Chongqing Lhasa Train Schedules and Fares

14 December 2022 Last updated at 10:00

Currently, there are two trains (Z222/Z223 and Z221/Z224) running between Chongqing and Lhasa. In every other day, train Z222/Z223 departs from Chongqing North Railway Station and arrives at Lhasa Railway Station in the third day. The whole journey takes about 35.5 hours. In the next day, train Z222/Z223 runs from Lhasa Railway Station and gets to Chongqing North Railway Station in the third day. It cost about 36 hours. The train will pass by 7 midway stations and four provinces, including Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai. Undoubtedly, you will experience various culture and nature.

The train is equipped with three kinds of seats, including Soft Sleeper, Hard Sleeper and Hard Seat. The ticket fare varies with the classes of seats. Generally, Soft Sleeper is the most expensive one but it offers best facilities and most comfortable environment. There are only 4 berths in a private compartment with door. Hard Sleeper is a cheaper, and every compartment has 6 sleepers. Hard Seat is the cheapest, but not recommended to long-trip traveler because you can’t sleep well.

Check following table for details about Chongqing Lhasa Train Schedules and Fares to decide which to choose.

Referential Currency: RMB=1USD
  • Train No.
  • Departure / Train Staiton
  • Duration
  • Seat Type / USD Price / Availability

Note: Train information is subject to final confirmation due to the delay of data occasionally.

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Chongqing to Lhasa or Lhasa to Chongqing?

Generally speaking, train from Chongqing to Lhasa and train from Lhasa to Chongqing both offer you an unforgettable journey because you will have a visual treatment. Lhasa-Chongqing Train enjoys the similar schedule with Chongqing-Lhasa Train. The trains will pass through the same attraction in daytime or at night. As a result, there won’t be great difference between the sceneries along the railway you can see. You can enjoy the numerous mountains covered with green trees in Nanchong, Guangyuan and Baoji. As you come to Gansu, the scenery will be quite different. You must be amazed by the splendid spectacle of the Yellow River. In the summer, you may be lucky to see some beautiful sunflowers. While passing through Qinghai, you won’t miss charming Qinghai Lake. Close to Delingha, you can see the fertile farmland and emerald forest belt. Then you will traverse two lakes and enjoy the enchanting lake views. However, Chongqing-Lhasa Train and Lhasa-Chongqing Train also enjoy different advantages.

If you want to have an up-stream Yangtze River Cruise (Yichang to Chongqing), you’d better choose a train to Lhasa from Chongqing after your cruise tour. From Chongqing to Lhasa, you will get an opportunity to adapt the plateau climate and high altitude gradually. Some tourists like to choose Tibet as their epilogue of China and fly to Kathmandu directly after the Tibet tour. So they need to have a train journey first.

If you aim to take a down-stream Yangtze River Cruise (Chongqing to Yichang), train from Lhasa to Chongqing is recommended. In addition, it’s much easier to book a ticket of train from Lhasa to Chongqing and choose the seat you prefer. If there isn’t any Chongqing-Lhasa trains ticket available, try Lhasa-Chongqing train.

Qinghai Lake
Breathtaking Landscape Qinghai Lake
Yangtze River Cruise
Relaxed Yangtze River Cruise

Major Cities along the Way

Train between Chongqing and Lhasa passes through four provinces and stops at seven railway stations. In fact, all the four provinces are famed tourists’ destinations. During the train time, you can take a glimpse of different scenery. While the train stops at the midway station, you can take short walk and breathe the fresh air out of the train.

Lanzhou

Lanzhou is China’s only capital city with the Yellow River passing through. Because of the unique river view, the featured Lanzhou city landscape is shaped. Tasty food is also one element of Lanzhou, and Lanzhou noddle is the most popular one. The train will stop in Lanzhou Railway Station about 15 minutes.

Xining

In the ancient times, Xining was the regarded as the guarding frontier city as well as a key stopover along the ancient Silk Road. Now, it is still an important cultural and economic center. Most tourists prefer to have one or two days to explore Xining by visiting Taer Monastery – birthplace of the founder of Gelup Sect Buddhism Tsongkhapa and Qinghai Lake – one of the most beautiful lakes in China. Chongqing-Lhasa Train will take a stop for 20 minutes and Lhasa-Chongqing Train will take a stop for 20 minutes, which is enough to stretch your legs.

Golmud

As you get to Golmud, the altitude becomes really high and oxygen supply on the train begin to operate. The trains between Chongqing and Lhasa will have stop at Golmud Railway Station for 25 minutes. Go out of the train and look at the blue sky if the weather is good.

Chongqing Lhasa Train
City of the Yellow River - Lanzhou
Chongqing Lhasa Train
Qarhan Salt Lake in Golmud

Which Seat Class to should I take, Soft Sleeper, Hard Sleeper or Hard Seat?

Compared with Hard Sleeper, Soft Sleeper provides passengers with larger space, better facility and cleaner environment. To get a more comfortable journey, we strongly suggest that you choose a Soft Sleeper. You will spend two nights and you can have better sleep in the Soft Sleeper Carriage. Check the following charts for more detailed information.

Comparison between Soft Sleeper and Hard Sleeper

Soft SleeperHard Sleeper
Amount of Sleepers 4 6
Size of Sleeper Width:700mm/Length:1900mm Width:500mm/Length:1800mm
TV Yes No
Power Supply Yes No
Vacuum Flask Yes Yes
Door Yes No

(Important Notice: Since there are usually about 64 Soft Sleepers on each train to Tibet, so you’d better confirm your trip and book the train tickets as early as possible. Currently passenger can book the train ticket 30 days in advance.)

Facilities on Chongqing Lhasa Train – Life on the Train

Air Conditioning and Oxygen Supply There are available air conditioning and oxygen supply on the train between Chongqing and Lhasa. Air conditioning is able to keep the temperature perfect and circulate the air. Oxygen supply makes a great help to provide oxygen when the train enters high altitude area. It can be divided into two parts. One is ‘dispersion-mode’ equipped on the train to spread oxygen in the air, and the other is accessible oxygen port can be used by every passenger.
Food and Drink Every train is equipped with dining car. You can have breakfast, lunch and dinner there. The food offered is all Chinse food, and most are Sichuan food. Snacks and drinks are also available. Apart from getting food in the dining car, you can also the packed food from the Food Trolley, which is charged about 25 RMB. There is a Hot Water Dispenser in the connection between two cars, from which you can receive hot water. The water from the washing area is not drinkable.
Luggage Storage There is luggage area in every car. In the Soft Sleeper Carriage, luggage can be placed on the luggage close above the door. It is about 16 inches (40cm) high and 20 inches (50cm) wide. For the Hard Sleeper Carriage, the luggage area is located on the racks above the window beside the aisle. The baggage holder in Hard Seat Car is just above the window seats. It is also available to put your luggage or suitcase under your seat.
Toilet and Washing There are both western-style toilets and squat toilets in the train. Soft Sleeper Carriages are equipped with western-style toilets while Hard Sleeper Carriages and Hard Seat Carriages are equipped with Chinese squat toilet. There is a simple washbasin in every toilet and anther opposite the Hot Water Dispenser. Only undrinkable cold water is available.
Compartment In every Soft Sleeper Compartment, you can see a small table, a thermos, a garbage can, and a recharging plug. There are four bunks in a compartment and every bunk is equipped with a small TV and an oxygen outlet. In Hard Sleeper Compartment, the facilities include a table, a dustbin, a thermos and oxygen outlets.

Tibet Travel Permit and Train Travel

Tibet Travel Permit, also called Tibet Entry Permit, is a necessity to visit Tibet. This permit is issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau only, and can be applied by travel agency behalf of travelers only. It takes about 15 ~ 20 days to get the permit usually.

Tibet Travel Permit is also a must to book the train or flight ticket and board the train from inland cities to Lhasa. Taking a train to Lhasa from Chongqing, you have to keep the original Tibet Travel Permit in hands. Sometimes, the Tibet Travel Permit is not required to book the ticket, but it’s hard to tell when is the “sometimes”. So do not hesitate to contact us for the up-dated information.

>> Learn more details about Tibet Travel Permit Application

Chongqing Lhasa Train and Tibet Travel Permit
A Sample of Tibet Travel Permit (Tibet Entry Permit)

How to Book Chongqing Lhasa Train Tickets

Tickets can be booked on line or at the train station. If you are in Chongqing or other Chinese cities, you can go to the train station directly and book the ticket on your own. Remember to bring your passport and Tibet Travel Permit. You can also ask the ticket conductor to provide your preferred upper or lower berth if possible. Because the train tickets are very limited, you need to book in advance. And we can book it for you on line if you send your passport information.

How to Get to Chongqing North Railway Station

Chongqing North Railway Station is located in the Kunlun Road of Yubei District. It can be divided into two parts, including South Square and North Square. The Chongqing-Lhasa Train departs from the South Square and the Lhasa-Chongqing Train arrives at South Square. South Square can be easily reached by Subway Line 3.

Chongqing North Railway Station
Chongqing North Railway Station

How to Shorten the Chongqing Lhasa Train Travel

It is a long train journey between Chongqing and Lhasa which takes as long as about 43 hours. If you want to shorten this long travel and just experience the essential part, take a flight from Chongqing to Xining instead of train, taking just 2 hours and 5 minutes. In fact, scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway (connecting Xining and Lhasa) is the highlights of the whole journey. As you board on Xining, you can have a stay and explore the famous attraction (Taer Monastery and Qinghai Lake) and have some local food. What’s more, the stay in Xining allows you to adapt of higher altitude (2,200~3200m) before Lhasa (3,700m). In addition, it’s much easier to book a ticket with better seat or berth, because all trains to Lhasa from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing will have a stop at Xining Railway Station.

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B-Plan for Chongqing Lhasa Train

1. Take a Flight to Tibet

The tickets for trains from Chongqing to Lhasa are also quite limited, and taking a flight is also a good idea if you fail to buy a train ticket. Chongqing is also one of the most convenient cities, just second to Chengdu, to take a flight to Lhasa. There are about 10 daily flights flying to Lhasa Gongga Railway Station from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport and you can easily book one.

2. Take Train to Tibet from other Cities

Apart from Chongqing, it is also available to take a train from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xining and Lanzhou. Not only that Lanzhou Railway Station and Xining Railway operate their own trains, and other trains to Lhasa will pass through Lanzhou and Xining as well. Fly to Xining or Lanzhou, and you will get greater opportunity to book the train.

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