Tibet, the roof of the world, is a dream tourist destination for many people. Because of its special terrain, transportation was once a main problem for people to visit mysterious Tibet. Before the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is completed, there were mainly two ways of traveling Tibet. One is by air directly flying to Lhasa, capital of Tibet, which shortens the traffic time, but in this way you would miss some beautiful landscapes of the highland which may be not the main tourist attractions but adorable enough.

The other is by road which offers more time to enjoy the sceneries alongside, but the long-time travel would make you suffer.
However, after the construction of Qinghai-Tibet Railway, a moderate traveling method would be your best choice for your Tibet holiday. Qinghai-Tibet railway stretches 1,956 km, and 960 kilometers rails are above 4,000 meters altitude, of which 550 kilometers are across the tundra plateau perennial.

Its highest point is at the year-round snow-capped Tanggula Pass which is 5,072 meters above sea level. Therefore, Qinghai-Tibet Railway is called the “railway closest to the sky” and the “highest railway in the world”.
Qinghai-Tibet Railway is north from Xining City of Qinghai province and south to Lhasa, capital of Tibet. A part of this railway from Xining to Golmud about 846-kilometer-long has finished in 1984. The newly-built part is from Golmud to Lhasa. Its route is basically parallel with Qinghai-Tibet highway.

Qinghai-Tibet Railway passes through the Hoh Xil, Three Rivers, Qiangtang Nature Reserves and due to its featured environment-friendly design and construction, the railway is considered to be the first environment-friendly railway.
Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the world's highest and longest plateau railway. Cold and oxygen-poor air, fragile ecological environment and active crustal movement are all difficulties need to overcome in building this railway. Fenghuoshan Tunnel is the world's highest railway tunnel.

Kunlun Mountain Tunnel, at an altitude of 4767 meters, 1686 meters long, is the world's longest “Permafrost Tunnel”. The construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway terminates the history of no railway in Tibet Autonomous Region and further improves the traffic conditions of the Tibetan Plateau.

Although Lhasa flights is convenient enough, if time permits, visit Tibet by train is most recommended. It provides you an opportunity to feel the charms of Tibet even in the journey time of transportation, and makes your Tibet vacation climax gradually.