Xian-Lhasa Train Travel Guide: Things to Know Before Your Journey

Xian, due to its worldwide reputation for its long history and splendid culture, attracts people to make it as the starting point of their Tibet Tour. Actually, Xian indeed deserves the huge enthusiasm from travelers considering Terracotta Warriors and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. If a train connects Xian and Lhasa, it would be a fantastic way to combine two popular tourist attractions. Terracotta Warriors and Potala Palace, as well as Roujiamo (Chinese cheeseburger) and buttered tea, would be a dream come true.

However, Xian is absent from the list of the starting point of direct trains to Lhasa—Xian shares the same trains from Shanghai (Z165) and Guangzhou (Z265) to Lhasa but has no its own independent route. Even though there is no direct train from Xian to Lhasa, Xian with its important position in the middle and west China undertakes the significant standing in the whole China Railway System, thus it is no wonder that there are 2 trains Z165 and Z265 launched each day to Lhasa.

The Brief Introduction about Xian-Lhasa Train

Xian-Lhasa Train measures 2864 km during its whole running in about 32 hours. Tibet Train Z165 from Shanghai and Tibet Train Z265 from Guangzhou are launched every day. Tibet Travel collects the most important information about Xian-Lhasa Trains in the following table for your references. If you would like more detailed information regarding it, please don’t hesitate to send us an inquiry.

All the two trains (Z165 and Z265) share the same route and stations from Xian to Lhasa, which is showed as below:

The Schedule and Route of Tibet Train Z165/164

The Schedule and Route of Tibet Train Z264

How to Book Xian-Lhasa Train Tickets?

It is quite difficult to get a non-stop Xian-Lhasa Train ticket compared the tickets for Beijing-Lhasa train, Chengdu-Lhasa Train, Chongqing-Lhasa Train, Shanghai-Lhasa train, Guangzhou-Lhasa train, Lanzhou-Lhasa Train, and Xining-Lhasa train, because the demands for long-line route tickets would get the priority to be satisfied. We all know the fact that tickets for those direct train from inland to Lhasa are always in huge demands and insufficient contentment, let alone Xian-Lhasa take its role as an integral part of those direct trains.

Given the above reasons for difficulty to book Xian-Lhasa train tickets, travelers, especially foreign travelers are not recommended book Xian-Lhasa trains by themselves especially in the peak season.

The sound alternative way to avoid dilemma of hard to get Xian-Lhasa tickets is changing your route:

• Xining-Lhasa is the first recommended route for travelers because there are more abundant choices for the trains to Lhasa.
• If you have to set Xian as your starting point, you are suggested to take flight/train to Xining firstly and then head to Lhasa by Xining-Lhasa train.

The best way to get to Lhasa is that have a reliable & professional travel agency to plan your Tibet tour and book your train tickets to enter Tibet. Usually, only foreigners join in a tour with a legal travel agency, can they get Tibet Permit to carry out their travel. Thus, the best way for foreign travelers who have little knowledge about China Tibet tour is booking with a travel agency who will handle the Tibet Permit & Train tickets from inland to Lhasa for you.

Chinxiantour offers Xian tours, Tibet tours, Tibet train tickets booking service, and tour + Tibet Permit packages. If you are interest or are planning a Tibet travel, please don’t hesitate to send an inquiry or consultation to us.

Xian-Lhasa Train Seats & Facilities

Three Types of Seats

There are three types of options on the train to Lhasa: hard seats, soft sleepers combined with hard sleepers and hard sleepers. Since the tour in Tibet requires good physical condition, hard sleepers who work long hours on board are not recommended as they cause more severe altitude stress. The following list of benefits and drawbacks for hard and soft sleepers helps travellers make transportation decisions based on their own conditions.

– Hard sleeper

• Cheaper; it’s easier to make friends with other travellers to pass the time while travelling.
• A coach with six berths and no door; somewhat noisy; a smaller room and bunk space; less privacy and safety for personal belongings

– Soft sleeper

• A carriage with four berths that are open to verify private space substantially; more opulent, comfortable, and peaceful; more space for each passenger; reduced danger for property safety
• Far more costly

Since Tibet lies on the world’s highest plateau, where oxygen is thinner, we kindly ask that you reserve Soft Sleepers. When you get on the train, you need to become adjusted to a comfortable physical and sleeping environment because most people live in plains or places with comparatively lower elevations.

The Equipment and Food

1. English, Tibetan, and Chinese are all available on the well-appointedand contemporary trains.
2. Even if the majority of the infrastructure is in English, foreigners may encounter difficulties placing orders for meals or other items asthe staff can’t speaks English. To help with this, it is advised that you download a translation program.
3. Charging stations and plugs for oxygen supplements are installed in every carriage.
4. It is advised that you pack some of your own food and fruit, such apples, gammon sausage, chocolates and instant noodles.Undoubtedly, the dining car serves passengers the standard Chinese meals as well as a few snacks and fruits.

Recommended China Tours from Xian to Tibet

• 7 Days Best Xian-Lhasa Tour by Flight
• 11 Days Tibet and Silk Road Tour by Train from Xian
• 13 Days Beijing – Xi’an – Lhasa – Shanghai Tour
• 6 Days Xian & Lhasa Tour