While planning a trip to Tibet, most people will be concerned about the high altitude sickness. Generally speaking, riding a train to Tibet does a lot to reduce the risk of this issue, as passengers can get accustomed to the high altitude gradually along the way.
Each Tibet train features two oxygen supply systems which respond to the dramatic altitude change. One is a diffusion oxygen supply that regulates the oxygen content in the carriage through air conditioning. The other system is a centralized oxygen supply.
For tourists with severe high altitude sickness, they can directly ask for the breathable oxygen tube from any of the staff on the train. Once they have the tube, they can connect it to the oxygen outlet and put it into their nostril. It can quickly relieve symptoms caused by hypoxia.
Because of the unique design of the oxygen supply system, all the trains from the Golmud to Lhasa section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway are fully enclosed. As a result, it allows for sufficient concentration and relatively stable oxygen content in the carriage, which won’t change whether the elevation rises or falls.
Therefore, smoking is strictly prohibited throughout this section. In fact, dining cars can not even cook with an open fire. All the food can only be prepared ahead of time and heated by an induction cooker.
FYI, the common altitude reaction is as follows:
Moreover, each Tibet train has a professional medical staff assigned to it. So, if a severe altitude reaction occurs, please do not hesitate to tell the staff on the train to take the necessary measures to make you feel better.
