Your China & Yunnan Travel Experts
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English name
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Qinghai–Tibet Railway
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Chinese name
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青藏铁路
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Core regions
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Qinghai and Tibet Autonomous Region
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Terrain
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Plateau basins, mountains, permafrost and river headwaters
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Climate constraints
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Cold, low oxygen, wind, intense ultraviolet radiation and large temperature range
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Main passenger hubs
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Xining, Golmud, Nagqu and Lhasa; exact stops depend on the train
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Route length
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Approximately 1,956 km
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Journey time
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Varies by service and date; verify the current official timetable |
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1950s–1970s
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Route surveys, design studies and phased national planning across extremely difficult terrain.
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1970s
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Construction advanced on the lower Xining–Golmud section.
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1984
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The Xining–Golmud phase entered operation.
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1990s
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Further feasibility, permafrost, environmental and engineering study for the Golmud–Lhasa phase.
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2001
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Construction of the Golmud–Lhasa section formally began.
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2001–2006
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Track, bridges, tunnels, stations, power, communications and environmental mitigation were completed and tested.
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July 1, 2006
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The Golmud–Lhasa section opened for service.
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After 2006
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Monitoring, maintenance and regional extensions continued. Permafrost is not a solved problem: warming and changing moisture can affect ground stability, while rail access changes settlement and tourism patterns. Maintenance teams therefore track settlement, temperature, drainage, bridge condition and track geometry rather than relying only on the original design assumptions. Environmental performance likewise requires repeated observation of wildlife movement, wetlands, waste and visitor pressure. The route also crosses major headwater systems described in the rivers of Tibet guide.
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