Tibet Transportation

Tibet is a wonderful land which was secluded from the world for a pretty long time due to the block of the high mountains with precipitous topography. It was pretty difficult to communicate with Tibet in earlier times without highways, railway or air lines. The government attached great importance to the improvement of Tibet transportation in the past decades. The highways heading toward Tibet, Qinghai-Tibet Railway and the air lines to Tibet were put into operation gradually. It is pretty convenient for tourists to make a Tibet tour by air or by train.

Tibet Transportation – Highway Transportation

There are four highways heading to Tibet from different domestic regions of China, including the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, Qinghai-Tibet Highway, Xinjiang-Tibet Highway and Yunnan-Tibet Highway. Theses highways are quite noted for their construction difficulty all around the world. Xinjiang-Tibet Highway is the highest highway above the sea level with an average altitude of more than 4000 meters. It has been the route selection for certain number of tourists interested in a Tibet adventure tour for its high altitude and severe climate though the road condition along this highway is pretty challenging.

Sichuan-Tibet Highway plays important role in the goods communication between Tibet and the relatively eastern regions in China. Yunnan-Tibet Highway is favored by a large number of tourists making a self-driving tour to Tibet. Qinghai-Tibet Highway ranks first among the four highways in the road condition. It provides convenience for tourists willing to pay a visit to Golmud after the Tibet tour. It should be noted that the board and lodging condition along these highways are pretty limited and it is necessary to make a good preparation before your Tibet tour through the highway.

Tibet Transportation – Railway Transportation

The railway transportation is available after the highest railway above the sea level – Qinghai-Tibet Railway was put into operation. Qinghai-Tibet Highway starts from Xining in the east and ends at Lhasa in the west. It was firstly put into operation in July 2006. Xining has been the most noted entrance city for tourists planning a Tibet train tour.

To enjoy the picturesque natural landscapes along Qinghai-Tibet Highway, a large number of tourists planning to join the Tibet train tours choose to take a transfer at Xining. Actually, Xining acts as an essential communication hub especially after Qinghai-Tibet was put into operation. There are 8 highways connect Xining with other domestic cities, including an expressway through which one could arrive in Lanzhou of Gansu Province in three hours. In addition, tourists in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Chongqing could also take the direct trains heading toward Lhasa via Xining.

Tibet Transportation – Air Transportation

Currently, there are two civil aviation airports in Tibet are in operation – Lhasa Gonggar Airport and Nyingchi Airport. The direct flights between Lhasa and Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Beijing and several other domestic cities are available. Tourists in these cities could make a Tibet tour by air conveniently. In addition, the direct flights between Nyingchi and Chongqing, Chengdu are also available. Tourists willing to pay a visit to Nyingchi could fly to Nyingchi first and then westward to other regions in Tibet. There is also an international flight between Lhasa and Kathmandu which would only be available on Saturdays. This international flight provides convenience for tourists willing to put Tibet and Kathmandu into one trip.