Lhasa can be accessed by air, train, or by bus, but it is most convenient for tourists to get to Tibet by air.
By Air
Lhasa's Gonggar Airport is 97 kilometers from Lhasa City. It takes about one hour to get to downtown Lhasa by bus, and the fare is 20 to 25 yuan. Buses from Shigatse or Tsetang to Lhasa also stop at the airport.
At Gonggar Airport there are flights toChengdu,Beijing,Shanghai,Chongqing,Xi'an,Xining,Guangzhou, Chamdo,Kunming, and Katmandu.
Flights to/from Chengdu are the most regular and reliable. Tickets in and out of Lhasa are hard to obtain a week before and after the Shoton Festival.
Gonggar Airport flight information:Tel. 0891-6246465.
Lhasa's air ticket booking office:1 Nangre Road; Tel: 0891-6833446; 0891-6822393 (at night).
By Railway
TheQinghai-Tibet railway,also calledLhasa Express,是world's highest railway line. It runs fromXiningin Qinghai Province, past China's largest lake,Qinghai Lake, to Golmud.
Qinghai-Tibet Railway Map
Oxygen is released into the cabins at Golmud to prevent altitude sickness and is on hand in canisters forthe Golmud to Lhasa leg.
This leg of the journey offersbreath-taking scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet railroadand takes in a couple of railwayworld records: thehighest railway station(Tanggula Pass, 5,072m/16,640ft) and thehighest railway tunnel(Fenghuoshan, 4,905m/16,093ft).
>>See more facts about Qinghai-Tibet Railway
There aretrainsto Lhasa from Beijing (48 hours), Xi'an (36 hours), Chongqing (47 hours), Chengdu (48 hours), and Xining (25 hours). It is extremely hard (to the point of impossibility) to buy a train ticket into Tibet during peak travel time fromMay to October.
Thebooking feefor obtaining a ticket is ridiculously high, as expensive as1,000 yuan(around 150 USD)[2022], higher than the ticket itself. Even you are willing to pay that money, you can't be guaranteed a ticket.
Pleasecontact usto book your train tickets
Tibet Train Schedule for 2023
Tibet trains rundailybetweenLhasaand Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Lanzhou, Xining, and Xi'an, butevery other dayfrom/to Chengdu and Chongqing.
Contact usto checkChengdu/Chongqingtrain dates for 2023.
| Train Route | Train Number | Departure | Arrival | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing–Lhasa | Z21 | 08:00 | 12:10 +2 | 40 h 10 m |
| Shanghai–Lhasa | Z164 | 20:07 | 19:30 +2 | 47 h 10 m |
| Guangzhou–Lhasa | Z264 | 11:45 | 17:05 +2 | 53 h 20 m |
| Chengdu–Lhasa | Z322 | 21:37 | 09:56 +2 | 36 h 19 m |
| Chongqing–Lhasa | Z223 | 22:25 | 09:55 +2 | 5 h 31 m |
| Xi'an–Lhasa | Z265 | 09:45 | 15:45 +1 | 29 h 51 m |
| Z165 | 11:22 | 19:30 +1 | 32 h 08 m | |
| Lanzhou–Lhasa | Z323 | 09:26 | 09:56 +1 | 24 h 30 m |
| Z21 | 12:30 | 12:31 +1 | 23 h 59 m | |
| Z265 | 17:00 | 15:45 +1 | 22 h 45 m | |
| Z165 | 18:37 | 19:30 +1 | 24 h 53 m | |
| Xining–Lhasa | Z323 | 12:20 | 09:56 +1 | 21 h 36 m |
| Z6801 | 13:50 | 11:20 +1 | 21 h 30 m | |
| Z21 | 15:20 | 12:30 +1 | 21 h 30 m | |
| Z265 | 19:45 | 15:45 +1 | 20 h 00 m | |
| Z6811 | 20:30 | 17:18 +1 | 20 h 48 m | |
| Z165 | 21:20 | 19:30 +1 | 22 h 10 m |
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing to Lhasa trains all stop at Lanzhou and Xining. Please contact us for the price of the train ticket
Getting Around
Getting to and from the Airport
大多数游客从或驱动airport as part of their tour.
机场巴士greet all incoming flights. Tickets are sold on the bus. Seats are in high demand, so get on early to guarantee a seat.
机场巴士leave between05:30to13:00each day from the courtyard in front of theCAAC buildingon Niangre Road (娘热路), a few minute's walk east of the Potala Palace.
Ataxito or from the airport costs about 200-300 yuan. [2021]
Taking aminibusis the cheapest way to get around in the city. The fare is 2 yuan no matter how far you go. Both buses 1 and 2 run fromNorbulingkha去拉萨的汽车站。
Buses 3 and 5 go toDrepung Monasteryand 4 go toSera Monastery. There are privately run minibusses or jeeps following certain fixed routes and the fare is also 2 yuan. Most of them stop at Tibet Hospital inJokhang Square.
Taking ataxishould cost you 20 yuan no matter where you go in the city. You can share a taxi with others in Lhasa. The price is 20 yuan per drive as long as you don't go outside the city. So don't hesitate to hail a taxi with passengers on board. Actually, it is very hard to find an empty taxi.
Taxis arehard to hailin Lhasa at night or on雨天. The demand is very high, and you may need to wait for around 10–20 minutes to get one.
But if you want togo out of town, you'd better negotiate with the driver over the price. ForDrepung Monastery,you ought to pay about 30 yuan.
Tricyclecabs are common on the streets of Lhasa and are an interesting sight. If you want to ride one, just wave your hands. Riding a tricycle is a good way to enjoy the city at aslow pace.
A tricycle usually takes two people and the price varies from 7 yuan to 15 yuan for short trips. Before getting on don't forget to negotiate the price.
Experience Tibet with Us
China Highlights are your China travel expert. We can help you design to trip to Tibet to experience this festival. See the followingpopular Tibet toursfor inspiration:
- 14-Day Tibet Tour including Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar
- 11-Day Overland Trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu
- 11-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp Trek
- 10-Days Beijing-Lhasa-Shanghai
- 8-Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour
You can alsocontact usto create aTibet tourfor you.
