Tibet Transportation

Tibet is used to be an inhospitable region, but lots of the people want to travel there. With the transportation network build up, it is easier to get to Tibet with different access. Rail, road, air all are very convenient. The most popular way to enter Tibet now is taking the train-the sky train. On the way, you can enjoy the unique high land sceneries that you will miss by taking the flights, and at the same time, adjust yourself to the altitude gradually; the flight is faster and conveninet, but see less; hitting the road, it will take a longer time to get to Tibet and pretty tough. The biggest benefit is that you can spend more time at the wonderful scenaries and enjoy them all the way to Tibet.

Rail

For centuries, Qinghai and Tibet have been regarded as some of the most inaccessible areas for tourists. In the past, this remote inhospitable highland was only by accessible by air travel or over rough highways which prevented many lovers of Tibet from experiencing this area. The opening of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway on July 1, 2006 ends this situation. Train travel of Tibet now is becoming the most popular way for tourists to travel to Tibet. Beijing, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Xining, Guangzhou and Chongqing are the starting stations for the Tibet express train. Read more about Qinghai-Tibet Railway

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Road

The highways to Tibet:1. Qinghai-Tibet Highway: it runs the Xining - Golmud-Lhasa, 1,214 kilometers long. The average elevation of the highway is above 4,000 meters, running through the mountains of Kunlun and Tanggula. It takes you the shortest time to Tibet with the best and safest road comparing to others;2. Xinjiang-Tibet Highway: it starts from Yecheng, Xinjiang Region, total 2841 kilometer. The most parts of the road are in the unpopulated area and does not have regular gas stations on the way, the drivers must prepare several barrels of fuel. It will spend you around half month's driving. Moreover, the transportation and the communication are also very inconvenient;3. Sichuan-Tibet Highway: it starts from Chengdu and ends in Lhasa, total 2,330 kilometers long. On the way, it passed by the Ya'an and Kangding;4.Yunnan-Tibet Highway:this road begins in Xia'guan City, Yunnan Province, stopping by the Shangri-La, then reachs the Markam County, Tibet, 800 kilometers long;5. Sino-Nepal Highway: Lhasa - Golmud - Zhamud Friendship Bridge - Kathmandu, 2415 kilometers. Every day, two buses shuttle between germu and Lhasa. They start from germu at eight in the morning and arrive in Lhasa the next afternoon.

Air

Tibet also opens both international and domestic airlines. You can take the regular direct domestic flights from Chengdu (2hours' flying time), Beijing (6hrs), Shanghai(8hrs), Chongqing (2hrs), Xi’an (3hrs), Guangzhou(5hrs) and Kunming (4hrs)to Tibet. The international route is from Kathmandu 2hours flying (capital of Nepal). Gongga Airport Tibet is at the Gongga County in the south of Lhasa 100 kilometers away. It takes around 2 hours’ driving from Lhasa. The airport bus costs 20yuan per person; taxi rental is about 200yuan per car.

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