Breathtaking Sceneries along Qinghai Tibet Railway

Location: Approximately 150km away from Xining (about two and half hours drive from Xining)
Altitude: 3200 meters above sea level
Area: About 4456 square meters
Highlights: Bird Island with flocks of birds, Haixin Hill, Haixi Hill, Sankuaishui (Three Stones), and Sand Island.
Tips: If you have a short stay in Xining, it is one of your best choice.

If you have a short stay in Xining, Qinghai Province, Qinghai Lake should be your first destination before starting your train journey to Lhasa, Qinghai Lake, the largest inland salt water lake at 3200 meters above sea level, sits at the east of Qinghai province and about two and half hours drive from Xining, the starting city of Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

The Qinghai lake has abundant fish attracting flocks of birds in turn, which makes a charming Bird Island on the western shore of Qinghai lake. The interesting Bird Island is a paradise for varieties of birds, including migrant bird. Each March and April when the ice covering the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau begins to melt, more than 20 kinds of migrating birds come to the island to breed. At that time, the whole island is occupied by flocks of birds. Except the Bird Island, there are another four major sights around the lake. They are Haixin Hill, Haixi Hill, Sankuaishui (Three Stones), and Sand Island.

Nearby Station: Yuzhufeng, Wangkun
Altitude: Between 5,500 and 6,000 meters above sea level
Highlights: The first range that the Qinghai Tibet Railway traverse; the largest mountain system in China, perennially snow-covered peaks.

Kunlun mountains are the first range that the Qinghai Tibet Railway traverse. As the largest mountain system in China, the mountain extend a distance of 2,500 kilometers at an altitude between 5,500 and 6,000 meters above sea level. Their peaks perennially snow-covered present a pure sight.

Location: 160 kilometers away from Golmud
Nearby Station: Wangkun, Bugongquan ( the Pass is between these two stations)
Altitude: 4764 meters above sea level
Highlights: The first pass on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Kunlun Mountain Pass, rare animals leaping and skipping on the snow and grassland.

Yuzhu Peak, with the altitude of 6,178 meters, is located in the east part of Kunlun Mountain. Yuzhu Peak is at the common boundary of Golmud and Yushu in Qinghai Province.

Yuzhu Peak is covered by snow all year round and there are also many glaciers. Around the main peak are about 20 snow mountains with the altitude above 5400 meters. To its north is Xi Da Tan with the altitude of 4,300 meters, and most glaciers are hanging glaciers. Get over Kunlun Mountain and get to the south side of Yuzhu Peak, where there are different landforms. The 10-meter end of glacier is an ideal place for training mountaineering. The road conditions on the northern side are relatively challenging, and all three glaciers on the slope lead to the summit, requiring good mountaineering skills. All these traits make Peak Yuzhu an optimal destination for both professional and amateur mountaineers.

The climate of Yuzhu Peak area belongs to the continental climate. The yearly average temperature is five below zero, and the lowest temperature could be thirty below zero. Due to its geographic location, the east Kunlun Mountain becomes the dividing line of the different climates between the south and the north of western China, and the location also causes the complexity of the climate of Yuzhu Peak. The route of the south slope of the peak is mainly snow slope. Base Camp is located at the altitude of 5040 meters, and Camp One is at the altitude of 5600 meters.

Seen from afar, Yuzhu Peak likes a holy dragon lying peacefully. It is an ideal place for tourism, mountaineering and athletes training.

Location: 750 kilometers away from Xining
Altitude: 2200-2670 meters above sea level
Area: About 5856 square kilometers
Highlights: 32 kilometers of the Qinghai Tibet Railway running over the lake; the largest salt lake in China; salt crystal, salt bridge, salt house, reflection of clouds, mountains, tents of nomad and herds in and around the lake.

Chaerhan Salt Lake, 750 kilometers away from Xining, might be the first majestic sight running into your eyes when you are on the train to Lhasa for 32 kilometers of the Qinghai Tibet Railway runs over the salt lake. The Chaerhan Salt Lake is the largest one of Chaka Salt Lakes which were originally part of the ocean in primordial times and formed during the intense crust activity resulting in the formation of the largest plateau in the world, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The Chaerhan Salt Lake occupies an area about 5856 square kilometers. It is the largest salt lake in China and one of the most famous inland salt lakes in the world.

Location: About 25 kilometers away from Xining
Highlights: One of Tibetan Buddhism's six largest Gelugpa monasteries, birth place of the founder of Gelugpa, Tsong Khapa; various religious ceremonies throughout the year.
Tips: Another choice for your short stay in Xining.

Ta'er Monastery is another choice for your short stay in Xining. This monastery, about 25 kilometers away from Xining, is one of Tibetan Buddhism's six largest Gelugpa monasteries. It also marks the birth place of the founder of Gelugpa, Tsong Khapa. The monastery is not only one of the most popular places in Qinghai but is also recognised as a cultural relic site under state-level protection.

Nearby Station: Qumar River, Wudaoliang, Xiushui River
Altitude: above 4,000 meters
Area: 4,500 square kilometers
Highlights: Largest depopulated area in China, various species of wild animals

You can never feel boring on the train to Tibet. When the train passes by Hoh Xil area, you may be lucky to glimpse the elegant posture of the Tibet antelope or see groups of Tibetan antelopes running after the train. It is a harmonious picture of coexistence of people and wild animals. This is the largest depopulated area in China, covering 4,500 square kilometers. It is at an average elevation above 4,000 meters so it is extremely cold and the air is rare, which creates a life forbidden zone. If you are lucky enough, you would see the If you are lucky enough, you can see the rare Tibetan antelope.

Nearby Station: Tuotuo River
Highlights: The origination of Changjiang River; bamboo-shaped ice bars, ice-bridges, icy lakes.

Tuotuo river, the origination of the longest river in China, Changjiang River. Natural scenery around it is unique and amazing, with bamboo-shaped ice bars, ice-bridges, icy lakes and so on. Moreover, you can see yaks drinking water beside the river or trying their best to fill their stomach.

Location: about 203 km away from Tuotuo River Town
Nearby Station: Tanggula
Altitude: 5072 meters above sea level
Highlights: The highest point along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and natural boundary between Qinghai and Tibet

After running about 203 km (126 mi) southwards from the Tuotuo River Town, the train will arrive at the Tanggula Mountain Pass, which is the natural boundary between Qinghai and Tibet. This section is also the highest point of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. For many years, it had been an invincible barrier to Tibet due to its high altitude, thin air and atrocious weather.

At an altitude of 5,231 m (17,162 ft), the pass is the highest point of Qinghai-Tibet Highway, while the railway is at its highest point of 5,072 m (16,640 ft). The oxygen content is only 60% of that in the plains. Although the weather here frequently changes, the area can be icy resulting in dangerous road conditions. The railway station is the highest one in the world which is why there is oxygen access in the waiting room. It has no watch but with a viewing platform, the spot is the best point to see the Tanggula Mountain.

Tanggula Mountain literally means 'mountain on the plateau' in Tibetan and 'high mountain insurmountable by eagles' in Mongolian. It is connected by the Karakoram Mountains to the west and the Hengluan Mountains to the east, extending about 1000 km (621 mi) long and 150 km (93 mi) wide. The mountain is the watershed of the Yangtze and the Nu Rivers, and the seedbed of these two rivers and Lancang River. The source of Yangtze River - Tuotuo River just originates from its main peak, Geladandong Peak. Generally at the altitude of 5,000 - 6,000 m (16,404 - 19,685 ft), the mountain is capped with snow all the year round, with dozens of ancient glaciers racing down the side - a spectacular view.

Tangra Yumco is the holy lake of the Bon believers. Starting from Nyima County, driving southward for 8 kilometers and then turning left, keeping driving southward for 80 kilometers, crossing over a mountain pass of about 5,000 meters, you reach the Tangra Yumco lake basin.

Brief introduction Lake Namtso means "holy lake" in the Tibetan language. With over 30 kilometers from north to south and over 70 kilometers from east to west, Lake Namtso covers a total area of more than 1,900 square kilometers, being the second largest salt lake in China. At an elevation of 4,718 meters, it is also the highest-altitude salt lake in the world, the furthest depth being more than 33 meters.

It is said that water of the lake may change into three different colors a day. In the west bank, there stand continuous dark red cliffs, just like a row of screen. These cliffs clearly recorded every water decline in Lake Tangra Yumco. Stone steps eroded by the lake water surround the lake round in round from the top mountain at the lakeshore to the lakefront.

Location: Nagqu Prefecture, Tibet
Nearby Station: Tanggula, Zagya Zangbu
Altitude: over 4500 meters above sea level
Highlights: One of the five biggest pastures in China; rich land for plants and paradise for wild animals, a place for holding local annual horse-racing festival.

Surrounded by the Kunlun, Tanggula, Kangdise and Nyainqentanglha mountains, the Changtang Grassland is one of the five biggest pastures in China. The Changtang Grassland is a rich land for plants and paradise for wild animals. Yaks, sheep and nomad's camps can be seen everywhere on the vast grassland. The spacious grassland always evoke an ambience of relaxing and refreshing. If you are lucky enough, you can glimpse the grand annual horse-racing festival held in this grassland, when the whole community is converging here to celebrate their traditional festival. 

Changtang Grassland is a culturally rich land as well as a heaven for the wild animals and plants. On the huge grassland, yaks, sheep and nomadic people's camps can be seen everywhere. And the colorful long-standing nomadic culture created by the nomadic people can be appreciated here. Nourished by Black River, the top reaches of Nujiang River, Changtang Grassland is a paradise for the wild animals and plants. On the vast grassland, yaks and sheep can be seen everywhere. The grass "Naza" growing on the grassland is a type of short grass that has the highest content of protein among all grasses. That's why the flocks and herds grazing on the grassland are richer and stronger than in other places.

The famous historic Tang -Tupo Route ran through Changtang Grassland from south to north. The nomadic people here have created their own vibrant, fascinating and long-standing nomadic culture characterized by ancient rock paintings, the Ruins of Yamtung (or Zhangzhung) Kingdom, long epic about King Gesar, Nyima Mound, prayer flags and ancient towers, etc, adding mysterious color to Changtang Grassland and making it irresistibly attractive. Nomadic people's camps can be seen everywhere on Changtang Grassland. Besides the traditional yak camps, there are nylon camps of different shapes and sizes striped with different colors such as red, blue, yellow, green and white. On the top of many camps, multi-colored flags are waving to and fro in the breeze.

The most attractive is the festival attire worn by herders, especially girls and middle-aged women. At festivals, most of the girls and middle-aged women wear gorgeous and costly Tibetan gowns and hang a lot of tinkling trinkets with them, which is really a beautiful scene.

Location: In Damxung County, Lhasa
Nearby Station: Damxung
Altitude: 4,718 meters above sea level
Highlights: Famous holy lake in Tibet, the second largest salt lake in China and the highest-altitude salt lake in the world; Blue lake and white mountains under blue sky.

Lake Namtso, a very famous holy lake in Tibet, the second largest salt lake in China and the highest-altitude salt lake in the world, is at an elevation of 4,718 meters and covers an area of more than 1,900 square kilometers, with a distance of over 30 kilometers from north to south and over 70 kilometers from east to west. The blue sky dyes the lake with blue and the lake and the sky seem to be one and undivided, which create a blue world decorated by white snow-covered mountains. It makes visitors feel themselves in a fairy land if they have a stroll by the lake.

Serling Qiangtang Plateau is located south of the Tibet Autonomous Region, north of Xainza County, the lake elevation of 4530 meters, the lake is about 72 kilometers things, the average width of 22.8 km, of which the most wide and 40 km east of the lake area of 1640 square km, watershed an area of 45,530 square kilometers, the largest inland lake system in Tibet. Basin there are many rivers and lakes are interconnected to form a closed inland lakes, in addition to the main lake Siling, there is the wrong frame Jen Wu as wrong, wrong E, Gong Ma Yan wrong, just wrong rules, wrong Zi Gui and other 23 small lakes. Ligation of the major rivers into the lake Tibetan cloth, rooted in Tibetan cloth, cloth and other Tibetan-wave music. Ligation of a total length of 409 km Tibetan cloth, is the longest inland river in Tibet, originated Tanggula, on the north shore Siling into the lake.

Nearby Station: Yangpachen
Highlights: highest-temperature hot springs, boiling springs and geysers and common hot springs.

When the train approaches Lhasa, it will pass by the world famous hot springs, Yangpachen Hot Springs, including highest-temperature hot springs, boiling springs and geysers and common hot springs. It is a spectacular phenomenon of hot springs boiling on the cold plateau.

The legendary Xiangxiong Kingdom was the earliest civilization center on the Tibetan plateau. Xiangxiong means "land of the roc (a mythical huge bird)" in Tibetan. According to historical records, before the rise of the Tubo Kingdom (629-846), the Xiangxiong Kingdom existed and flourished in western Tibet, living mainly on animal husbandry, with some agriculture. The kingdom even established ties with theTang Dynasty(618-907) in China's Central Plains.

Tibetan historical records show that the Xiangxiong Kingdom flourished in the 7th century, and contained a highly developed culture that included the unique Xiangxiong written language. It was also the cradle of Bon, the indigenous Tibetan religion. The Xiangquan (Elephant Spring River) and Shiquan (Lion Spring River) valleys were its central regions. Xiangxiong culture, consisting of religion, characters, and medical science, occupies an important position in Tibet's civilization history.

First constructed by the Tibetan King Srongtsan Gampo in the 7th century, the Potala Palace had 999 rooms but was much damaged in the many upheavals that resulted from the later power successions. In the year 1642, the 5th Dalai Lama Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682) controlled the power and ordered the reconstruction of the palace on the Red Hill. After his death, a 13-storied Red Place was added to the center of the Potala to place the golden Stupa Tomb of the 5th Dalai Lama. Today, the Red Palace also houses the Stupa Tombs of the 7th to 13th Dala Lamas. The 6th Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso (1683-1707) disappeared from the palace and was documented to have died in Qinghai Provice in 1707, despite later claim on witnessing his appearance in Inner Mongolia. The 14th Dalai Lama, on exile in India since 1959, received the Nobel Prize in Peace in 1989.

The Stupa Tombs of the Dalai Lamas vary widely in size and treasure, largely based on their accomplishments. That of the 5th Dalai Lama, the largest of all Stupa Tombs, is 12.6 meters high and 7.65 meters wide. It uses 5954kg of gold. In addition to the body of the Dalai Lama, the tomb also houses precious relic of Sakyamuni as well as a marble taken out of an elephant's head.

The Potala Palace stands 150.703 meters above the ground center of Lhasa and covers an area of 138,025 square meters. The White Palace is another structure in the complex which houses the living chambers of the Dalai Lama and the offices of the former local goverment.

The word Potala means Putuo in Chinese, suggesting that it is an abode of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, of whom the Dalai Lama is believed to be a reincarnation. The Potala Palace is also called the Winter Palace of the Dalai Lama.

The Jokhang, also called the Qokang, Jokang, Jokhang Temple, Jokhang Monastery or Tsuklakang, is the first Buddhist temple in Tibet, located on Barkhor Square in Lhasa. It was built during the reign of King Songsten Gampo to celebrate his marriage with Chinese princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty who was a Buddhist. The temple was called the Tsulag Khang or 'House of Wisdom' but it is now known as the Jokhang which means the 'House of the Buddha'.

For most Tibetans it is the most sacred and important temple in Tibet. It is in some regards pan sectarian, but is presently controlled by the Gelug School.

Along with the Potala Palace, it is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Lhasa. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace" and a spiritual centre of Lhasa.

Norbulingka means Jewel Garden. First built in 1751, it borrowed architectural style from the inland areas of China while maintaining local ethnic and religious features. Norbulingka served as a traditional summer palace and residence starting with the 7th Dalai Lama, and now it is the largest garden in Tibet.

The earliest building is the Gesang Pozhang Palace built by Kelzang Gyatso. The 'New Palace' was begun in 1954 by the present Dalai Lama and completed in 1956. It contains chapels, gardens, fountains and pools. To the west the Kalsang Potang built by Seventh Dalai Lama is 'a beautiful example of Yellow Hat architecture. Its fully restored throne room is also of interest.'

The garden is a favorite picnic spot and provides a beautiful venue for theatre, dancing and festivals, particularly the Sho Dun or 'Yoghurt Festival', at the beginning of August, with families camping in the grounds for days surrounded by colourful makeshift windbreaks of rugs and scarves and enjoying the height of summer weather. There is also a zoo at Norbulingka, originally to keep the animals which were given to the Dalai Lama. Heinrich Harrer helped the 14th Dalai Lama build a small movie theatre there in the 1950s.

Qomolangma (Everest), the main peak of the Himalayas, is the highest peak in the earth. At an altitude of 8848 meters, it is located at 86.9oE and 27.9oN. right on the east section of the Sino-Nepal border, with the north slope in Tingri County of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the people's Republic of China, and the south slope in the Kingdom of Nepal. In Tibetan Language, Qomolangma means "Goddess the Third" In the Map of China compiled and illustrated in 1717, the 56th year of the rule of Emperor Kang Xi in Qing Dynasty, Qomolangma was called Zhumulangma'alin (transliteration).

Qomolangma, shaped like a gigantic Pyramid and full of power and grandeur, towers into the sky while the land features are extremely precipitous and the environment usually complicated. The snow line of the north slope is 5800 - 6200 meters and that of the south 5500 - 6100 meters. Three great cliffs, which are generally named the North Cliff, the East Cliff and the Southwest Cliff, are embraced by the Northeast Ridge, the Southeast Ridge and the West Ridge. Between the ridges and cliffs scatter 548 continental glaciers, totaling an area of l457.07 square kilometers, with an area of alpine glaciers exceeding 100,1000 square kilometers. The greatest flannel glacier, 26 kilometers long, has an average thickness of 120 meters with the thickest over 300 meters. The glaciers vary in types, the greatest being of upward 7260 meters in height. The constant supply of the glaciers is mainly offered by the meta-morphism of cumuli-snow of the two great precipitation belts in the monsoon belt of the Indian Ocean. In the glaciers, there are various kinds of surpassingly beautiful and rare forests of seracs (ice towers), cliffs of dozens of meters in height and open and hidden crevasses with lots of pitfalls here and there as well as the perilous area of ice and snow avalanches.

When the train approaching to Lhasa railway station, that means this amazing Tibet Trail Journey ends, and the exploration of Tibet Culture adventure begins. At the first two days, you need obey some rules to prevent high altitude sickness,

1) Visitors (with a severe cold, a high fever, acute or chronic pulmonary diseases, severe cardiovascular diseases), women in late pregnant and kids under three years old should avoid traveling to regions with a high altitude.
2)Do not smoke and drink when acclimating.
3)Do not take shower at the first two days to avoid catch cold.

Lastly, it is undeniable that the Qinghai-Tibet railway itself is a great attraction. You couldn't help admiring this world famous project when you see the up to 50 meters bridge-Sanchahe Bridge (Nearby Station: Chinatai, Yuzhufeng) which is the first Takahashi of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the 11.7 km-long Qingshui River Bridge (Nearby Station: Budongquan, Qumar River) across as a rainbow in the Hoh Xil Depopulated District, the world's longest plateau permafrost tunnel- Kunlun Mountain Tunnel (Nearby Station: Yuzhufeng, Wangkun), the world's highest-altitude Fenghuoshan Tunnel (Nearby Station: Gyangkedong, Riar Chi Qu) and so on.