How to Travel to Lhasa from Beijing？

• by Nance
• Last Updated: 2023-11-29

Lhasa is often a good place for foreign tourists from all over the world, and Beijing is one of the most popular portals to get to Lhasa. Many travelers who are visiting Lhasa always take Beijing as the first stop, as it's convenient to fly to Beijing, the capital of China. You can explore the history and culture of China's empire here, and then take a train or plane to Lhasa. What’s more, train or flight ticket from Beijing to Lhasa is supplying enough. There are multiple flights and a daily train from Beijing to Lhasa.

If you are visiting Lhasa, please consider applying for Tibet entry permit before boarding a train or flight to Lhasa.  You can entrust a Tibet travel agency to obtain it for you, along with your China visa and passport.

Option 1 Take a Train to Lhasa from Beijing

There are several good reasons to go to Lhasa by train. First, this is a journey along the roof of the world, and the challenges seem to be insurmountable in the past. Besides, taking a train to Lhasa will give your body a good chance to adapt to high altitude.

The total length of a railway from Beijing to Lhasa is about 3757 km, among which the Qinghai-Tibet railway is 1110 km. The highlight of Beijing to Lhasa train is from Xining to Lhasa section, where you can enjoy the Gobi desert, snow-capped mountains, Tanggula Mountain, vast grasslands and other magnificent scenery outside the window. There are 10 stops in total from the Beijing West Railway Station to the Lhasa Railway Station. The train stops at each station for about 10 to 15 minutes. Departure from Beijing West Railway Station at 19:53, you will stay on train Z21 for 39 hours and 28 minutes to complete a 3757-kilometer journey. It's a zen-like way for those travelers who want to slow their busy minds before reaching Lhasa.

Different Seats in Train from Beijing to Lhasa

There are three kinds of seats on the train from Beijing to Lhasa, namely, hard seat, hard sleeper, and soft sleeper. In general, travelers would choose a soft sleeper or hard sleeper rather than the hard seat, because it is difficult to cope with the long train journey with a hard seat. If you want to provide the best service for your family's privacy and comfort, we suggest you choose soft sleepers with four berths in a cabin, air conditioning, oxygen exit and other facilities. For hard sleepers, there are six berths in a cabin without a door so the privacy is relatively less. However, some travelers still choose hard sleepers because they are cheaper than soft sleepers.

Deal with Altitude Sickness on the Train Trip

Trains from Beijing to Lhasa will pass through high mountains at a high altitude. When the train rises to a higher level, you may encounter altitude sickness. Don’t worry, trains from Beijing to Lhasa are sealed and pressurized like aircraft to acclimatize to the changing heights. In the train, there are oxygen outlets.

Beijing-Lhasa Train Schedule

Train No.	Dep. - Arr.	Duration	Soft Sleeper	Hard Sleeper	Hard Seat
Z21 Beijing-Lhasa	19:53 - 11:21	39hrs 28min	RMB 1144 / USD171	RMB 720 / USD111	RMB 360 / USD55
Z22 Lhasa to Bejing	15:30 / 08:20	40hrs, 50min	RMB 1144 / USD171	RMB 720 / USD111	RMB 360 / USD55

Note: The ticket prices above are a net price. Since a high demand for Beijing-Lhasa train tickets in peak season, you have to pay more than a net price to buy tickets. >> See more about Beijing to Lhasa train

Option 2 Flying to Lhasa from Beijing

There are direct flights from Beijing to Lhasa, which are operated by Tibet Airlines and Air China. The flight will start at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and will arrive at noon or evening at Lhasa Gongga Airport(LXA).

In addition, there are several connecting flights from Beijing to Lhasa with a stopover in Xining, Kunming, Xi'an, etc. If you are looking for flight tickets with lower fares, then the connecting flight might be your choice. >> See more about Beijing to Lhasa flight

Related Articles

• 7 Useful Things to Know Before Going to Tibet
  Tibet is a pilgrimage site for countless travelers. There are 7 things you need to know before going to Tibet. The biggest concern is altitude sickness.

• How to Plan a Trip to Tibet?
  A trip to Tibet is not as tough as you thought. It has a unique landscape, mysterious Tibetan Buddhism, and many other fantastic things for you to explore.

• Tibet Travel Restrictions You Should Know
  Tibet is a special destination so there're many travel restrictions in Tibet. And foreign tourists should obtain Tibet travel permits before visiting Tibet.

• Travel to Tibet from United Kingdom
  Travelers from the United Kingdom can fly to mainland China then to Lhasa by flight or train. Or Brits can fly to Kathmandu then to Lhasa by flight or road.

• Travel to Tibet From Canada
  There are multiple ways to travel from Canada to Tibet, mainly via mainland China or Nepal. You may choose according to your travel plan.

• How to Get to Tibet?
  You can travel to Tibet by flight, train, or road from China OR by flight or road from Nepal. The best way depends on your place of departure and travel plans.

• What to Pack for Mount Kailash Trekking Tour?
  What to pack for your Mt.Kailash trekking tour? You don't have to carry all the items for the 3-day Kailash trek. Here's the list you might need.

• Is It Okay for the Elderly to Travel to Tibet?
  The answer is definitely YES as plenty of people above 70 years of age have been to Tibet. There are caveats and preparations that you should take heed of.

• Travel to Tibet from United States
  For US citizens, you can travel to Tibet via mainland China or Nepal. You need to apply for China Visa or China Group Visa and obtain your Tibet visa prior.

• How to Travel to Tibet From Australia?
  If you are from Australia and traveling to Tibet, you can either fly to a mainland city of China or fly to Kathmandu of Nepal and then get to Lhasa.

• Best Tibet Hotels
  Popular hotels in Tibet include Luxury hotels, comfortable hotels and economic hotels. Here's the list of best Tibet hotels for your consultation and booking.