Tibet Train: The Worst Mistakes You Might Make for the Train Journey
Traveling by train from major cities in China when heading to Tibet is the option most travelers resort to. Compared to flights and road trips, taking a Tibet train comes with various benefits that aren’t limited to costs and exceptional sightseeing. In many ways, though, journeying to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, by train is much different from what you might expect, especially if you come from western countries. Tibet train traverses high-altitude regions, requiring of travelers to follow certain unconventional codes of conduct. Moreover, many foreign passengers keep finding themselves caught by surprise in various situations for not being familiar with certain practices. To learn what mistakes you shouldn’t make on a train journey to Lhasa, Tibet, please read on.
Mistake 1: Try to Book a Train Ticket Yourself
Trying to book a train ticket to Lhasa on your own is the first mistake many holiday makers make. But, before we get to that point, you need to obtain the visa and the Tibet Travel Permit. The Chinese Visa, which is mandatory for most foreign travelers, entitles you to visit China, but, surprisingly, not its Tibetan province. The only way you can obtain the
Tibet Travel Permit is to get in touch with a Tibetan travel agency. Only local agencies have the authorization of the Tibet Tourism Bureau to apply for the permit on behalf of their clients. Once approved, you can collect the document only once you arrive in China since its export abroad is forbidden by the law.
You will need the assistance of the Tibet tour operator for more than just for acquiring the travel permit. Assuming that you intend to take the Tibet train from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu or any other major city in China, you will find a hard time securing the ticket. There is only one departure per day available from most destinations in the country, with the demand widely exceeding the number of seats and berths. Therefore, you need to hire a Tibetan travel agency to improve your chances of getting a ticket for the Tibet train. Securing a train ticket on your own is a difficult task even on the best of days. In general, the longer the distance the train must cover to arrive in Lhasa, the more difficult it gets. Still, everything gets even worse in summer, when the demand for Tibet train tickets is the highest. During summer months, the agency is virtually your only option for booking the train tickets on desired dates. Moreover, you need the
services of a local tour operator to execute the trip. The Chinese law prevents travelers from visiting Tibet individually. So, use the opportunity and organize the entire trip without fuss through one of Tibet travel agencies.
Mistake 2: Smoke in the Train Compartment or Soft Sleeper Cabin
Aside from accommodating many passengers, trains traveling to Tibet are nothing different from most other trains. That is true, at least, until you arrive in Golmud, some 1,150 kilometers away from Lhasa. The province of Tibet lies at high altitude where oxygen levels are low compared to lower heights. To prevent travelers from suffering from altitude sickness, Tibet trains have the equipment delivering oxygen once the train enters higher grounds. The Golmud lies around 2,800 meters above sea level, where the supply of oxygen is lower. So, the system activates to bring the levels of oxygen into balance.
Once the delivery begins, the pressure in the train increases, just like in the airplane that flies. Due to the fact, smoking is forbidden in this stage of the journey, which lasts approximately 15 hours. Smoking in the sleeping compartment gets especially unpleasant in such circumstances since passengers tend to wake up suddenly as if suffocating. Even upon arrival in Lhasa, you should refrain from smoking at least for a while. The oxygen delivery system will keep you from experiencing altitude sickness symptoms in Tibet train. However, when you arrive in Lhasa(3650m), you need to get yourself accustomed to different oxygen levels.
Mistake 3: Fail to Reach Railway System at Least 2 Hours Earlier
Arriving at the railway station in big cities around two hours in advance is of utmost importance in China. In general, efficient public transport networks in Chinese cities take commuters to the train station quickly. Once you arrive, though, you will usually have to deal with long queues and security checks before boarding the train to Tibet. If you need to collect the train ticket, add half an hour on top of the initial two hours. Train stations in China resemble of a very busy ant colonies. First, travelers need to pass the security checkpoint where the authorized staff verifies tickets. Afterward, passengers need to find the waiting hall for the train to Tibet or other destination they are going to. The next step is finding the right boarding gate, similar to the procedure at the airport.
Keep in mind that the boarding begins some half an hour before the scheduled departure at the originating and about 15 minutes in advance at intermediate stations. Check-in ends five minutes before the departure of the train at the originating station. If you board at a station along the way, be extremely punctual because check-in lasts only a few minutes. Travelers holding blue tickets can verify them at checking machines next to the boarding gates. Passengers with pink tickets need to wait for the staff to do the verification. Take good care of your ticket during the train journey since you will need it to leave the railway station at the final destination. Train stations in China dispose of large screens informing travelers about corresponding waiting rooms, so you don’t need to worry about getting lost. Compare the train number printed on your ticket with the number in the first column to the left on the screen. The time of departure is displayed in the penultimate column to the right, while the screen displays numbers of waiting rooms in the last column.
Mistake 4: Get Off of Train for Sightseeing before Arriving in Lhasa
Leaving an intermediate train station for sightseeing is the fourth big mistake passengers tend to make while traveling on the Chinese train. Please be aware that the train ticket is valid only while you are in the railway system between the originating and the final stop. If you leave the train somewhere in between (in Xining or Lanzhou, for example), it is very likely that you will need to purchase another ticket to continue the journey. So, don’t leave Tibet train before you arrive in Lhasa unless you have a very, very good reason.
Buying food or any other necessary product is another reason why travelers come to the idea to leave the train. If you find yourself lacking something, you can purchase food or drink on the train for a higher price than outside. To save money, bring the essentials you need for the duration of the journey.