Golmud to Lhasa Train Book

Why Take Tibet Train from Golmud?

Golmud is a city built around the mining industry. Mining for natural resources such as salt and magnesium is the main industry in the area, and the city offers little in the way of tourism. However, it has some spectacular natural features that make it worth a visit.

Just 60km to the northeast of the city lies Qarhan Salt Lake, the largest inland salt lake in the world, with an area of 5,856 square kilometers, and to the east lies Qinghai Lake. The area is rich in wildlife, and an ideal place to enjoy the landscape of the region.

The Kunlun Mountains lie to the south, their snow-capped peaks clearly visible from the city, and the Kekexili National Nature Reserve is to the southwest. The reserve covers an area of around 45,000 square kilometers and is set to become the newest UNESCO world heritage site in 2017.

It encompasses China's largest area of uninhabited land and has an average elevation of 4,600 meters. This remote nature reserve is home to over 200 species of wild animals, many of which are now endangered species, such as the Tibetan antelope.

Besides, Golmud is rich in water resources, and the headstream of Yangtze River is just originated from the glacier on the southwest side of the Geladandong ice peak in outskirts of the city.

While this remote, uninhabited area is barren and harsh, it is one of the most amazing landscapes in the world.

Can we get off the train at a certain station and then get onboard another train to Tibet after one or two days with the same ticket?

No, you’d better not to do that. If you want to spend some days in other cities along the railway before arriving in Lhasa, you need to buy different train tickets for different sections.

You can get off the train to stretch your legs or buy some local snacks at the platform when the train makes a temporary stop at certain stations. But you need to get back to the train in time before it leaves. Generally, it only makes a stop for a few minutes at each station.

Is there any sharp altitude change along the Golmud Lhasa Railway? Is it possible for the old or the young to board the train from Golmud to Lhasa?

It is common knowledge that spending a day or two at lower intermediate altitudes of around 2,500 to 3,000 meters can help with reducing the risk of altitude sickness once you arrive in Tibet.

The train, however, is actually no much difference to a flight when it comes to reducing the risk of altitude sickness in Lhasa. Flights are pressurized so that the cabin pressure of an aircraft is always that of the barometric pressure at sea level. So, when you get off the flight in Lhasa, the change in air pressure and the reduced oxygen content of the air means that there is a risk of feeling the symptoms of altitude sickness, due mainly to the drastic change in air pressure.

The trains to Tibet all have the oxygen supply system to pump oxygen into the cars, as well as having oxygen outlets for personal use if you are feeling a little sick during the trip. The oxygen pumps start at Golmud, as the train starts its steep climb to the plateau, reaching more than 5,000 meters within just a few hours. The oxygen pumped into the train means that the oxygen content of the air is close to that of sea level, almost the same as that of an aircraft.

If you are traveling by train, and want to acclimatize a little before reaching Lhasa, the best option is to stop for a day or two in Xining, at an altitude of around 2,275 meters, which is an ideal elevation in which to acclimatize before heading on to Lhasa. While there is no guarantee that you will not get altitude sickness once in Lhasa, the stop in Xining can help to reduce the risk of feeling the symptoms.