Xining to Lhasa: Trains, Flights, Schedules, Fares, Maps 2025

Xining is the capital of Qinghai province in western China, a melting pot of many ethnic groups on Qinghai Tibet Plateau with picturesque highland scenery. It is also an important gateway city to Lhasa, the capital of the Xizang Autonomous Region. The distance from Xining to Lhasa is about 1,956km (1,215 mi). There are mainly 2 ways from Xining to Lhasa, namely trains and flights.

• Option 1: Xining to Lhasa Train: 20-22 hours, price from CNY 250 to CNY 500 - Recommended
• Option 2: Xining to Lhasa Flight: 2 - 2.5 hours - Fast

Xining Lhasa Transportation Map

Get from Xining to Lhasa by Train - Top Recommended

Xining Lhasa Railway, aka Qinghai Tibet Railway, includes 2 sections: Xining Golmud Section (814 km) and Golmud Lhasa Section (1,142 km). It is the highest plateau railway in the world with an avg elevation above 4,000 meters. There are about 6 overnight Z trains running from Xining to Lhasa, taking about 20 - 22 hours, departing at Xining Railway Station and getting to Lhasa Railway Station. Please check the following train schedules to see the detailed train info.

What to See Along the Railway from Xining to Lhasa

▶ Qinghai Tibet Railway Stations with Sightseeing Platforms: Xining - Golmud- Mt Yuzhu - Chumar Heyan - Tuotuo River - Buqiangge - Tanggula - Cona Lake - Naqu - Damxung - Yangbajain - Lhasa

Traveling from Xining to Lhasa, there are many things to see along your way along the Qinghai Tibet Railway: the snow-capped mountains and Yuzhu Peak, the wild creatures like the Tibetan Antelopes, yuks and donkeys in Hoh Xil, the breathtaking Qinghai Lake and limpid Cuo’na Lake, the beautiful Sanjiangyuan National Reserve and majestic Kunlun Mountains.

How's Facility on Xining Lhasa Train

There are air-conditioning system and Oxygen Supply on the trains, which allows you have a comfortable travel experience on the high plateau. During your stay on the train, you can have some Chinese food at the dining carriage with rice, vegetable, meals, and soups provided and snacks and bottled water sold through the food trolley. The water in the washing area is undrinkable, and the toilets include one western style and one squat style with no tissues.

What Kind of Train Ticket to Choose

There are usually 3 types of tickets to choose from, namely hard seat, hard sleeper, soft sleeper. The ticket price varies according to the type of seat you choose. The hard seat ticket is only about CNY 250, but the facility is hard for you to sleep at night; the hard sleeper ticket id about CNY 500, and then sleeper is relatively narrower than the soft sleeper and it doesn’t provide so much privacy and comfort. Although the ticket price is the highest about CNY 800, the travel experience on the soft sleeper is much comfortable than the hard one. If you are traveling with your family by train, choosing a soft sleeper is the most recommended.

Snow-covered Mountains in Northern Tibet

Scenery Outside the Window

Soft Sleeper of Xining Lhasa Train

Get from Xining to Lhasa by Air

Besides overnight trains to Xining, if you would like to get to Lhasa in the shortest time, taking a flight is your best choice. Every day, there are about 5 to 10 flights taking off from Xining Caojiabao Airport to Lhasa Gongga International Airport from 7:30 am early in the morning and 10:30 pm late at night with a duration of 2-2.5 hours. If time allows, we suggest that you take the morning flight so that you can get to Lhasa in the afternoon and adjust yourself to the high altitude area.

▶ Please check the real-time Xining Lhasa flight info for your reference.

Things to Know Before Your Tibet Tour from Xining

1. Independent Travel is not allowed in Tibet
2. Tibet Entry Permit is Required for any Tibet tour
3. Extra Permits are required in other regions beyond Lhasa
4. There is no age limitation to travel to Tibet, but do not take risks if you have a serious disease or are easily get high altitude sickness.
5. Tibet tour is not available from late February to the end of March due to holidays.
6. Some special places are not open for travelers.
7. Regular Tourists cannot reach higher Everest area beyond Rongbuk Monastery.

How to Plan a Xining Lhasa Tour

Usually, one day Xining tour is the most popular and classic trip itinerary which is suitable for visiting the top attractions, including the Kumbum Monastery, Dongguan Mosque, China Tibetan Medicine Culture Museum, etc. later, travelers take another day trip to the beautiful Qinghai Lake. If time allows, you can visit Chaka Salt Lake, Kanbula National Forest Park for one more day respectively. For those who are interested in Amdo Tibetan culture, you can travel from Xining to Tongren, take one day to visit Rongwo Monastery, and go back to Xining.

☛ 3 Days Qinghai Short Stay Tour
☛ 4 Days Qinghai Lake Chaka Salt Lake Enchanting Tour

Qinghai Lake

After taking a flight or train from Xining to Lhasa and a night’s good sleep, you can start your Lhasa exploration from the grandiose Potala Palace and the holiest Jokhang Temple. Then take a walk at Barkhor Street. The next day, spend a leisure time at the largest Tibetan garden – Norbulingka Park and then watch the famous Buddhist debating in Sera Monastery.

If you have more days, it is highly recommended to extend your tour to Mt. Everest - the highest mountain in the world. On the way, you can pay a visit to holy Yamdrok Lake and you will pass Shigatse and Gyantse where you can see the magnificent Karola Glacier and time-honored Palco Monastery.

☛ 6 Days Xining to Tibet Lhasa Train Tour by Qinghai Tibet Railway
☛ 10 Days Qinghai Tibet Plateau Exploration with Trip to Mount Everest
☛ 10 Days Panda & Qinghai Tibet Railway Memorable Tour

Jeff from Taiwan Visited Potala Palace with China Discovery

Travel Worry-free with China Discovery

China Discovery is a leading comprehensive travel agency in China, providing excellent customized tour packages across China. We have helped thousands of travelers fulfill their dream tour in China. Just tell us your schedule and budget, we can arrange a satisfactory China tour including Xining, Lhasa, and other popular tourist destinations. It will cover transport, sightseeing, tour guide, local vehicle and driver, accommodation, Chinese Visa, Tibet Travel Permit application assistance, etc. The length of places to visit and theme can be customized depending on your individual requirements. You may choose from our most popular Tibet tours or contact us to customize a special one!