Xining Lhasa Trains - Route, Schedule, Fares, Permit, Ticket Booking 2026

1. It costs less time (only about 19.5~21.5 hours) and money (soft sleeper around CNY 780) for a Xining Lhasa train journey compared with Beijing Lhasa train, Shanghai Lhasa train, Chengdu Lhasa train and other routes.

2. Spending 1~2 days in Xining to visit the beautiful Qinghai Lake is a wonderful experience as well as a very helpful way to acclimatize the plateau altitudes.

3. Passengers have a more flexible choice between different train timetables because there are usually 6~7 trains to Lhasa from Xining each day.

The length of Xining Lhasa Railway (Qinghai Tibet Railway) is 1972km (1225 miles). It takes only about 19.5~21.5 hours to take a train to Lhasa from Xining. Currently Xining Railway Station has 7 trains to Lhasa, including 3 exclusive trains which run from Xining to Lhasa, and 4 trains from other cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, etc. If you're interested, you can check our All Xining Tibet Tours.

Take a train from Xining to Lhasa or from Lhasa to Xining are both great. What matters most is to get a train ticket as it is usually not easy to book train tickets especially a soft sleeper during traveling peak seasons (usually from May to October).

We recommend Xining to Lhasa train ride more if you are able to obtain the tickets. You can spend 1~2 days in Xining acclimatizing to the high altitude of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This will help reduce the risk of altitude sickness on the train and during your trip in Tibet. At the same time, you will have more daytime to enjoy the stunning landscape along the Golmud–Lhasa section, which is the most scenic part of the entire railway.

If you choose to take the train route from Lhasa to Xining, you will have a bigger chance to get a ticket.

Check more about How to Choose the Most Scenic Tibet Train

Since there is only about 1970 km of railway distance between Xining and Lhasa, there are not many middle stations along the train ride, usually 2~6 stops, and the exact number varies slightly by train. These stops include Delingha, Golmud, Budongquan, Tuotuohe, Yanshiping, Amdo, and Nagqu. You can use the train stop time to get out of the train to get some fresh air, food supply, or stretch your legs if you want.

Golmud

The train usually stops for 25 minutes in Golmud Railway Station. This is where the train's full oxygen supply system is activated for the rest of the journey to Lhasa. If you get there in the early daytime, you will have a chance to see the Tibetan. If you arrive at night, the sparkling stars will be an unforgettable scene.

Nagchu

Ngachu is a vast prefecture in Tibet with an average altitude of 4500 meters. It is the most important livestock region in Tibet. The fresh air here will impress you strongly.

A Tibet Travel Permit (Tibet Entry Permit) is the MUST-HAVE DOCUMENT to take a train to Lhasa from Xining. However, only authorized travel agencies can apply for it on your behalf. But don't worry, since the procedure to obtain the permit is not complicated. And we Tibet Discovery can help you handle all the stuff. As one of the leading local Tibet tour operators, Tibet Discovery has expertise in the permit policy and the application process. With years of experience, we specialize in efficiently obtaining Tibet Travel Permits for our clients. Just confirm your Tibet tour with us and provide us with your necessary documents (valid passport with at least 6 months validity remaining & Chinese Visa), and we manage all application procedures to ensure you receive your permit promptly, allowing you to enjoy your trip as planned.

Please note 1) it takes about 14 working days to receive your Tibet Travel Permit after you provide us with copies of your valid passport and Chinese Visa, so we recommend you send these documents well in advance to us. 2) remember to duplicate at least 3 copies of Tibet Travel Permit, as it will be required for many occasions throughout your trip.

Learn more detail about Tibet Travel Permit Application

There are three major railway stations in Xining - Xining Railway Station (西宁站), Xining East Railway Station (西宁东站), Xining West Railway Station (西宁西站). But only Xining Railway Station provides passenger transport service. The other two stations are for freight transport.

Xining Railway Station is the starting station of Qinghai Tibet Railway. It is also the joint railway station for all trains to Tibet, including trains from Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Lanzhou, Chongqing and Guangzhou.

Xining Railway Station is located at NO.128, Huzhu Road, Chengdong District, Xining City (西宁市城东区互助路128号), about 2 miles (3 km) from central city area, 19 miles (30 km) from Caojiabao Airport, and 20 miles (32 km) from Ta'er Monastery. You can take a taxi to Xining Railway Station conveniently from any region in Xining. It is suggested to get to the railway station at least 1 hour before the train departure time so that you will have enough time to collect ticket, check in and find your train. We, Tibet Discovery, offer reliable private transfer services. If you prefer a worry-free door-to-door experience, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Classic Xining Two Days Tour

• Day 1: drive about 155 km (about 2.5 hrs) to visit the best highlight of Qinghai Lake - Erlangjian Scenic Spot. After Qinghai Lake sightseeing, drive back to Xining for accommodation.
• Day 2: visit the Tibetan Medicine & Culture Museum, home to the Guinness-record "Color Painting Panorama", a 618-meter-long thangka masterpiece. Then head to Dongguan Mosque, the largest and oldest mosque in Qinghai. After the visit, transfer to the railway station for your train to Tibet. After the visit, transfer to the railway station for your train to Tibet.

Xining - Qinghai Lake - Zhangye - Jiayuguan - Xining Circuit

Xining is also the gateway to northwestern China - Ancient Silk Road Region. If time allows, you are suggested to take following Silk Road Adventure from Xining

• Day 1 drive about 155km (about 2.5hrs) to visit the best highlight of Qinghai Lake - Erlangjian Scenic Spot. After Qinghai Lake sightseeing, drive back to Xining for accommodation.
• Day 2 Take a high speed train Zhangye in the morning, and visit the famous natural wonder - Zhangye Danxia Landform;
• Day 3 Visit Giant Buddha Temple, and then take a high speed train to Jiayuguan City to visit the ancient project Jiayuguan Pass Fortress.
• Day 4 Drive to Dunhuang. Visit Yulin Grottoes along the road.
• Day 5 Visit the world famous Mogao Grottoes in the morning, and explore wonderful Crescent Lake and Sand Echoing Mountian in the afternoon.
• Day 6 Take a flight back to Xining to catch your train to Tibet.