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Nanjing to Lhasa Flights

  • by Lynn
  • Last Updated: 2025-01-07

Many tourists bound for Lhasa generally opt to take a flight from Nanjing. At present, there is only one daily flight between Nanjing and Lhasa, and this single direct flight usually makes its layover in Dazhou or Guangyuan. However, there are some connecting flights from Nanjing to Lhasa with transit in Chongqing, Chengdu, Xián, and Kunming.

Air route from Nanjing to Lhasa.
Air route from Nanjing to Lhasa (Click to view a bigger image)
  • Altitude Changes: The altitude of the city of Nanjing is 15 meters above sea level. However, that of Lhasa is 3,650 above sea level. More often, you would experience altitude sickness due to the abrupt altitude changes when you travel from Nanjing to Tibet.
  • Air Miles: The air miles from Nanjing to Lhasa are about 2,646 kilometers.
  • Flight Duration: The average flight from Nanjing to Lhasa is 6 hours. The return flight from Lhasa to Nanjing is shorter, about 5 hours and 10 minutes.
  • Flight Information: The flight starts at Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG). This flight arrives in Lhasa at Lhasa Gongga Airport(LXA).

Why Choose Nanjing to Lhasa Flight?

What really makes Nanjing a good point of departure or stopover point when going to Tibet? Well, there are many reasons, but one succinct reason is the fact that Nanjing, just like Peking, is one of the four ancient capitals of China; hence, this city is packed with awesome historical sites and boasts a unique cultural legacy and picturesque landscapes.

First, you can visit the old temples, imperial mausoleums, traditional garden buildings, and museums. You can specifically visit the Confucius Temple, Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty, Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, Qinhuai River, Presidential Palace, Purple Mountain, and Purple Mountain Observatory.

If you are coming from America or Australia and you intend to visit Tibet, you can easily take a jaunt to Nanjing before setting off for Tibet after your Shanghai trip. Moreover, Nanjing is also a good alternative point of departure if you find it hard to book a flight from Shanghai to Tibet because Nanjing is easily accessible from Shanghai.

Confucius Temple in Nanjing.
Confucius Temple is a cultural heritage in Nanjing, which deserves your visit

Nanjing to Lhasa Daily Flight Schedule

There are only a few flights each day from Nanjing to Lhasa. The airfares for this flight are usually around $300 or more after discounts.

Nanjing to Lhasa Flight Schedule

Flight No. Departure---Arrival Duration Frequency Aircraft Type Price
AirChina(CA4560) + West Airlines(PN6426) 08:20---15:20
1h 45min transit in Chongqing
7h Every Other Day Boeing 737+Airbus 319 USD472
Economy Class
Eastern Airline(MU2853)+Sichuan Airlines(3U3018) 09:15---16:15
1h 55min transit in Mianyang
7h Every Other Day Airbus 320+Airbus 319 USD472
Economy Class
Tibet Airlines
TV9830
10:40---16:40
50min layover in Guangyuan
6h Every Other Day Airbus A319 USD472
Economy Class

Lhasa to Nanjing Flight Schedule

Flight No. Departure---Arrival Duration Frequency Aircraft Type Price
Tibet Airlines
TV9829
15:50---21:10
50min layover in Guangyuan
5h 10m Every Other Day Airbus A319 USD472
Economy Class
Sichuan Airlines
3U6632+3U6913
11:50---18:25
2h 5m transit in Chengdu
6h 35m Every Day Airbus A319+Airbus 330 USD472
Economy Class

Nota Bene: The abovementioned flight schedule generally refers to the usual flight schedule during peak season. However, it would be good to note that this schedule is subject to changes depending on the weather condition in the region.

FAQs about Nanjing to Lhasa Flight

What is the Best Time to Travel to Tibet from Nanjing?

Reputed as the roof of the world, Tibet is a highland. The weather in Tibet belongs to the plateau climate, while the temperature in the central part of Tibet and Lhasa is good for traveling all throughout the year. The best time to travel to Tibet is from April to October, while the peak season is from July to September. So, the ideal months for traveling in Tibet are May, June, and October. In April, it's still very cold if you are going to some remote destinations such as Ngari(where Mt. Kailash is located).

By the way, the months of July and August are rainy months, but it usually rains at night. Whatever, you will surely have no problem traveling anytime between April and October.

Scenery in Ngari, the most Tibetan area in Tibet.
The people say that if you travel to the west of Tibet, you have been to Tibet indeed.

Is Nanjing readily accessible from Shanghai?

Yes. Nanjing is only 298.6 km from Shanghai. You can simply take a train from Shanghai to Nanjing at the Hongqiao Railway Station or Shanghai Railway Station. You can also take the high-speed train to get to Nanjing for about 1 to 2 hours. You can save enough time by taking the D-series bullet train or the G-series high-speed train. If you have enough time and you want to save a bit, you can take the K-series fast train that can take you to Nanjing within 4 hours.

There are always some tourists who enter China via Shanghai but fail to book a flight from Shanghai to Tibet, especially during peak tourist seasons. Many of them usually make a detour via Nanjing and take an available flight from Nanjing to Lhasa.

If I fail to take a direct flight to Lhasa from Nanjing, what other alternatives do I have?

China has many cities that offer flights going to Lhasa. Thus, you surely have many alternatives. But your best alternative would be to take a flight from Nanjing to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. In Chengdu, you can book a flight to Lhasa easily as there're more than 10 daily flights. If you have any problem with choosing the flight route, feel free to contact us and we will be very much willing to assist you.

What's the name of Nanjing Airport?

Nanjing's major airport is the Nanjing Lukou International Airport, which is located around 35.8 km from the downtown of Lukou Subdistrict. This airport is the main airport in Jiangsu Province and serves the Delta Area of the Yangtze River. Ranked as the 12th Busiest Civil Airport in China, this airport is connected to Nanjing city and neighboring towns via expressways. It is also linked to the Nanjing South Railway Station.

From Nanjing Haoye Wanda Plaza and Nanjing Railway Station, you can board one of the shuttle buses provided by the government for transferring passengers. Those who are going to Lhasa must check in at Terminal 2 of NKG. You can also take the Nanjing Metro Line S1 if you want to avoid the usual traffic jam. Afterward, you can alight at the Nanjing Lukou International Airport Station adjacent to the Airport.

How can I avail of cheaper flights from Nanjing to Lhasa?

  1. There are online Apps of the major Chinese airlines that sometimes offer cheap airfares. If you happen to browse these Apps, you will be lucky enough to avail of cheaper plane tickets.
  2. If you happen to travel during the offseason(from November to April),you can also get cheaper airfares
  3. There are airlines that give discounts to early birds. Sometimes you can get up to a 26% discount if you book your flight earlier than usual.

What documents should you prepare for your flight to Tibet?

There are several documents that you should prepare and present before boarding your flight to Tibet. These necessary documents are your passport, your original Tibet Travel Permit, and your Chinese Visa. Tibet Travel Permit is a mandatory document for entering Lhasa or any part of Tibet. If you want a hassle-free trip from Nanjing to Tibet, you should process your Tibet Travel Permit beforehand. As a reputable local Tibet travel agency, Great Tibet Tour can help you obtain a Tibet Travel Permit.

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