Tim Wang's eLearning Blog

UPDATE: A New Route (Guang Zhou - Lhasa) has been launched today. Check it out HERE

UPDATE: Here is a great article and a video clip from the reporters who were among the first crew took a train ride into Tibet.

UPDATE: The Tibet train ticket price is announced, the highest price ("ruan wo" - 1 sealed cabin with 4 high end bed) is from Beijing to Tibet which would cost 1280 RMB (CAD $182) which is about 1/3 price of a plane ticket.

It's called "train to the roof of the world" - the official rail way from Beijing to Lhasa has been finished! Since Tibet land is an average of 4000 meters (13, 123 ft) above the sea level, the rail way building process has been extremely difficult. It took the Chinese people over 40 years to build! This long anticipated railway to Tibet will open in July. The train ride will be a quite luxury experiences:
- running at a fast speed: 160 km/hr. The overall distance between Beijing to Lhasa is over 4000 kilometer and the trip will take less than 48 hours;
- oxygen under every seat and bed and the train's general ventilation system keeps the oxygen level in the train above 25%. It's like a "moving oxygen bar"!
- anti-electricity shocks just like on the air plane. (since the train will ride at high altitudes where rain clouds are very low to the ground. These clouds carries high electricity charges and may shock the train)
- unlike the old time train rides, all of the wastes from the train are spread all over the rail way, the Tibet train is equipped with a sophisticated recycle system to protect the ecosystems on the world's roof
- restaurant, bar, showers, folk dance shows and karaoke rooms will be available on the train!
- satellite TV programs and other entertainment devices will accompany the riders through the 48 hours.

The estimated price for the train ride should be cheaper than the plane ride and the bus ride: <1000 Yuan (less than 200 CAD dollars) from Cheng Du to Lhasa. (From Beijing to Cheng Du is regular rail way).

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to hop onto the train!

But before you plan your trip, make sure you read this article: Travelling to Tibet? Tibet Travel Permit You will Need!