The best time to experience Qinghai-Tibet Railway

Known as the highest railway in the world, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway attracts thousands of travelers each day. The best time to experience the railway is summer and autumn with nice weather and natural sights.

Most of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is built in the Tibetan Plateau which is featured with high altitude, fierce weather and lack of oxygen. It is impossible for people to live there, but it is the paradise for wild animals. The natural environment there is one of the most primitive and well-preserved in the world.

Summer is the warmest time of year across the Tibetan Plateau. Meanwhile it is still common for snow to fall on the northern Tibetan Plateau during the summer, especially in areas above 4000m, most places where travelers go to are mild and comfortable. Due to the mild temperatures in summer, it is the most popular time of year for travelers to visit Tibet. At this season, 90% of passengers on the train to Tibet are travelers both from home and abroad. At the same time, travelers should be prepared to difficulty in booking Tibet train tickets, the soft sleeper ticket in particular.  

In addition, summer is also the best season to see nomads and their tents and sheep or yaks in the plateau. On the train to Tibet, you may see hundreds of nomadic tents and thousands of yaks and sheep dotting on the green grasslands. You may also have a glimps of rare animals at Hoh Xil, such as Tibetan antelope, and wild ass.

But it rains a lot in summer, which may prevent you from getting a good view of the snow-capped mountains in distance. Autumn is different. The rainy season ends, bringing clear view of the high mountains. If you are interested in the grand mountains in the plateau, spring also offers good chance to see them.

In winter, it is extremely cold in the plateau and the sight is a kind of dull because most areas are covered by thick snow. The advantage is that you do not need to pay high service fee on book the train tickets as in summer. Thus, if you just want to experience the railway itself, you can travel to Tibet by train in any season.