Chongqing Lhasa Trains - Route, Schedule, Fares, Permit, Ticket Booking 2024

Generally speaking, train from Chongqing to Lhasa and train from Lhasa to Chongqing both offer you an unforgettable journey because you will have a visual treatment. Lhasa-Chongqing Train enjoys the similar schedule with Chongqing-Lhasa Train. The trains will pass through the same attraction in daytime or at night. As a result, there won’t be great difference between the sceneries along the railway you can see. You can enjoy the numerous mountains covered with green trees in Nanchong, Guangyuan and Baoji. As you come to Gansu, the scenery will be quite different. You must be amazed by the splendid spectacle of the Yellow River. In the summer, you may be lucky to see some beautiful sunflowers. While passing through Qinghai, you won’t miss charming Qinghai Lake. Close to Delingha, you can see the fertile farmland and emerald forest belt. Then you will traverse two lakes and enjoy the enchanting lake views. However, Chongqing-Lhasa Train and Lhasa-Chongqing Train also enjoy different advantages.

If you want to have an up-stream Yangtze River Cruise (Yichang to Chongqing), you’d better choose a train to Lhasa from Chongqing after your cruise tour. From Chongqing to Lhasa, you will get an opportunity to adapt the plateau climate and high altitude gradually. Some tourists like to choose Tibet as their epilogue of China and fly to Kathmandu directly after the Tibet tour. So they need to have a train journey first.

If you aim to take a down-stream Yangtze River Cruise (Chongqing to Yichang), train from Lhasa to Chongqing is recommended. In addition, it’s much easier to book a ticket of train from Lhasa to Chongqing and choose the seat you prefer. If there isn’t any Chongqing-Lhasa trains ticket available, try Lhasa-Chongqing train.

Train between Chongqing and Lhasa passes through four provinces and stops at seven railway stations. In fact, all the four provinces are famed tourists’ destinations. During the train time, you can take a glimpse of different scenery. While the train stops at the midway station, you can take short walk and breathe the fresh air out of the train.

Lanzhou

Lanzhou is China’s only capital city with the Yellow River passing through. Because of the unique river view, the featured Lanzhou city landscape is shaped. Tasty food is also one element of Lanzhou, and Lanzhou noddle is the most popular one. The train will stop in Lanzhou Railway Station about 15 minutes.

Xining

In the ancient times, Xining was the regarded as the guarding frontier city as well as a key stopover along the ancient Silk Road. Now, it is still an important cultural and economic center. Most tourists prefer to have one or two days to explore Xining by visiting Taer Monastery – birthplace of the founder of Gelup Sect Buddhism Tsongkhapa and Qinghai Lake – one of the most beautiful lakes in China. Chongqing-Lhasa Train will take a stop for 20 minutes and Lhasa-Chongqing Train will take a stop for 20 minutes, which is enough to stretch your legs.

Golmud

As you get to Golmud, the altitude becomes really high and oxygen supply on the train begin to operate. The trains between Chongqing and Lhasa will have stop at Golmud Railway Station for 25 minutes. Go out of the train and look at the blue sky if the weather is good.

Tibet Travel Permit, also called Tibet Entry Permit, is a necessity to visit Tibet. This permit is issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau only, and can be applied by travel agency behalf of travelers only. It takes about 15 ~ 20 days to get the permit usually.

Tibet Travel Permit is also a must to book the train or flight ticket and board the train from inland cities to Lhasa. Taking a train to Lhasa from Chongqing, you have to keep the original Tibet Travel Permit in hands. Sometimes, the Tibet Travel Permit is not required to book the ticket, but it’s hard to tell when is the “sometimes”. So do not hesitate to contact us for the up-dated information.

>> Learn more details about Tibet Travel Permit Application

Tickets can be booked on line or at the train station. If you are in Chongqing or other Chinese cities, you can go to the train station directly and book the ticket on your own. Remember to bring your passport and Tibet Travel Permit. You can also ask the ticket conductor to provide your preferred upper or lower berth if possible. Because the train tickets are very limited, you need to book in advance. And we can book it for you on line if you send your passport information.

How to Get to Chongqing North Railway Station

Chongqing North Railway Station is located in the Kunlun Road of Yubei District. It can be divided into two parts, including South Square and North Square. The Chongqing-Lhasa Train departs from the South Square and the Lhasa-Chongqing Train arrives at South Square. South Square can be easily reached by Subway Line 3.