Lanzhou is the capital city of Gansu Province. It lies along the western section of the Yellow River, which is the second largest river and the mother river of the Chinese civilization. Lanzhou is also an important base on the ancient Silk Road, where cultural relics are still well preserved. The dominant religion is Islam; hence, there also are plenty of amazingly beautiful mosques.
Lanzhou is the preceding station of Xining while on the train to Lhasa, departing from other major cities. Between Lanzhou and Lhasa, there are only four stops and the duration of this train journey is 24 hours.
| Train No. | From / To | Dep. / Arr. | Duration | Distance | Hard Sleeper | Soft Sleeper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z917 | Lanzhou/Lhasa | 11:16/11:14 | 23:58 | 2188km | CNY522 | CNY823 |
| Station | Altitude | Arrival | Departure | Stop Time | Distance | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lanzhou | 1520m | -- | 11:16 | -- | ||
| Xining | 2200m | -- | 14:01 | -- | 216km | Day 1 |
| Delingha | 2980m | 18:03 | 18:09 | 6min | 737km | Day 1 |
| Golmud | 2780m | 20:48 | 21:13 | 25min | 1046km | Day 1 |
| Nagchu | 4500m | 06:56 | 07:02 | 6min | 1866km | Day 2 |
| Lhasa | 3650m | 11:14 | -- | -- | 2188km | Day 2 |
| Train No. | From / To | Dep. / Arr. | Duration | Distance | Hard Sleeper | Soft Sleeper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z918 | Lhasa/Lanzhou | 09:00/09:24 | 24:24 | 2188km | CNY522 | CNY823 |
| Station | Altitude | Arrival | Departure | Stop Time | Distance | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lhasa | 3650m | -- | 09:00 | -- | -- | Day 1 |
| Damxung | 4200m | 10:46 | 10:54 | 4min | 164km | Day 1 |
| Nagchu | 4500m | 12:28 | 12:34 | 6min | 322km | Day 1 |
| Amdo | 4800m | 14:01 | 14:05 | 4min | 448km | Day 1 |
| Golmud | 2780m | 23:23 | 23:48 | 25min | 1142km | Day 1 |
| Delingha | 2980m | 02:15 | 02:23 | 8min | 1451km | Day 2 |
| Xining | 2200m | 06:43 | 07:03 | 20min | 1972km | Day 2 |
| Lanzhou | 1520m | 09:24 | -- | -- | 2188km | Day 2 |
1. Is it recommended to take the train from Lanzhou to Lhasa?
Yes, taking the train from Lanzhou to Lhasa is a good option. Instead of spending 40 or 50 hours on the train from Beijing or Shanghai, it only takes 24 hours from Lanzhou to Lhasa. Since all the trains to Tibet pass through Lanzhou, it is easier to get the train tickets. By the way, Lanzhou was once an important hub on the Silk Road. For this reason, there is much to explore.
2. Are the beds on the train clean enough? How hard are the hard sleeper beds?
Normally, the sheets and blankets on the train berths will be changed after the train arrives at the terminal station. They are clean and bedbug-free. Actually, the beds of the hard sleeper are also soft. There are 6 beds in the hard sleeper compartments and 4 beds in the soft sleepers. It is just more crowded and narrower in the hard sleepers.
3. Is smoking forbidden on the train from Lanzhou to Lhasa?
You can smoke at the junction of two carriages before the train reaches Golmud. Once the train enters Golmud, there will be an oxygen supply in the train. It is forbidden to smoke in any part of the train.
4. Is the train air conditioned?
Yes, all the trains to Tibet are air conditioned. However, you might want to take a coat with you, even during the hot summer, since the thermostat on each train is always set to a slightly lower temperature.
5. Is it safe for a solo traveler to take the train?
Yes, it is safe to take the train if you’re a single traveler. But it might be better to use a hard sleeper if you travel alone. The hard sleeper is an open area while the soft sleeper has a door. It is kind of awkward to stay with three other strangers in a confined space. Besides, you should always take your precious staff with you no matter if you go to the bathroom or the restaurant.
