Sightseeing on the Qinghai Tibet Train

The construction of Qinghai-Tibet Railway ends the history of Tibet without a railway. This railway connects Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, and Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. On the train to Tibet from Xining, passengers can enjoy unique scenery in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Charming Salt Lake

About 750 kilometers away from Xining, the train to Lhasa arrives at Chaerhan Salt Lake. 32 kilometers of the Qinghai Tibet Railway runs over the salt lake. It is the soluble potassium magnesium ore bed in China. It was originally part of the ocean in primordial times and formed during intense tectonic activity resulting in the formation of the largest plateau in the world, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.  It was learned that the over 5,800 sq. km Charhan Salt Lake has the total natural resources reserves 60 billion tons, like potassium, magnesium, sodium, lithium etc.

Grand Mountains

The railway to Tibet traverses three mountain ranges. These are Kunlun, Tanggula and Nyainqentanglha Mountains, which make the landscapes along railroad really marvelous. Onboard you will see the dreamy snow-capped mountains as well as glaciers, which can impress you deeply in your heart.

Rivers and Lakes

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway also traverses numerous rivers and lakes. One river I must mention here is the Tuotuo River. This river sources from the main peak of Tanggula Range. It is the source of China’s longest river, the Yangtze. The natural scenery around the river is unique and amazing, with bamboo-shaped ice bars, ice-bridges, icy lakes and so on.

The representative lake is the Cuona Lake that lies at 800 meters above sea level. It is the highest fresh water lake in the world, and the nearest lake to the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, with a distance of less than 100m at the closest point. Like a glittering blue pearl among the vast grasslands, it reflects the blue sky and the fluffy white clouds.

Grassland and Wild Animal

The Tibet train will pass through the most primitive and well-preserved natural reserve in the world, the Hoh Xil. It is the paradise of over 230 species of wild animals including Tibetan antelopes, Tibetan wild donkeys, wild yaks, white-lip deer, snow leopards, Tibetan snow pheasants, etc.  

After passing the highest point of the railway, the Tanggula pass, the train will descend to the Changtang Grassland, which is one of the five biggest pastures in China. Surrounded by the Kunlun, Tanggula, Kangdise and Nyainqentanglha mountains, it is a rich land for plants, and a paradise for wild animals. Yaks, sheep and nomad's camps can be seen everywhere on the vast grassland in the summer.  .