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Xi'an to Lhasa Train

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Xi'an Lhasa Trains - Route, Schedule, Fares, Permit, Ticket Booking 2020

Xi'an to Lhasa train departs from Xi'an Railway Station to Lhasa Railway Station every day. Currently, there are two trains bound to Lhasa from Xian with their initial stations coming from Guangzhou and Shanghai respectively, namely Z265 (Guangzhou-Lhasa) and Z165 (Shanghai-Lhasa). Passengers can get on Train Z265/ Z165 at 9:45/ 11:24 every day, and arrive at Lhasa at 16:45/ 19:35 after 31/ 32:11 hours. And the return trains are Z266 (Lhasa-Guangzhou) and Z166 (Lhasa-Shanghai).

Train number of Xi'an to Lhasa by train recommended

Train No. Dep./Arr. Dep. Station Duration Hard seat Hard sleeper Soft sleeper
Z265 Xi'an-Lhasa 09:45 / 16:19 Xi’an Railway Station 30hr, 34min (2,864km) ¥293.5 ¥611.5 ¥969.5
Z165 Xi'an-Lhasa 11:24 / 18:25 Xi’an Railway Station 31hr, 01min (2,864km) ¥293.5 ¥611.5 ¥969.5

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

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 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 Tibet Tibet China without intending to travel to Tibet, Travel Tibet China will have to charge a small amount of service fee.

Xian Lhasa Train Schedules and Fares


Xian to Lhasa Train Timetable Z265 from Guangzhou via Xian

Railway Stations Arrival Time Departing Time Stop Duration Riding Time
Guangzhou - 11:45 - -
Xian 9:36 9:45 9mins 21hrs 51mins
Lanzhou 16:26 16:41 15mins 28hrs 41mins
Xining 19:11 19:31 20mins 31hrs 26mins
Delingha 23:33 23:35 2mins 35hrs 48mins
Golmud 02:32 02:57 25mins 38hrs 47mins
Nagchu 12:25 12:39 14mins 38hrs 40mins
Lhasa 16:19 - - 52hrs 34mins

Z265 from Guangzhou via Xian

Railway Stations Arrival Time Departing Time Stop Duration Riding Time
Guangzhou - 11:45 - -
Xian 9:36 9:45 9mins 21hrs 51mins
Lanzhou 16:26 16:41 15mins 28hrs 41mins
Xining 19:11 19:31 20mins 31hrs 26mins
Delingha 23:33 23:35 2mins 35hrs 48mins
Golmud 02:32 02:57 25mins 38hrs 47mins
Nagchu 12:25 12:39 14mins 38hrs 40mins
Lhasa 16:19 - - 52hrs 34mins

Xi'an to Lhasa Train altitude

Days Station Altitude Arr. /Dep.Time
1 Xian 385 m --/09:36
1 Lanzhou 1,520 m 16:26/16:41
1 Xining 2,200 m 19:11/19:31
1 Delingha 2,980 m 23:33/23:35
2 Golmud 2,780 m 02:32/02:57
2 Nagchu 4,500 m 12:29/12:35
2 Lhasa 3,650 m 16:19/--

Xi'an to Lhasa Train Ticket Fares

There are three types of train tickets on all Xi'an Lhasa trains – Soft Sleeper, Hard Sleeper, and Hard Seat. The fares differ a lot. Soft Sleeper, the most luxurious type of train tickets, is the most expensive, and costs around CNY 969. The Hard Sleeper, the second-class ticket, is cheaper, and costs around CNY 647. The Hard Sleeper, less chosen by foreign travelers, is much cheaper and costs only about CNY 293. To enjoy a quieter and more comfortable train journey, we strongly suggest you choose a Soft Sleeper. Check the following table for details about Xi'an Lhasa Train Fares:

Soft Sleeper (CNY) Hard Sleeper (CNY) Hard Seats (CNY)
Upper Berth Lower Berth Upper Berth Middle Berth Lower Berth 293.5
969.5 1005.5 611.5 629.5 647.5

Tips:

To be able to board the Xi'an-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.

For detailed introduction of how to apply for Tibet Travel Permit.

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.

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

  Soft Sleeper Hard 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

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.

Why Xi'an Lhasa Train is Recommended?

1. Xian is a great a hub to shorten both the long air travel and train travel from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu to Lhasa. It takes only about 31 hours to get to Lhasa by train from Xian.

2. You can choose the Train Z165 from Shanghai to Z265 from Guangzhou.

3. It is a wonderful chance to visit the world famous man-made wonder – Terracotta Warriors

Though Xian is a very important gateway city to Tibet, but it currently hasn’t operated any train route which makes Xian as the starting station. To take a train to Lhasa from Xian, one has to board a train from Shanghai or Guangzhou. The rail road lasts about 1,780 miles (2,864 km). From Xian, you have to pass only 4 midway stations (Lanzhou, Xining, Golumd and Ngachu) before final arrival at Lhasa Railway Station.

Facilities on Xi'an Lhasa Train – Life on the Train

Air Conditioning and Oxygen Supply There is an air-conditioning system on the train to create a comfortable temperature and ensure clean and fresh air. There are also two kinds of oxygen supply systems equipped with on the train. One is a ‘dispersion-mode’ oxygen supply system, which spreading oxygen in the train’s cars through the air-con system. The other system is directly used by passengers through the independent port.
Food and Drink There is a dining carriage in the middle position of the train which offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and some snacks. Only some Chinese food and cuisines are provided rice, vegetables, meats, and soups. You can also buy packed food from the Food Trolley. Hot water is provided all the time. The water received from the washing area is not drinkable.
Luggage Storage If you are taking a Soft Sleeper, you can put your luggage or suitcases on the luggage closet above the door in each Soft Sleeper Carriage. It is about 16 inches (40cm) high and 20 inches (50cm) wide. If you are taking a Hard Sleeper, just place your luggage and suitcases on the luggage racks above the window by the side of the aisle.
Toilet and Washing The toilets in Soft Sleeper Carriages are one western-style toilet and another squat toilet. While in the carriages of Hard Sleepers and Hard Seats, there are only squat toilets available. Bring toilet paper on your own. There is a simple washbasin on each side of the carriages. Only cold water is provided, undrinkable.
Compartment In the Soft Sleeper Compartment, there are a small table, a heat-retaining vacuum flask, and a trash can. Under the table is a plug to get power supply. There is also a small TV fixed on the door near the aisle. Close to the window, there is an outlet of oxygen. While in the Hard Sleeper Compartment, there are some other friendly facilities – a small table, a thermos, a dustbin.

Altitude Change of Xining to Lhasa Train

Xian lies at 405 meters above sea level. The altitude change between Xian (405m) and Lanzhou (1600m) will not cause discomfort to passengers. After Lanzhou, the altitude climbs slowly and reaches 2,275 meters at Xining. Xining is the first station where altitude sickness is likely to occur for a few passengers.

After Xining, the altitude starts to ascend and reaches 2,829 meters when arriving at Golmud at 19:17. And the altitude increases sharply by more than 1,000 meters in less than 100 kilometers, causing altitude sickness for some passengers. When arriving at the world’ s highest railway pass, the Tanggula Pass (5,072m), most tourists will suffer from altitude sickness. Then, the altitude drops slowly as you travel south through Nagqu and finally reaches 3,650 meters in Lhasa.

Oxygen Supply and Altitude Sickness on the Xining to Lhasa train

Sometimes called “mountain sickness”, altitude sickness is a group of symptoms that can strike if you walk or climb to a higher altitude too quickly. Characterized by symptoms such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, altitude sickness is the biggest concern for traveling to Tibet.

Air-conditioning alone is not sufficient to make a cozy environment on the train to Tibet. The oxygen supply is the key element to ensure passengers' comfort and safety. There are two oxygen-supply systems on each train. One is used for increasing the oxygen level in the train, by temperature and air pressure controlling systems, when the train enters into the plateau zone. The other is directly used by passengers through an independent port. There are oxygen supply tubes and masks in each cabin for emergencies. Private oxygen masks are provided to every passenger, whatever ticket they have. In sleeping berth cars, you can find outlets on the wall beside the windows, while in seat cars, you can find outlets under your seat.

Xian to Lhasa or Lhasa to Xian?

Both Xian to Lhasa and Lhasa to Xian are good idea. You can choose it according to your itinerary in China. Since Xian is usually visited as a midway destination in a long China Tibet trip instead of the international arrival or departure city, so if you start your vacation from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, you can firstly take a flight or high speed train to Xian, then take a train to Tibet. If you start your tour from southwestern cities such as Chengdu, Kunming, Chongqing, you can take flights to Lhasa from these cities, and then take a train to Xian, and extend your vacation to Beijing, Shanghai, etc. If you want to take a flight directly from Kathmandu, you can take the Xian to Lhasa route.

How to Book Xi'an Lhasa Train Tickets

There are two ways to book the Train Tickets – book on your own or contact a travel agency to book for you. If you are already in Xian or other cities in China, you can go to any of railway station to book the train tickets. Original passport and photocopy of Tibet Travel Permit (Tibet Entry Permit) is required. You can ask the conductor to provide your preferred sleepers (upper or lower) if they are available. You can also provide us your passport information, and we will book the train tickets for you online.

Some useful tips to increase the chance of successful ticket booking

2. When you find it hard to book a ticket for Xian to Lhasa train, you can change a starting station, such as Lanzhou and Xining. These two cities offer bigger chance to get a ticket.

Some useful tips to increase the chance of successful ticket booking

1. If you fail to book the ticket of Xining to Lhasa train, you can try booking tickets of former stations (cities) to Lhasa, such as Lanzhou, Xian, etc. If you have managed to obtain a ticket from those cities, you can also board the train at Xining Railway Station.

2. When you find it hard to book a ticket for Xinig to Lhasa train, you can change a starting station, such as Lanzhou, Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai.

How to Get to Xi'an Railway Station

The Xi'an Railway Station is one of the two main railway stations of Xi'an, the trains to Lhasa go through the station from other cities of China every day. Xian Railway Station is the fourth largest railway station in terms of traffic volume in China, a vital hub connecting northwest and southwest part of China.

Address: No. 44 of North Huancheng Road in the Xincheng District, Xian
Phone: Ticket Office : (86-29) 7212674; Inquiry Office: (86-29) 7276076
Ticket Booking Hotline: 12306
Distance from Airport: appro. 37 km
Subway to there: Line 1
Bus to There: No. 6, No. 46, No. 41, No.611 etc
Located in the North Ring Road East Section, Xian Railway Station is around 10km from downtown, 16km from Xian North Railway Station, and 37 km from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY).

From Downtown to Xian Railway Station

Taxi: Usually it takes a taxi around half an hour to arrive at the Xian Railway Station. The taxi fee is calculated by meter and you can ask the driver for a paper invoice when getting off.

Subway to There: There is no subway service to Xi'an Railway Station, but the planned Line 4 of Xi'an Metro will serve it. Now the nearest subway service is No.1 which is 600m away from the railway station.

From Xi'an Xianyang International Airport to Xi'an Railway Station

Taxi: It takes around 45 minutes to take a taxi from the airport to Xi'an Railway Station.

Airport Shuttle Bus: One of the best options from Xi'an Xianyang International airport to Xi'an Railway Station is via the airport shuttle bus. Tourists may take airport shuttle bust Line 2 and arrive at the entrance of Jiefang hotel and walk to the train station. The shuttle bus runs from 07:50 am to 20:20 pm, and the bus fare is ¥ 26 per person. The ride takes around an hour if the traffic goes smoothly.

Abouts Xi'an to Lhasa Train FAQs

Q1. Where to recharge your mobile phones and electronic devices?

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

Q2. Can tourists have shower in the train?

Unfortunately, there is no shower room in the train. Do bring some wet wipes in stores and a small towel. And small but equally important thing is to bring enough toilet/tissue paper.

Q3. How to Get Help on the Train?

Some of the staff on the train speak English and they are easy-approaching and hospitable to foreign tourists. If one runs into any trouble, you may ask the head of conductor for help. Most of the passengers may have symptoms of altitude sickness (such as headache, fatigue, difficult sleeping, lack of appetite, etc.) as the train reaches Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Now, you may switch on the oxygen outlet to inhale oxygen to ease the discomfort. If the symptom gets worse, you may find the conductor for help and the doctor on the train will come and give you timely treatment.

Q4. How can we minimize the effect of altitude sickness?

The effect of altitude sickness on passengers varies. Yet, to minimize or ease the impact of altitude sickness, one may prepare some altitude sickness tablets before boarding the train and take some when the train climbs to plateau. There is no need to worry too much the altitude sickness, the train is built with oxygen supply system which is easy to use.

Q5. Is smoking allowed in the cabin? Smoking is strictly forbidden in the train as the train is tightly sealed and pressurized and oxygen is pumped into the carriage when the train ascends to extreme altitude.It would be devastating if the train caught fire.

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