Guangzhou to Lhasa Train

The Guangzhou to Lhasa train Z264 departs from Guangzhou Railway Station daily at 09:15 and arrives at Lhasa Railway Station at 14:17 on the third day. As the longest Tibet train route to Lhasa, the Guangzhou to Lhasa train journey covers 4980 kilometers long and crosses over eight provinces, and it takes around 53 hours and 2 minutes. There are 15 stations in total, with stay time at each station ranging from 3 to 27 minutes. You will start from Guangzhou, pass through Changsha, Wuchang, Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Lanzhou, Xining, Golmud, and other cities, and finally arrive in Lhasa. On the way back, the Lhasa to Guangzhou train Z266 leaves at 12:40 and arrives at Guangzhou Railway Station at 20:13 on the third day.

Known as the "South Gate" of China, Guangzhou is one of China's three largest cities and the largest coastal city in China. In addition, Guangzhou has a highly developed economy and a profound historical and cultural heritage. It is also one of the popular gateway cities to Tibet. Guangzhou to Lhasa train Z264 made its debut in July 2006. This is one of the longest train routes to Lhasa. Board train Z264 and you can appreciate the contrasting landscapes of China from south to north, east to west. It would be great for tourists who love taking long train journeys.

Guangzhou to Lhasa Train Schedules and Tickets（2026）

The Guangzhou to Lhasa train Z264 train departs every day. There are three ticket prices: hard seat ¥447, hard sleeper ¥865, and soft sleeper ¥1468. The return train is the Z266 train.

Guangzhou to Lhasa Train Z264 Stops（2026）

*Note:The actual arrival and departure time of train, please refer to the information on your ticket, or consult your travel consultant.

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

According to our local experience, we strongly suggest travelers choose the Soft Sleeper instead of the Hard Sleeper and Hard Seat to ensure a more comfortable and safer trip because passengers will have to stay a night on the train.

Comparison between Soft Sleeper and Hard Sleeper

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, passengers can book the train ticket 30 days in advance.

Facilities on Guangzhou to Lhasa Train – Life on the Train

How to Book a Guangzhou to Lhasa Train Ticket

In the past, acquiring a train ticket from Guangzhou to Lhasa as a foreign visitor in China was quite challenging. However, the process has undergone recent improvements to make it more streamlined and user-friendly.

It is still important to make reservations ahead of time for your Guangzhou to Lhasa train ticket through the Official Railway App or Website. It is crucial to ensure that the name provided during the booking process matches the name on your passport. It is worth noting that the English translations on their App or website may not be optimal, which could present some navigational difficulties.

To travel on the safe side regarding the language barriers, it's just wise to book your Train Ticket with a reputable agency. For instance, there's an amazing city named Suzhou(苏州), with fascinating history and World-famous classical gardens, Ancient canals, and Delicious Cuisines. And there's a city named Suzhou (宿州), which, no offense, has not much to offer. When you book the ticket on the official railway website. There will be a lot of places with Identical English name yet they could be a thousand miles away from each other. You don't want to end up in the “wrong Suzhou”. Book your ticket through a Professional Agency.

To book Guangzhou to Tibet Train Ticket, you will need:

To complete the Guangzhou to Tibet Train Ticket booking, it is necessary to have a functional Chinese phone number or email address to receive the verification code. Additionally, you will be asked to upload a photocopy of your passport on the Official Railway App or Website.

Accepted payment methods for purchasing the ticket include MasterCard and Visa, with Alipay serving as a convenient alternative option.

Please be aware that there may be additional verification procedures compared to ticket purchases in Western countries.

For a hassle-free experience, it is recommended to entrust the task of train ticket booking to your travel agency. This will ensure a seamless journey on the Guangzhou to Lhasa Train.

About ticket price:

The ticket prices above are the net price. In reality, as traveling in Tibet is so popular that the actual ticket demand far exceeds the supply, in-bound and out-bound tourists have to pay more than the net price to buy tickets. The actual price is subject to the market fluctuation. In some cases, the actual price could be double than the net price. Despite the uncertainty and difficulty in purchasing train tickets, Travel Tibet China(TTC) would manage to book tickets at a reasonable price ( usually 20 percent lower than the market price) and promise to offer free service for it. If tourists only want to buy train tickets via Travel Tibet China without intending to travel to Tibet, TTC will have to charge a small amount of service fee.

Guangzhou to Lhasa Train and Tibet Travel Permit:

Tibet Travel Permit, also called Tibet Entry Permit, is a basic permit that all foreign passport holders MUST obtain. It is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa and can only be applied by travel agencies in China. Any tourists are unable to apply this permit by themselves directly. Usually it takes about 15~20 days to apply the permit. Without Tibet Travel Permit, you can’t book a ticket or take a train to Lhasa at present. The photocopy of Tibet travel Permit is also available if you don’t have the original one in hand. Sometimes, Tibet Travel Permit is not required, and don’t hesitate to contact us for the updated information please.

How to Apply Tibet Travel Permit?

1. Obtain a Chinese visa from the Chinese Embassy in your home country;
2. Contact us to work out and decide the itinerary of your Tibet tour;
3. Send your scanned copies of your passport and Chinese Visa to your travel consultant and provide an available address (like your hotel) in China to receive your permit;
4. We will apply the Tibet Travel Permit from Tibet Bureau for you;
5. Once the permit is issued, we will send the original permit to you by post.

>> Learn more details about Tibet Travel Permit Application

Tips:

To be able to board the Shanghai-Lhasa train, foreign tourists have to show your passport, Tibet Travel Permit, and train ticket to the train inspector. If tourists want to travel in Tibet, you need to find a licensed and trustworthy travel agency to apply for the Tibet Travel Permit.

How to Get to Guangzhou Railway Station

Guangzhou Railway Station (广州站) is located at No.153, Guangzhou Railway Station Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

Metro to Guangzhou Railway Station:

You can take Metro Line 2 or Line 5 to reach Guangzhou Railway Station.

From Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN):

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (白云国际机场) offers a direct Airport Express Line to Guangzhou Railway Station. The journey takes about 35 minutes and costs 70 CNY.

Taxi to Guangzhou Railway Station:

The taxi fare from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to Guangzhou Railway Station is approximately 120 CNY during the day and 150 CNY at night.

Guangzhou Railway Station is the only railway station operates train to Lhasa in Guangzhou. Its address is No. 159, Huanshi West Road, Yuexiu District. Located near the north Inner Ring Road, Guangzhou Railway Station can be reached convenient. Metro Line 2, Line 5 and many public buses are all available to take you there.

Arrival: How to get around from Lhasa Railway Station?

At Lhasa Train Station, you have a variety of transportation options. Taxis are available. Buses are a convenient choice for inter-city travel, while minibuses cater to group transportation needs. For an environmentally friendly and distinctive experience, you can opt for local pedicabs. Additionally, E-Bicycle rentals are available to explore at their own leisurely pace.

B-Plan for Guangzhou to Lhasa Train

The train journey between Guangzhou and Lhasa will take more than 53 hours, which is really time-consuming. If you want to shorten this long

journey without missing the most beautiful landscape along the railway, there are alternative plans for you.

1. Make a Transfer in Xian

Xian is one of the TOP 3 cities listed in the tourists’ tour plan. It is suggested that you get to Xian and spend one or more day there. In Xian, what you have to visit includes Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, Bell Tower and Shaanxi History Museum. If time permits, you can extend your tour in Mount Huashan and takea hiking here. Both flights and high speed trains are available from Guangzhou to Lhasa. There are about 20 flights to Xian from Guangzhou one day, which take about 2hrs 40mins. Seven daily high speed trains are able to take you Xian from Guangzhou within 9hrs. As you get to Xian, you can take a train to Lhasa with duration of only 34 hours.

2. Make a Transfer in Xining

In fact, most people choose a train to Lhasa because of the good view of Tibet-Qinghai Railway (between Xining and Lhasa). You can take a flight from Guangzhou to Xining firstly, and then book a train to Lhasa. There is a daily directly from Guangzhou to Xining and several other flights to Lhasa with a transfer or stop at Xian. The instant flight just takes only 3hrs 40mins. Moreover, it is much easier to book a train ticket to Lhasa because there are many other trains to Lhasa will pass through Xining Railway station, like Beijing-Lhasa Train, Chengdu Lhasa Train, Shanghai-Lhasa Train, Lanzhou-Lhasa Train and Xining Lhasa Train. With much more trains to choose, you will have more opportunity to get your favorite seat or sleeper. If time permits, it is a good idea to visit the Taer Monastery and Qinghai Lake.

Besides, there are also some other cities operation trains to Lhasa, like Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai and Lanzhou. If you are unable to obtain a ticket of Guangzhou Lhasa Train, try others.

About Guangzhou to Lhasa Train FAQs:

Where to recharge your mobile phones and electronic devices?

The powerplugfor chargers are located in the corridors OR under your table inthe cabin with the 4 soft sleepers (in between the 2 lower bunks).

Can touristshave shower in the train?

Unfortunately, there is no shower room in the train.Dobring some wet wipesin stores anda smalltowel, and small but equally important thing:toilet/tissue paper.

Is it possible to swap ticket with other people to stay with friends or family inthe same cabin?

Yes. It is acceptable.You may ask conductor to swaptickets with other passengers to stay with your family or friends.

Is smoking allowed in the cabin?

Smoking is strictly forbidden in the trainas thetrain is tightly sealed and pressurized and oxygen is pumped into the carriagewhen the train ascends to extreme altitude. It would be devastating if thetrain caught fire.

Is it necessary to carry Tibet Travel Permit all the time?

Make sure you have your passport, Tibet Travel Permit andticket with youas you could be checked many times during the longjourney.

It is advisable to havemany copies of Tibet Travel Permit.

How can we minimize the effect of altitude sickness?

The effect of altitude sickness onpassengers varies. Yet, to minimize or ease the impact of altitude sickness,one mayprepare somealtitude sickness tabletsbefore boarding the train and take some whenthe train climbs to plateau. There is no need to worry too much thealtitude sickness, the train is built withoxygen suppley system. It is easy to use.

Tips for Taking Photos on the Train to Tibet

When you enter the Tibetan region, it is not possible to get off the train and take pictures at most stations. Even if you can get off the train, you should be aware that the stopping time is usually very short, so don't go too far and miss the boarding time.

Most of the beautiful scenery is encountered while the train is moving. Be aware of the reflections in the windows when taking pictures on board.

It is recommended to keep the lens close to the glass window and use manual focus, as the autofocus tends to focus on the glass.

More Things to do without Wi-Fi on board

It is time to bring a good book with you to kill your time during the 3 days 2 nights journey from Chengdu to Lhasa. If you travel with your family or friends, you can also bring cards and enjoy the happy time with them.

If you want to watch movies or videos on the train, you will need to download them to your cell phone or laptop in advance, as there is no free Wi-Fi on the train to Tibet.

Notice:
Although there are power plugs in the corridors or under the table in the cabin, it is suggested to bring a power bank with you.

Explore Tibet with Travel Tibet China

With more than 10 years of local expertise in Lhasa and Tibet, our dedicated team at travel tibet china brings you carefully curated Tibet tours for an authentic and unforgettable experience.

Drawing upon our extensive experience, we have meticulously crafted a range of Tibet tour packages, including Lhasa tours, Mount Everest Tours, Mount Kailash Tours, Tibet Trekking Tours, Tibet Train Tours, and Tibet Overland Tours. Whether you prefer the comfort and flexibility of a private tour or the budget-friendly option of a group tour, we have you covered without compromising on quality.