Lhasa to Xining Train
China Holidays & Tailor-made Tour Itineraries

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Journey past spectacular Tibetan scenery to the city of Xining and its spectacular Qinghai Lake.

The train from Lhasa to Xining is an 22 hour train ride through scenic Tibetan landscapes, passing shimmering lakes, rolling snow-capped mountains and wide-open plains into China's Qinghai region. This is the most spectacular half of the full 40 hour cross-country journey to Beijing. Though far from luxurious, staying in a soft sleeper affords a comfortable vantage point from which to survey the scenery and relax. Food is served on an on-board restaurant 

The train departs Lhasa at around 9am and arrives early the next morning in the city of Xining, with the largest inland lake in China a scenic 80 mile drive away. Qinghai Lake is a meeting point of Tibetan, Mongolian and Muslim cultures and provides a home to many lesser-known migratory birds, particularly on Bird Island. It is especially beautiful in the summer when it is surrounded by verdant grassland. From Xining it is then a short onward flight to Beijing.