How to Travel by Train to Tibet
Tibet is a high, arid plateau known for its peaceful way of life and Buddhist heritage as much as its embattled political situation. It's also a sought after destination but one not without its difficulties. Once you've obtained your requisite Tibetan visitor permit -- a supplementary document separate from the normal Chinese visa -- reaching Tibet by train from mainland China is relatively easy, with services running from nine cities in several regions of the country to the Tibetan capital of Lhasa.
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Instructions
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Obtain a Chinese tourist visa from your local Chinese embassy or consulate or, if you're already in the region, from a visa agency in Hong Kong. Specific requirements vary by country but you'll always need a passport with at least six months validity and at least two blank visa pages.
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Obtain a Tibetan visitor permit. If you're not already in China, you'll need to do so through a travel agency, such as "China Highlights" or "China Train Tickets." If you're already in a major Chinese city such as Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou, find the agency which offers Tibetan visitor permits for foreigners.
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Purchase your train tickets from either "China Highlights" or "China Train Tickets" or at a train station in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Xining or Golmud, the nine Chinese cities with direct rail connections to Lhasa. As popular railway travel resource Seat61.com notes it may be easier to obtain your tickets through China Highlight or China Train Tickets, which can arrange your permit simultaneously.
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Tips & Warnings
The Tibetan travel permit is only good for travel from mainland China to Lhasa -- you'll need an additional permit for travel outside the city. You can obtain this permit upon arrival.
Leave a minimum of 10 days in your travel itinerary for a rail trip to Tibet, as one-way train rides alone take three days to and from eastern Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jokang Tempel in Lhasa -Tibet image by Martin Krengel from Fotolia.com
