Xi'an - Lhasa Train

Currently, 3 pairs of normal speed trains are operated between Xi'an Railway Station and Lhasa Railway Station with journey time of 30 - 37 hours. High Speed trains are yet not available. These 3 pairs of non-bullet trains run for a distance of 2,864 km (1,780 mi). All of them end/originate in Lhasa Railway Station. In the other end, all of them stop at Xi'an Railway Station while one pair also stop at Xi'an South Railway Station. One thing to note is that Z917/918 are operated every other day. 
 (Last Update on Feb. 1, 2023)

Train No.	Departure - Arrival	Travel Time
Z265	09:54 - 15:45+	29H51M
Z165	11:22 - 19:30+	32H8M
Z917	23:50 - 11:20++	35H30M

See more Xi'an Schedule 
 (Last Update on Feb. 1, 2023)

Train No.	Departure - Arrival	Travel Time
Z918	09:00 - 20:01+	35H1M
Z166	11:30 - 20:34+	33H4M
Z266	12:40 - 21:46+	33H6M

See more Lhasa Schedule

Notes:
1. "+" means the second day; "++" means the third day.
2. The timetable is for reference only. For real-time schedule, please search for it by the tool on top of the page.
 (Last Update on Apr 25, 2023)

Soft Sleeper	Hard Sleeper	Hard Seat
CNY 1,011.5 USD 149	CNY 654.5 USD 96	CNY 293.5 USD 43

A sleeper is greatly recommended if you will travel long by rail. Otherwise, the long journey will make you dog-tired. And in most cases, the sleeper tickets are in a great demand, so you should purchase tickets in advance.
 In addition, flight is a good choice for those who are pressed for time and want to make a quick transfer between the two cities. Usually, flight travel will take 3.5 – 5 hours or so. Compared with rail travel, it saves a lot of time, but the tickets will cost a lot. It is not recommended for those budget travelers. Also, you will miss the land sceneries along the way if taking a flight.

Please note that the Tibet Travel Permit is required for foreign tourists who want to visit Tibet. You are advised to get the permit beforehand and you need to show this permit when you check in at the railway station or airport.
 Since the opening of Tibet Railway on July 1st, 2006, traveling to Lhasa by train has been a preferable choice. If you start your trip from Xi'an to Lhasa by train, you can not only know about the city which has cultivated ancient Chinese civilization and is well-known to the whole world for the Terracotta Army, but also have a chance to view the majestic plains, mountains ranges, grasslands, rivers and lakes along the way. Upon arrival, you can experience the truly charm of the mysterious Tibet.
 Lanzhou is known as the key point for Silk Road in ancient times and nowadays, it is also a main stop for the Silk Road Tour. Around this city, you can easily reach the famous attraction sites such as Maiji Caves, Bingling Temple Grottoes and Dunhuang Mogao Caves. Lanzhou is also a major transportation hub which connects the western and central China. From there, you can easily go to other major cities by train or flight.
 Xining is a good place to go in summer because of its cool weather. From there, you can appreciate the Qinghai Lake with beautiful natural sceneries. Besides, the Bird Island, Ta'er Monastery and Northern Buddhist Temple around this city are highly recommended. As one of the major stops along Lanzhou-Xinjiang High Speed Rail Line, you can also take bullet trains from here to Xinjiang quickly.
 Located in the northern part of Tibet Autonomous Region, Nakchu is a city embraced by mountains. When you go there, you will see the snow-capped mountains below the blue sky and white cloud. You can travel to Namtso Lake and Changtang pasture which are the famous tourist destinations in this city. 

Major Rail Lines from Xi'an to:
Major Rail Lines from Lhasa to: