Qinghai-Tibet Highway Travel Information

Qinghai-Tibet Highway refers to the highway leading to Lhasa from Xining via Golmud. It is one of the highest highways above the sea level. It is the shortest highway with best road condition among the 4 highways leading to Tibet. It has been the adoption for a large number of tourists planning a self-driving tour to Tibet and the magnificent natural landscapes have been the pictures of the tourists who've travel to along this highway. The endless green grassland, snow-white salt lake, magnificent high mountains and the said but beautiful gobi desert are always so impressive for tourists come here from the plain area.

Qinghai-Tibet Highway Travel Information – Brief Introduction of Qinghai-Tibet Highway

Qinghai-Tibet Highway has a total length of 1937 meters and a roadbed width of 10 meters. For the consideration of safety, there is strict speed limit on Qinghai-Tibet Highway – 60 kilometers/h at maximum. The average altitude of this highway is more than 4000 meters, but there is no sudden altitude change after it stretches to Kunlun Mountain with ancient lake basin topography. According to statistics, there are totally 474 culverts and more than 60 bridges.

Qinghai-Tibet Highway was put into operation in 1954. The section between Xining and Golmud climbs over several mountains, including the Xiangpi Mountain with an altitude of 3800 meters, Wanggaxiu Mountain with an altitude of 3680 meters, and Tuotu Mountain with an altitude of 3500 meters. This section also crosses over several big rivers, such as the Dashui River, Xiangride River, Gaikeguang River, Baxi River, Qingshui River and Hongshui River. The section of Qinghai-Tibet Highway between Golmud and Lhasa even climbs over several higher mountains, including the Kunlun Mountain with an altitude of 4600 meters, Fenghuo Mountain with an altitude of 5010 meters, Tanggula Mountain with an altitude of 5320 meters and Touerjiu Mountain with an altitudeof 5180 meters. In addition, tourists travel to Tibet along Qinghai-Tibet Highway will also have the chance to witness the impressive river landscape of Qushui River, Yamaer River and Tongtian River.

Qinghai-Tibet Highway Travel Information – Road Condition, Altitude Sickness, Best Season

Most sections of Qinghai-Tibet Highway are asphalted. Due to the awful climate condition and special geological condition, various sections of Qinghai-Tibet Highway are under maintenance or reconstruction all year around. Except for the specific weather condition, tourists planning a self-driving tour to Tibet along Qinghai-Tibet Highway should take the temporary road condition into consideration while planning a detailed driving schedule. Flexible adjustment should be made to avoid missing the most suitable board and lodging sites during the journey.

For the precaution of high altitude sickness, tourists planning a Tibet tour through Qinghai-Tibet Highway are strongly suggested to make a good preparation in advance. Some helpful medicines effective in the precaution of high altitude sickness symptoms should be prepared. Tourists making a self-driving tour along this highway are suggested to pass the section between Golmud and Lhasa with high altitude in one day if you have two drivers could drive commutatively. Unlike the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway would be closed in winter due to the climate condition; Qinghai-Tibet Highway is in operation all year around. It is the busiest highway among the 4 main highways to Tibet. The period between May and October is the best season to travel along Qinghai-Tibet Highway.