You are here: HomeChina Tours including TibetShanghai & Lhasa Tours8 Days Lifetime Tibet Train Tour from Shanghai
8 Days Lifetime Tibet Train Tour from Shanghai
8 Days Lifetime Tibet Train Tour from Shanghai
8 Days Lifetime Tibet Train Tour from Shanghai
8 Days Lifetime Tibet Train Tour from Shanghai
8 Days Lifetime Tibet Train Tour from Shanghai

8 Days Lifetime Tibet Train Tour from Shanghai (Price from Request)

Qinghai Tibet Railway Experience

Shanghai is taken as the arrival city in China by a lot of travelers. It has a daily train to the holy land Tibet, traversing a long trip over 4,370 kilometers. Though as a very long train journey, there are a lot of things to see along the railway - contrast culture, beautiful cities and towns, harsh Qinghai Tibet Plateau... This trip firstly takes you to explore Shanghai highlights in brief two days, then take a train to Lhasa to visit the world-famous Potala Palace, touch with local Tibetan, learn about Tibetan Buddhism...

Highlights of this tour:

  • Witness how the features of West and East meeting together in a single city in Shanghai - classic Yu Garden, quiet Jade Buddha Temple, international the Bund, beautiful skyscrapers...
  • Experience authentic Tibetan culture by visiting the unique Buddhist monasteries and sites, such as Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery, etc.;
  • Take a leisure train travel from easternmost city to the westernmost city in China.

Tour Brief Information

  • Tour price: from Request
  • Tour code: TD-ST-08
  • Tour Type: Private Customizable Tour Package
  • Destination: Shanghai / Lhasa
  • Duration: 8 days and 7 nights
  • Departure: Flexible
  • Travel Theme: CulturePhotographyTrainArchitectureFamily
  • Best Time: SpringSummerAutumnWinter
  • Physical Level
  • Tour Pace
  • Max Altitude
    5,068m
  • Itinerary Details
  • Price Guide & Booking
  • Trip FAQs
  • Reviews
  • Make an Enquiry

Your tour - at a glance

Day 1~3 Arrival & Shanghai Tour

Arrive at Shanghai at your convenient time on the Day 1, then go to visit the most popular attractions in Shanghai, such as the classic Yu Garden, prosperous Nanjing Road, exotic the Bund, educational Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, etc.

Day 3~5 Train Travel from Shanghai to Lhasa

The train leaves Shanghai in the evening of Day 3 and arrives at Lhasa in the third day's late afternoon, roughly 47 hours.

Day 6~7 Lhasa City Tour

You will go to visit the most classic attractions in Lhasa on Day 6 and Day 7, including the grandiose Potala Palace, holy Buddhist sites Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery, also the exotic Barkhor Street and quiet Norbulingka.

Day 8 Lhasa Departure

Today is free for you to leave Lhasa City.

Itinerary Details - Day by Day

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Day 1 Shanghai Arrival

Welcome to Shanghai, the China's most cosmopolitan city. Your private tour guide and driver will meet you at the airport or train station, and escort you to your hotel in downtown. The rest of the day is free for you to have fun and relax.

Day 2 Shanghai ( B, L )

Today, your wonderful Shanghai journey starts with a visit to Shanghai Museum, resembling an ancient Chinese Ding vessel with round dome and square earth base which symbolizes the Chinese philosophy. It is one must-see attraction in Shanghai famed for its countless treasured cultural collections, including bronze, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, jade, seal and some other shining exhibits, tracing back to as long as 5,000 years ago. This charming museum will guide you through the craft of millennia as well as the pages of Chinese history.

Your next stop in Shanghai is Yu Garden. The private garden built in Ming Dynasty fully shows the architecture and design style of classical Chinese gardens with delicate pavilions, clear ponds and artificial hills. Next, you will walk leisurely through the Yuyuan Bazaar which is full of tasteful local snacks and elaborate traditional Chinese handicrafts and art works, and locates right next to the Yu Garden.

After exploring Chinese old history and classical garden architecture in Shanghai, you will drive to Lujiazui and take a look at Shanghai at present. If the weather is clear, ascending  to the tallest skyscraper in Asia – Shanghai Tower and overlooking from the view deck on the 126th floor, a prosperous and majestic Shanghai will reveal its true face in front of you.

Then, stroll along Nanjing Road, you will be surprised how this paradise for shoppers satisfy your shopping demand. At the east end of the road appears the famous Bund, the symbol of Shanghai situated in the river bank of Huangpu River. Walk along the Bund, feel the perfect fusion of Chinese culture and Western culture, and seize the stunning Shanghai skyline with your own eyes.

Optional Recommended Night Activity: take an enjoyable ship cruise on the Huangpu River to enjoy the beautiful night view of Shanghai.

  • The Bund - The Museum of International Aichitecture Appreciate the amazing skyline of Shanghai
  • One Corner of Yu Garden One Corner of Yu Garden
  • Shanghai Museum - Half of Cultural Relics Field Precious Collection in Shanghai Museum

Day 3 Take the Train to Lhasa from Shanghai ( B, L )

The first place to visit for today is the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center where multiple media, such as photography, models, videos, machines, etc, are used to help visitors to learn about the past history, present facts and future plan of Shanghai. Then come to the next site - Jade Buddha Temple which has the largest jade Buddha in the world and numerous religious artifacts, ancient statues and Buddhist scriptures. It is a pure land hidden in the crowded and modern metropolis. In this Chinese Zen-Buddhist temple, you can take a view of the featured Song-style architectures and watch the people praying - quite distinctive from the atmosphere of Tibetan monasteries you will see.

The rest of today is free until being escorted to Shanghai Railway Station and take the train Z164 to Lhasa, which departs at about 20:00.(about 47.5 hours; 4373KM)

  • Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center Learn more about Shanghai in Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
  • Jade Buddha Temple Statue in Jade Buddha Temple

Day 4 Train Travel

Today you are in the daytime during the journey of Xian-Lanzhou-Xining, enjoying the majestic northwestern scenery of China.

The Xining to Golmud part of the train journey is mostly in the dark, which is one of the disappointments. That's why most of our travelers choose to fly to Xining firstly from Shanghai, then tour from Xining to Lhasa by the highest altitude railway of the world. (It's your call !)

  • Golmud-Lhasa Railway The Stunning Landscape along the Golmud-Lhasa Railway

Day 5 Lhasa Arrival

You are in Golmud, Qinghai Province when you are awake, and heading towards to Lhasa, the last part of your train tour. The highest point will reach 5,072 meters above sea level, snow-capped mountain sightseeing all around.

Arrival at Lhasa at around 19:30, and our tour guide and driver transfer you to your hotel in Lhasa. Free to acclimate yourself to the high altitude.

  • Snow-Capped Tanggula Mountains along the Qinghai Tibet Railway Snow-Capped Tanggula Mountains along the Qinghai Tibet Railway

Day 6 Lhasa ( B )

Start today’s Lhasa exploration with an exciting visit to the landmark - Potala Palace which is regarded as one of the most beautiful architectural building in the world. You will climb up the palace along the zigzag stone paths with white-and-red walls to the top of the palace where you can not only appreciate the exotic Tibetan-style architecture, but also get a great view of Lhasa’s urban areas, then walk into the inner space of Potala Palace to explore the stately chapels and learn about the history of the palace. 

Continuing your exploration, you will then get to Jokhang Temple which is considered as the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Each day, there are thousands of pilgrims coming from different places in Tibet to the temple to worship to the Buddha. This temple is also known as the “house of Buddha” because it keeps the precious Jowo Rinpoche, the life-sized (5 foot/1.5m) image of the Shakyamuni at the age of 12. The last site for today’s exploration is the famous Barkhor Street. It is a circular and wide street encircling the Jokhang Temple. The local people like to walk on the street for several circles usually in the late afternoon as a daily tradition of pilgrimage. The street also has many shops selling a wide variety of traditional Tibetan goods, religious items and handcrafts. 

Tips of Today: 1) there are 1,080 steps up to climb to the top of Potala Palace, so don’t walk in a rush, which may cause high altitude sickness; 2) taking photos is not allowed inside the palace; 3) today you will be mainly outside, please bring some water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses with you.

  • Potala Palace Potala Palace - Masterpiece of Tibetan Architecture
  • Prayers at Jokhang Temple Prayers at Jokhang Temple
  • Barkhor Street Barkhor Street

Day 7 Lhasa ( B )

After breakfast, you will firstly go to visit the beautiful Norbulingka which used to be the former summer palace of Dalai Lamas in the ancient time, and now is a public park. It is famous for its Potrang, the private palaces of former Dalai lamas with grandiose Tibetan architecture style. Next, drive several kilometers to the western outskirts of Lhasa to visit Drepung Monastery. Drepung, in Tibetan, means “prosperity”. Since its establishment, Drepung Monastery has always been one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. In its heyday, there were more than 10,000 monks lived and studied in the monastery. Throughout its history, many important and famous Tibetan leaders used to study here, especially the Dalai Lamas. So Drepung Monastery is also respectfully known as the “Mother School of Dalai Lamas”.

In the afternoon, you will be taken to another famous monastery in Lhasa - Sera Monastery. It is famous for the spectacular “Buddhism Debating”. As a daily routine, the monks gather in a courtyard, and debate on the Buddhist doctrines with supplemented gestures, which is thought to be helpful to facilitates better comprehension of the Buddhist philosophy to attain higher levels of study. After enjoying the "Buddhism Debating", you will be transferred back to the city. The rest time is your own free time to rest.

The Etiquette of Visiting Monastery: 1) you shouldn’t wear short and uncover shoulders; 2) taking off your sunglasses and hat before entering the chapels; 3) taking photos is usually not allowed inside the chapels.

  • Enjoy the scripture debate in the Sera Monastery Enjoy the scripture debate in the Sera Monastery
  • Six-letter Mantra Rock Painting Six-letter Mantra Rock Painting
  • Norbulingka Summer Palace Pay a visit to the Dalai's Summer Palace - Norbulingka

Day 8 Lhasa Departure ( B )

Today is free for you until your tour guide transfer you to the airport in time for your flight or drop you off at Lhasa train station.

Tips of Today: 1) please pack your luggage carefully, especially for small things like camera charger, power adaptor, mobile phone, phone charger, wallet and towel; 2) if your flight is arranged in the afternoon, please make sure you check out the hotel before 12pm.

Recommended Add-on Options

Mt. Everest Flag Clouds

Your Tibet Adventure is not complete without conquering the Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Don't miss the chance to challenge yourself!

It needs only 4 days to take a Mount Everest Adventure from Lhasa. You will travel from Lhasa, via Gyantse and Shigatse, to the Everest Base Camp to explore the fascinating clear front face of the dominating Mount Everest. You will also stay a memorable night on the mountain, then drive back to Lhasa. The road to Mount Everest is another highlight with many unique sights to see, such as the holy lake Yamdrok, mysterious Palcho Monastery, Gelug tradition of Tashilhunpo Monastery, etc.

Tibetan Yak by the side of Namtso Lake

Namtso Lake, one of the five most beautiful lakes in China, should not be missed by any traveler who visits Tibet.

Namtso is the best place to explore the nature of Tibet. With the snowy mountains in the background, the crystal-clear dazzling blue water, Namtso is stretching to the horizon. In clear days, the lake looks like a beautiful turquoise surrounded by magnificent snow-capped Tanggula Mountains, and the lake shore is green, wide and open, dotted with tents, yaks and sheep of local nomads. For travelers, Namtso is the ideal place for photography, while for Tibetans, it is a sacred and magical lake for pilgrimage.

Useful Trip Notes

  • 1. Tibet Permits Guaranteed

    To travel in Tibet, all Non-Chinese passport holders need to have a Tibet Travel Permit which is issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa. And only Chinese travel agencies like Tibet Discovery can apply for the permit on behalf of tourists. You must obtain it before your tour starting because the permit will be checked when you board your flight/train to Tibet. Traveling with Tibet Discovery, you don't have to worry about the complicated procedures of Tibet Travel Permit application. All you have to do is to confirm a tour package with us and send us your passport and Chinese visa copies at least 15~20 days in advance before your tour, then we will take care of all the rest things. Once the permit is issued, we will deliver to your address in China, such as your hotel, local travel agency, etc.

  • 2. Available Months to Visit Tibet

    Generally speaking, April to October is the best time. July and August are the peak season and rainy season. It is usually snowy and cold in winter, which is not suitable for visit Mount Everest, Namtso and Mount Kailash regions. While other places such as Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse are suitable for travel all year around. The temperatures in daytime and night differs a lot, usually 5~15℃ in the daytime and -5~0℃ in the night, so please wear accordingly.

  • 3. High Altitude Sickness

    The average altitude of Tibet is about 4000 meters above the sea level (Lhasa: 3700m; EBC: 5200m; Namtso: 4718m). You may suffer a bit from High Altitude Sickness in the beginning days of your Tibet trip if you haven’t had rich high plateau travel experience. But don’t worry too much, the high altitude can be acclimatized usually in 2~3 days. Our suggestion is to take a physical examination and get suggestions from your doctor, and also bring some medicines to prevent from High Altitude Sickness before your trip. While in Tibet, you should keep warm all the time, avoid strenuous activities, drink more water and eat more vegetables and carbohydrates. You’d better not take showers during the first two days after your arrival in Tibet. If you don’t feel well, get help from your tour guide or go to the hospital without any delay.

  • 4. How to Go to Tibet

    Basically you have two options – flight and train. Currently, you can take a flight to Lhasa from Beijing(4.5hrs), Xian(3.7hrs), Chengdu(2.5hrs), Chongqing(3hrs), Kunming(3hrs), Kathmandu (1.5hrs), etc. Among all these cities, Chengdu and Xian have more frequent flights to Lhasa.
    If you prefer a train travel, you can take a train to Tibet from Beijing(40.5hrs), Xian(32hrs), Chengdu(43hrs), Shanghai(47hrs), Chongqing(42hrs), Lanzhou(25hrs), Xining(22hrs), Guangzhou(54hrs).

  • 5. Packing and Wearing Ideas

    Firstly you can’t forget your passport and Chinese Visa. A large backpack and a smaller one are recommended (the smaller one can be used for daily activities). Also bring necessary medicine you need. Other stuffs like sunglasses, snow glasses, hats, lip balm, sun block are recommended.
    As for wearing, you are suggested to dress in layers (both thin and thick jackets). Down jacket is necessary in Spring and Autumn. A pair of durable and comfortable shoes is necessary.

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