Railway

On October 15, 2005, the final rail was put in place along the bank of Lhasa River, marking the end of a history of transport without railways for Tibet, which covers one-eighth of China’s landmass. The railway which runs across the “the roof of the world” has been linked up.

It is 1,956 km from Xining to Lhasa. The first section, 814 km between Xining and Golmud, was laid in 1979 and opened to operate in 1984. The more recently-constructed railway starts from Golmud in Qinghai, passing through Nachitai, Wudaoliang, Tuotuo river, Yanshiping and the Tonglha Mountains. It then enters Tibet, going through Amdo, Nakqu, Damxung, Yambajan, and Nazi to Lhasa. This is considered to be the longest and highest highland railway in the world.