Shanghai Lhasa Train - Route, Schedule, Fares, Permit, Ticket Booking 2026

1. No matter you choose Shanghai to Lhasa route or Lhasa to Shanghai route, Shanghai is an ideal city for both international arrival and departure because there are many international flights and cruises connecting the global world.

2. There is a daily train guaranteed for both Shanghai to Lhasa route or Lhasa to Shanghai route. You don’t have to wait another day.

3. If you travel Shanghai with Tibet by train, you will have a wonderful contrast experience – modernity and spiritual land.

The Shanghai Lhasa Train has to run as far as 4373km (2,717 miles) from eastern China to far western China, through 8 provinces, and lifts up more than 5000 meters from lower-altitude Shanghai (0m) to Tanggula Mountains (5068m). It takes about 48 hours to travel between Shanghai and Lhasa by train. If you're interested, you can check our All Shanghai Tibet Tours.

Check more about How to Travel from Shanghai to Tibet

Both the Shanghai to Lhasa and Lhasa to Shanghai train routes are excellent travel options. According to our booking data, the amount of travelers who took the train route from Shanghai to Lhasa is larger than the amount of travelers who took trains from Lhasa to Shanghai.

From the point of landscape sightseeing, Shanghai to Lhasa train journey will be more scenic because the most beautiful section of Qinghai Tibet Railway – Golmud to Lhasa can be enjoyed in the daytime. It is helpful to acclimatize the altitude as the train runs from the lower plain to the high plateau. If you want to end your Tibet trip with a leisure and fast air transfer, you can then take a train to Tibet first.

There are also two good reasons to take the opposite route (Lhasa to Shanghai): 1) it is much easier to obtain a train ticket from Lhasa to Shanghai; 2) passengers can enjoy the beautiful scenery in Qinghai Province, such as Hoh Xil and Qinghai Lake.

Nanjing

The Shanghai Lhasa train usually take a stop around 6~9 minutes at Nanjing Railway Station. Nanjing used to be the Capital City of Six Dynasties in China’s history and has brilliant cultural heritage. It is only about 2 hours train ride from Shanghai, and famous for Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, Confucius Temple, Qinhuai River, Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, etc.

Zhengzhou

The capital city of Henan Province – Zhengzhou is an ancient city which has a history over 3000 years. It is located near the Yellow River. The most popular place in Zhengzhou is the world famous – Shaolin Temple. The train will stop at Zhengzhou for 6~8 minutes.

Xian

After 15 hours’ train trip, you will get to the most magnificent ancient capital city in China – Xian. Though you can’t get off the train to visit the world famous heritage site Terracotta Warriors which is about an hour’s driving from Xian downtown, you can still feel the historical atmosphere in this great ancient city. The train usually stops for 8~10 minutes at Xian Railway Station.

Lanzhou

Lanzhou is the city of Yellow River. The Shanghai Lhasa train will stop for 20 minutes at Lanzhou Railway Station. You can use the stopping time to stretch your legs and get food supply if necessary. Lanzhou Hand-pulled Noodle is the most famous snack there. The city Lanzhou is also the transportation hub of northwestern China.

Xining

Xining is the starting point of Qinghai Tibet Railway. Currently all the China Tibet trains have to pass by Xining and go to the “sky road”. The city is famous for Qinghai Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in China. You can see the edge of the lake clearly if you take the train from Lhasa to Shanghai. While for the train from Shanghai to Lhasa, passengers can’t see the lake because it is the night time when the train passing by Qinghai Lake.

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. The train Z164 from Shanghai to Lhasa will stop 6 minutes here.

A Tibet Travel Permit (Tibet Entry Permit) is the MUST-HAVE DOCUMENT to take a train to Lhasa from Shanghai. 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

Shanghai Railway Station is the only train station in Shanghai which operates trains to/off Tibet. You’d better distinguish it from Shanghai South Railway Station, Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station and Shanghai West Railway Station. It is located at No. 303 of Moling Road in Jing'an Distric, about 48km from Pudong International Airport, 4.5km from the Bund, and 19km from Hongqiao Internaitonal Airport.

You can take subway Line 1, Line 3 and Line 4 to Shanghai Railway Station. And you’d better get there at least 1 hour before the train departure hour so that you have enough time to pick up ticket and check in. It's highly suggested to travel with a private car provided by us Tibet Discovery in our Tibet tour packages. We take care of everything for you, including airport/train station transfers, tickets, meals, accommodation, etc. Contact us if you're interested.

A suggested 3-day itinerary is ideal for experiencing Shanghai's essential sights. This allows ample time to visit iconic attractions such as the historic Bund, classical Yu Garden, sky-piercing Shanghai Tower, bustling Nanjing Road, insightful Urban Planning Exhibition Center, and the artistic Tianzifang lanes, comfortably covering your arrival and departure days.

In-depth Shanghai Tour

If you have extra days in Shanghai, consider adding a magical day at Shanghai Disney Resort, ideal for families with beloved character experiences. For a taste of classic Jiangnan charm, take a half-day trip to the ancient Zhujiajiao Water Town, known for its serene canals and historic bridges. Art and history enthusiasts might also explore the unique Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center, offering a fascinating glimpse into 20th-century visual culture in a more niche setting.