Xining Station: start of the Qinghai–Tibet Railway
西宁站（青藏铁路起点） · Xīníng Zhàn
The train to Lhasa starts here: about 1,950 km and 21–22 hours over the plateau, past Qinghai Lake, Golmud and the 5,072-metre Tanggula Pass.
Booking requiredBring your passport21–22 hours to Lhasa
Tip
Spending a few days in Xining first helps you acclimatise before Lhasa (3,650 m). Visa-free transit visitors: Qinghai is outside the 240-hour stay area, and Tibet always needs the permit on top of your visa.
- Opening hours
- Trains to Lhasa leave at different times of day; timetables change, so check 12306 or with your agency. Arrive at least 1 hour early for security and passport checks.
- Price
- Depends on seat or sleeper class; check 12306 or your agency’s quote
- How to book
- Foreigners need a Tibet Travel Permit, which only a licensed Tibet travel agency can arrange as part of a guided tour (allow 2–3 weeks). The agency usually books the train; the permit is checked when buying the ticket and at boarding. Could not get tickets? Tell us what you need
- Getting there
- On the east side of the city, 10–20 minutes by taxi from the centre; many city buses and the airport bus stop at the station
- Address in Chinese
- 青海省西宁市城东区西宁火车站
From other travelers
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Checked against these sources on 2026-10-02. Rules change often, so confirm on the official site before you go.
Not yet confirmed by an official source: addressZh
More in Xining
塔尔寺Kumbum Monastery (Ta’er Si)One of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, built at the birthplace of its founder Tsongkhapa: golden-roofed halls, eight white stupas and famous yak-butter sculptures.青海湖二郎剑景区Qinghai Lake (Erlangjian scenic area)China’s largest lake, a vast blue saltwater lake on the grassland at about 3,200 m. Erlangjian, a long spit on the south shore, is the main managed area closest to Xining, with a lakeside walk and boat trips.东关清真大寺Dongguan MosqueQinghai’s largest mosque, founded in the 14th century and the heart of Xining’s Hui Muslim quarter; the vast courtyard fills with worshippers at Friday prayers.茶卡盐湖Chaka Salt LakeA working salt lake at about 3,060 m whose thin layer of water mirrors the sky on calm days, walked on salt paths or crossed by a small train.