Best of Qinghai-Tibet High Altitude Railway Attractions & Luxury Tours, China

Explore the many wonders of China which lie along the newly established Qinghai-Tibet High Altitude Railway which runs from the capital of Beijing to the mysterious Lhasa, Tibet. This amazing region, along with its capital, Lhasa, is considered the “Roof of the World” because it sits atop the highest plateau on earth, and only because of modern technology could such a massive railway feat be accomplished. A special system keeps the permafrost ground frozen solid year-round and oxygen is pumped into the railcars at higher altitudes, providing travelers with a comfortable and exhilarating tour of China via rail.

Your two days aboard the Qinghai-Tibet Railway from Beijing to Lhasa are spent watching postcard-perfect scenery float by the large viewing windows on both sides of the passenger cars. You’ll gaze upon snowcapped mountain peaks, shimmering blue lakes, expansive grasslands dotted with yak and antelope herds, and local homes alive with multi-colored prayer flags flapping in the breeze.

A ride on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is a chance to partake of a trip that few have ever experienced, traversing China on the highest altitude railway in the world which climbs from 2,829m above sea level at Golmud to 3,641m at Lhasa. You’ll truly feel as if on the top of the world when you cross over Tanggula Pass, which is the highest point of the trip at 5,231m above sea level, and behold the stunning scenery of the Tanggula Mountains.

For travel information in and around Lhasa, please refer to our travel section about Lhasa.

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