Useful Guide to Plan a Trip From Xining to Tibet

Xining is the capital of Qinghai province in western China, and the largest city on the Tibetan plateau. It has a history of over 2,100 years and was a chief commercial hub on the Hexi Corridor caravan route to Tibet. With a lot of tourist attractions, Xining is considered as the Summer Resort Capital of China. Every year, countless tourists are attracted to travel to Xining. Besides, Xining is also the closest inner mainland China city to Tibet as well as known as the starting point of the world’s highest railway - Qinghai Tibet Railway. It is very convenient and fast to go to Tibet from Xining. Do you want to know how to travel to Tibet from Xining? This ultimate guide will give you the answer.

Part 1. Xining Facts

 
Xining Facts

Chinese Name: 西宁市
Location：Xining is located on the eastern edge of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the upper reaches of the Huangshui River.
Population: 2,333,700
Area: 7,649 square kilometers (2,953 square miles)
Nationalities: Han, Hui, Tibetan
Administrative Division: Xining has four districts (Chengzhong, Chengdong, Chengxi, Chengbei, and Haihu), three counties (Huangyuan, Huangzhong, Datong Hui and Tu Autonomous County)

Part 2. Why Travel to Tibet from Xining?

1. It is convenient for travelers to get to Lhasa from Xining. The distance between Xining and Lhasa is about 1916km.
2. More than 3 daily trains are running between Xining and Lhasa, which cost about 21 hours. Along the way, you can see the breathtaking Qinghai-Tibet plateau.
3. Xining, regarded as the Summer Resort Capital of China, posses a lot of tourist attractions like Ta'er Monastery, Qinghai Lake, Dongguan Mosque, Sun & Moon Mountain, Lijia Gorge, Yellow River, etc.

Part 3. How to Get to Lhasa from Xining?

Way 1. Flight

Currently,  about 2-3 direct daily flights are running from Xining to Lhasa, which takes about 2.15 hours for the flight trip. Besides, there are over 2 connecting flights from Xining to Lhasa each day and the connecting flights usually make stopovers at Xian, Chengdu, Mianyang. Usually, connecting flights offer more schedules and are relatively cheaper than direct flights, but it costs a long time usually around 6~9 hours. All flights depart from Xining Caojiabao International Airport, which is situated in Gaozhai Township, Huzhu County, Qinghai Province, at the elevation of 2,184 meters, about 28 kilometers away from Xining

Note: Usually, the flight schedule will reduce in winter and spring. If you want to book an air ticket from Xining to Lhasa, you can search flight information on flight booking websites or contact our travel consultant about the flight or other information.

Way 2. Train

Taking a train from Xining to Lhasa is the most popular way for a Tibet tour since the Xining to Lhasa railway, which is Qinghai-Tibet Railway is an engineering marvel. The whole distance between Xining and Lhasa is about 1,956km (1,215mi). At present, there are 5 trains available from Xining to Lhasa, which takes about 21-21.5 hours. The ticket price is CNY 521 for a hard sleeper and CNY 808 for a soft sleeper. The top speed of train is 120km - 160km/h (75 - 99mph). Currently, there are three major stations along the way, namely Delingha, Golmud, and Naqu.

Along the way to Lhasa, the Qinghai Tibet plateau will present you with breathtaking natural scenery such as snow-capped mountains, vast grassland, pure lakes, long rivers, a group of sheep, flock of wild birds, etc. Anyway, don’t miss this beautiful scenery.

Part 4. Documents Needed for Xining Tibet Tour

All international tourists are required to apply for a Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit for a Tibet tour. Furthermore, an Alien Travel Permit is also for an Everest Base Camp tour and a Military Permit for an Mt. Kailash tour. All documents can be organized by a professional local travel agency. It takes about 20 workdays to apply for a TTB depending on your routes. For more details, you can check this Tibet Permit Guide >

Part 5. What to See & Do in Xining?

Xining is called the Summer Resort Capital of China because of its cool summer. It offers tourists a lot of things to see and do. Qinghai Lake provides you with stunning natural scenery. The Kanbula National Forest Park is waiting for you to explore its unique Danxia landform. And the Taer Monastery offers tourists a great chance to see its wonderful architectural style. Here we collect some of the must-do lists of Xining tours for you to refer to.

• Qinghai Lake - historically known as Koko Nor or Kuku Nor, is a breathtaking lake that has attracted countless domestic and international tourists to witness its beauty.
• Sun & Moon Mountain - is the boundary of the Loess Plateau and Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the agricultural area and the grassland farming area. You can see vast grassland on the west side dotted with a group of sheep and caw.
• Kanbula National Park - is known for its unique Danxia landform. The remote and magnificent mountains make a strong impact on a person’s consciousness.
• Taer Monastery - is a typical religious building with a history of more than 400 years. If you want to explore the history of Xining, this monastery is the best place.
• Chaka Salt Lake - is considered as ‘Mirror of the Sky’ by tourists for its tranquil and purity. The sharp contrast between the clear blue sky and the pure white lake bed would give tourists a strong visual impact.