Shanghai to Tibet Tours & Trips

There are several direct flights from Shanghai to Lhasa. You must have a stop or exchange a plane during the whole trip. China Eastern Airlines MU2335 and Tibet Airlines TV9882 operate flights between Shanghai and Lhasa almost every day. MU2335 departs from Pudong Airport at 6:40 a.m. and arrives in Lhasa at 3:15 p.m., with a stop in Xi’an for 2hr 20min. TV9882 departs from Hongqiao Airport at 2:15 p.m. and arrives in Lhasa at 9:15 p.m., with a stop in Chengdu for 1hr 15m.  And the other air companies, like China Air, Sichuan Airlines, offer connecting flights to Lhasa (exchange flights in Chongqing, Kunming, Chengdu, etc.) according to their schedule. Please check the real-time Shanghai to Lhasa flight information when booking the air tickets. It usually takes 8-10 hours to reach Lhasa and costs about USD480/person for the economy class.

Yes, there is a train departing from Shanghai to Lhasa every day. The train number is Z164, departing at 20:08 and arriving at 19: 30 (+2). The entire trip is about 48 hours. That means you need to stay for two nights on the train. You are suggested to take the soft sleeper, which makes you feel more comfortable compared with the hard one. Of course, the cost is higher. The net price is USD215/person. And, there is a commission charge if you get the tickets from agents. The charge varies from USD65 – 100 per ticket depending on the different tourist seasons.

Besides the essential documents like your passport and China Visa, you also need a Tibet Entry Permit, which is issued by the Tourism Bureau of the Tibet Autonomous Region(special note: foreign journalists and diplomats cannot enter Tibet as tourists).

To obtain your Tibet Entry Permit, please book a Tibet tour with a Tibet travel agency prior. Therefore your travel agency can help you apply for your Tibet Entry Permit with the info of pre-arranged tour itinerary, guide, driver, vehicle, accommodation, etc., as well as your passport and China Visa. The whole process usually takes 7 to 20 working days, according to your destinations in Tibet. After getting your entry permit, your travel agency will send it to your hotel in Shanghai or the airport if you take a flight to Lhasa. Or, send you a copy of the permit by email if you get to Tibet by train.

Before you board an airplane to Tibet, you need to show your original Tibet Entry Permit. However, if you take a train to Tibet from Shanghai, the copy of your Tibet Entry Permit is enough.

Shanghai is undoubtedly the most prosperous city in China, with abundant tourism resources. You can't miss the following attractions.

1. The Bund: Walking along the Bund is one of the things that Shanghai tourists must do. Its architecture complex is Shanghai's business card, including Gothic architecture, Romanesque architecture and Renaissance architecture. The night view can't be missed. On the other side of the Huangpu River, you can see Pudong Lujiazui, the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Shanghai Tower, the World Financial Center, and Jin Mao Tower.

2. Tianzifang: Shanghai's typical alley with the local flavor, also a fashionable landmark. There are boutiques everywhere, so visitors can buy art and handicrafts, or just look at traditional buildings.

3. Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street: The bustling commercial street of Shanghai. It's a shopping district where famous products gather, the night here is colorful.

4. Yu Garden & Chenghuang Temple: It's an area including a private garden and a Taoist temple in the Ming Dynasty. For tourists visiting Shanghai for the first time,  Yu Garden & Chenghuang Temple area is the first window to fully appreciate Shanghai's history, culture and customs, as well as taste the authentic Shanghai snacks.

5. Shanghai Museum: Contains the history of ancient China, old coins, priceless paintings and ceramics, finely carved traditional lacquer furniture, and ancient bronzes and jade.

6. Zhujiajiao Ancient Town: Located on the outskirts of Shanghai, it is one of the most well-preserved water villages in the area, despite its 1700 years of history. Tourists must take a cruise, rowing under 35 ancient stone bridges, which are lined with old-fashioned houses.

7. Oriental Pearl Tower: Shanghai's iconic building stands on the banks of the Huangpu River in Pudong New Area. It is 468 meters high and is the tallest building built in the early 1990s.

8. Xintiandi: Based on the transformation of Shanghai's unique Shikumen old building area, it is an urban tourist attraction with Shanghai's historical and cultural features and the integration of Chinese and Western culture.

9. 1933 Laochangfang: It is a unique creative park transformed from a slaughterhouse, where drama performances and fashion shows are often held. It is an art gathering place.

10. China Art Palace: It used to be the China National Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo. It has a collection of more than 8,000 pieces and a large collection of paintings by famous painters. The most interesting thing is the treasure of the collections - the multimedia version of "Ascending the river on Qingming Festival".