It is said that the Tibetan Plateau is the “roof of the world” as the average altitude of this area is around 4000-5000 m. Thus the Qinghai-Tibet Railway which connected Xining and Lhasa, is the highest railway of the world. It was lucky for me to start this dreamy China Tour that experience this railway towards the heaven.

With unique natural and geographical condition, the Tibetan Plateau breeds and accumulates striking folk custom and religious culture. It is home to mysterious Tibetan People; it is the place where magnificent Mt. Everest, crystal blue Cuona Lake and T’ou-t’ou River, the source of the Yangtze, located.

Golmud-Lhasa section is the core of this railway, which stretches 1142 km and collects the most fantastic scenery of the plateau. Can you imagine how excited it would be to experience a train riding on this railway? Let’s go!

The Tibetan Railway [Top China Travel]

The design speed of the train is 160 km/hour. Each train to Tibet equips two sets of Oxygen supply system, one is whole carriage Oxygen supply (circulating), the other one is private Oxygen supply (Oxygen mask). With the help of hi-tech equipments, the temperature and pressure in the train maintain in a balance condition.

[Top China Travel]

During the whole journey, this train has to pass 9 scenery platforms, also be set up as 9 stations, with an average height of over 4000m above sea level. But on the other hand, in this 960 km riding, you will have chance to enjoy the landscapes, one may think, which only exist in fairy tales or fantasy films.

The 9 platforms include: Yuzhu Peak Station, Chumaer River. Tuotuo river, Buqiangge, Tanggula Mountain, Lake Namtso, Nagqu, Damshung, Yangbachen.

If you take the luxury train, you can get a closer look of those sceneries as you will have the privilege to get offer the train for a short trip when it stops at each station. Otherwise, you just can appreciate the fantastic view through the window.

[Top China Travel]

When the train reached Golmud station, you were standing on the central region of Qinghai Province. The main body of grand Kunlun Mountain and the famous inhibited land - Kekexili Area just removed their veils in front of you.

Minutes later, you would find you yourself were incredibly flying along the high ridge of this mountain. At this time, you were far away from the secular noisy world, only the sleeping mountains and wild animals accompanied you.

Kunlun Mountain is about 160km away from Golmud city, but the average altitude climbs rapidly from 2800m to 4000m. Thus when you enter the region, you can even see the Summer Snow. Actually, within the mountain area, there’s no a clear line to separate the seasons.

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The train passed by the foot of Yuzhu Peak which is the highest peak (4159 m) of eastern Kunlun Mountain.

When you reached the eastern Kunlun area, you would find there were several pipe-like things standing on the both sides of the railwaybed, which been called “Hot Pins”. It’s reported that the hot pin was a hi-tech product invented by Nanjing University of Technology, which could leading-out the heat beneath and keep the temperature of the soil in steady frozen level.

Through the window, you could also see the iron fence, further, there would be several stone fronts to stabilize the sand and protect the railway.

The stone fronts

The broad Gobi Desert below the snow mountains.

Several gentle flows which coming from the melted snow mountains joined the river and snaked away into the distance

The Qinghai-Tibet Highway paralleled the railway.

The temperature outside was below 2℃ when the train passed the Pass of Danggula Mountains (5231). We have reached the Tibet region. Through the window, you could see frozen lakes and continuous snow mountains with the average altitude over 4000m.

The Danggula Station was the highest railway station in the world so far that locates on the 5231m high frozen land. The train continued its journey into the core land of Tibet.

Station of Anduo, seemed pretty

The same day around 16:30, we reached Cuona Lake Station (4594m), which was the highest fresh-water lake of the world and the source of Nujiang River.

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We were very close to the lake and could see the broad lake surface through the window. It was a cloudy day, the color of the lake was so gloomy. As a divine lake in local, it welcomed thousands of Tibetan followers for pilgrim every year.

Sign of Nagqu Station

At 17:40, we arrived at Nagqu Station (4513m), where we could get down the train to breathe some fresh air. The temperature outside is around 5℃. The chilly air refreshed my mind immediately. Pure blue sky, white snow mountains and isolated land greeted the eye.

Waiting-room of Nagqu Station

Damxung Station

The about 2hours later, we reached Damxung Station (4300m). We could see some low-rise houses straggled across the land. We knew that we have driven out of the isolate area, but seemed much closer to the heaven.

Snow Mountains and low dark clouds

Minutes later, there were heavy snow fell from the sky. Soon, the vast land was covered with snow.

There’s only 160km left. In another word, for another 2 more hours riding, we would reach Lhasa.

Lhasa Train Station Night View

At 21:50, we arrived at Lhasa Railway Station, which is the highest railway station of the world.

Stood on the land of faith, the heart of Tibet, we were speechless.

In Zang Language (Tibetan language), “Lha” means godly, “Sa” means land, thus “Lhasa” this word indicates - this is a divine land. And the most exciting thing will be - Our Tibet Trip was beginning! We were here!

For further information, Top China Travel is glad to be your China tour advisor in any moment and would like to offer you the well considerable tailor-made China tour packages in any moment.

Source from:www.topchinatravel.com