Qinghai

Qingzang Railway (青藏铁路) connects Xining city of Qinghai Province, to the city of Lhasa in Tibet. This Qinghai-Tibet Railway runs at a high altitude of 4,000 meter above sea-level for 80% of the journey. The trains was specially designed and built to survive this high altitude environment. This Qinghai-Tibet rail link started operating in July 2006, now passenger service to Tibet also runs from Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xining and Lanzhou.

The total journey from Xining city to Lhasa is 1,957 km. The diesel locomotives that is made by General Electric has an operational speed of 120 km/h, but slows to 100 km/h over track sections laid on permafrost. Due to the high altitude, a Passenger Health Registration Card is required to be filled to take the train between Golmud and Lhasa. The card can be obtained when purchasing the ticket and passengers must read the health notice for high-altitude travel and sign the agreement on the card to take the train. Onboard the specially built trains, oxygen supply is available if required by passengers feeling unwell.

China - Qinghai