangzhou to Lhasa train passes through seven provinces and is the longest train route from inland China to Tibet. Tourists get to have two overnight stays on the train. So, a soft sleeper berth is recommended to add more comfort.
Please note that there are five railway stations in Guangzhou, and the Guangzhou to Lhasa train departs from the Guangzhou Railway Station.
| Train No. | From / To | Dep. / Arr. | Duration | Distance | Hard Sleeper | Soft Sleeper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z264 | Guangzhou/Lhasa | 11:45/16:19 | 52:34 | 4980km | CNY865 | CNY1468 |
| Station | Altitude | Arrival | Departure | Stop Time | Distance | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou | 21m | -- | 11:45 | -- | -- | Day 1 |
| Chenzhou | 189m | 15:32 | 15:36 | 4min | 374km | Day 1 |
| Changsha | 63m | 19:09 | 19:17 | 8min | 707km | Day 1 |
| Wuchang | 28m | 22:38 | 22:58 | 20min | 1069km | Day 1 |
| Zhengzhou | 108m | 03:33 | 03:40 | 7min | 1605km | Day 2 |
| Xi’an | 385m | 09:36 | 09:45 | 9min | 2116km | Day 2 |
| Lanzhou | 1520m | 16:26 | 16:41 | 15min | 2792km | Day 2 |
| Xining | 2200m | 19:11 | 19:31 | 20min | 3008km | Day 2 |
| Delingha | 2982m | 23:33 | 23:35 | 2min | 3529km | Day 2 |
| Golmud | 2780m | 02:32 | 02:57 | 25min | 3838km | Day 3 |
| Nagchu | 4500m | 12:29 | 12:35 | 6min | 4658km | Day 3 |
| Lhasa | 3650m | 16:19 | -- | -- | 4980km | Day 3 |
| Train No. | From / To | Dep. / Arr. | Duration | Distance | Hard Sleeper | Soft Sleeper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z266 | Lhasa/Guangzhou | 13:10/20:00 | 54:50 | 4980km | CNY865 | CNY1468 |
| Station | Altitude | Arrival | Departure | Stop Time | Distance | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lhasa | 3650m | -- | 13:10 | -- | -- | Day 1 |
| Nagchu | 4500m | 16:59 | 17:02 | 6min | 322km | Day 1 |
| Golmud | 2780m | 02:53 | 03:18 | 25min | 1142km | Day 2 |
| Delingha | 2982m | 05:45 | 05:48 | 3min | 1478km | Day 2 |
| Xining | 2200m | 10:35 | 10:55 | 20min | 1972km | Day 2 |
| Lanzhou | 1520m | 13:25 | 13:41 | 16min | 2188km | Day 2 |
| Xi’an | 385m | 21:49 | 22:03 | 14min | 2864km | Day 2 |
| Zhengzhou | 108m | 03:59 | 04:07 | 8min | 3375km | Day 3 |
| Wuchang | 28m | 08:37 | 08:52 | 15min | 3911km | Day 3 |
| Changsha | 63m | 12:06 | 12:12 | 6min | 4273km | Day 3 |
| Chenzhou | 189m | 15:42 | 15:46 | 4min | 4606km | Day 3 |
| Guangzhou | 21m | 20:00 | -- | -- | 4980km | Day 3 |
1. Is there any other option instead of spending 52 hours on the train from Guangzhou to Lhasa?
If you’re tired of the 52-hour train ride from Guangzhou to Lhasa but you’re interested in enjoying the landscape of the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau, then you can fly from Guangzhou to Xining and take the train there. Xining is the starting point of the Qinghai Tibet Railway, so you can still see the picturesque view along the way. It only takes about 23 hours from Xining to Lhasa while enjoying the grand scenery outside of the window.
2. Is there a luggage weight or size limitation for taking the train from Guangzhou 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.
3. Will it help to acclimatize if I take the train from Guangzhou to Lhasa?
We cannot say whether the train journey helps a lot to acclimatize because there will be an oxygen supply in the train once it reaches Golmud at an altitude of 2780 meters. As the oxygen content is still thinner than in the plains area, you might feel kind of drowsy and experience a headache or loss of appetite. But you will feel better gradually as time goes on. It will help if you get a good rest, walk slowly and drink plenty of water. You can take some anti-altitude sickness medicine, such as Hong Jing Tian, Gao Yuan An, or Diamox, before coming to Tibet. This has proven to be very useful for people.
4. Should I keep the Tibet Permit and train ticket after I board the train?
Yes, please keep both the Tibet Permit and train ticket. After your arrival in Lhasa, you need to give the permit back to your local guide. It is a certificate of your validity to stay in Tibet. As for the train ticket, the train staff will come to collect it shortly after the train starts. Once they collect the ticket, they will give you a plastic card. Before you get off the train, they will return your ticket and take back the plastic card. You will also need the ticket to get out of the train station.
5. 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.
