Oxygen Supply on Tibet Trains

Tibet trains are all equipped with the oxygen supply systems to provide better train experience. There are 2 kinds of oxygen supply systems equipped with on the train to cope with the lack of oxygen on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Both of the oxygen supply systems will begin to operate when the trains move into Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Zone. And when the oxygen supply systems are working, smoking is forbidden in all the carriages.

One is a ‘dispersion-mode’ oxygen supply system above the windows of every carriage. It spreads oxygen made by the oxygen generator to the train’s air through the air-conditioning system and keeps the oxygen content of the air about 23%.

The other system is the “distribution-mode” oxygen supply system which can be directly used by passengers through an independent port. You can easily find them below each seat in the Hard Seats Carriages, and near every berth in each cabin of Hard Sleeper Carriage and Soft Sleeper Carriage.

How to Use Independent Oxygen Supply

The train conductors will distribute the disposable pipes to passengers usually before arriving in Golmud. If not, you can ask for it when the high altitude sickness (like headache, expiratory dyspnea, or other difficulties) occurs. Connect the disposable pipe to the oxygen outlet first, put the other end of the pipe into your nostrils then and you can breathe the oxygen freely. There are also oxygen supply tubes and mask on each cabin for an emergency. It can be said that the individual oxygen outlets are almost everywhere in the Tibet train.

Call for Medical Service

Every train to Tibet is equipped with one doctor and one nurse. Therefore, you don’t need to worry much about the high altitude. If you get serious high altitude sickness or some other physical problem, call the doctor or ask the train staff for help immediately.

Specially Designed Train Structure

With airtight-type structure, the trains can well control the intensity of turbulence in high plateau and improve the smoothness of running, which offers a more comfortable journey to the passengers. The imbalance between the internal and external pressure might be caused by the high altitude effect, but the windows of Tibet trains can adjust the press automatically. The pressure in the carriage wills changes with the altitude, which does help in releasing the sickness of passengers.

Change to Plateau Train with Oxygen Supply System at Xining Railway Station

It is announced that a passenger who takes a train from Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai or Guangzhou to Lhasa will have to change to a Plateau Train with Oxygen System at Xining Railway Station. If one takes a train from Lhasa to Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai or Guangzhou, he/she also needs to change to a regular train at Xining Railway Station. The policy has been put into practice since April 19, 2017, and will continue to the end of Summer School Vacation in China (around late August). (Note: If you are taking the train Z21 (Beijing to Lhasa), Z917 (Lanzhou to Lhasa), Z918 (Lhasa to Lanzhou), you don’t have to change trains at Xining Railway Station.)

Tibet is a place with majestic landscapes and splendid culture. There might be hundreds of ways to travel Tibet, especially its most appealing destinations - Lhasa, Everest, Namtso, Kailash, etc. We suggest you start your tour from the capital Lhasa. You can take 3~4 days to acclimatize high altitudes and explore the highlights of Lhasa city. Then you can spend 1~2 days to visit Lhasa's surroundings, such as Namtso, Yamdrok Lake, Ganden Monastery, etc. Beside Lhasa and its surrounding regions, you shall not miss the 3rd pole of the earth, Mt Everest, which is no longer a privilege site for just mountaineers and spending 3~4 more days to explore it.It totally depends on your schedules and preferences.

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