Should I Choose Soft Sleeper or Hard Sleeper?

There are three kinds of accommodations available on the Chengdu-Lhasa train, including the soft sleeper, the hard sleeper, and the hard seat. Since a hard seat is not comfortable for such a long ride, most tourists’ choice is a soft sleeper or a hard sleeper.

The difference between a soft sleeper and a hard sleeper

If it is your first time taking a train to Lhasa from Chengdu, it is important to figure out the difference between the classes and make the best choice for your train journey.

The differences between soft and hard sleepers are mainly based on the following aspects.

Berth Quantity and Size:
Soft sleeper: 4 berth/ compartment, 75cm*190cm
Hard sleeper: 6 berth/compartment, 60cm*180cm

Compartment Door:
Soft sleeper: sliding lockable door in each compartment to provide more privacy and security
Hard sleeper: no door

Toilets:
Soft sleeper: one Western-style toilet and one squat toilet at the end of each carriage
Hard sleeper: two squat toilets at the end of each carriage

Ticket Price:
Soft sleeper: from 1262.5 RMB
Hard sleeper: from 627.5 RMB

Soft sleeper is more spacious than the hard one

In general, soft sleeper compartments are more private, with more personal space, and of course more expensive. There are more hard sleepers and the price is cheaper, but it is relatively noisier in the hard sleeper compartment.

How to choose the best Ticket class?

The soft sleeper is better for more privacy and quietness on board. If you travel with family or friends, it is better to take a whole cabin (with 4 berths) so that you can have your own room. Of cause, this is the most expensive ticket for Tibet trains. Since there are only 64 soft sleeper tickets on each train to Tibet, they are also difficult to book in peak season.

Comparatively speaking, the hard sleeper is more affordable and easier to get. Each train to Tibet has at least 528 hard sleepers. However, the cheaper price means that the comfort will be a little less. You can’t get a private cabin in a hard sleeper car. Each semi-enclosed compartment has 6 berths.

What if your preferred Tickets get sold out?

Since taking a train to Tibet is a unique experience, tickets for Tibet trains are often in short supply. If you happened to fail to get the Chengdu to Lhasa train ticket, don’t worry, there are 3 alternative plans for you.

Option 1: Choose another Ticket class on the same train.

Option 2: Since all trains to Tibet stop at Xining, you can choose to get to Xining first and then take a train to Tibet from Xining. Usually, you can have more choices of trains and ticket classes.

Option 3: Chongqing is the closest city to Chengdu that also has trains to Tibet. If you can't get a train ticket in Chengdu, you can also try to depart from Chongqing. It only takes about one and a half hours to travel from Chengdu to Chongqing by bullet train.

How to book and Get a Tibet train ticket?

The Chengdu Lhasa train departs every other day from Chengdu West Railway Station to Lhasa Railway Station. Before booking the train ticket, you first need to check the schedule and fares to select your ticket to go.

Plase note that trains depart from Chengdu and Chongqing respectively, for example, when the Chengdu to Lhasa Train Z322 departs in odd days (1,3,5...), the Chongqing to Lhasa Train will depart in even days (2,4,6...). So you can take the Chongqing Lhasa train as an alternative.

Book Tibet Train Ticket with Us is the most hassle-free way

If you travel to Tibet alone, the best solution is to contact us and book a Chengdu-Lhasa train ticket through our hands. As the reliable local travel agency cooperating with the ticket office, we have more opportunities to get the Tibet train ticket.

Also, we provide “Train ticket + Tibet tour” packages, which do not only include the train ticket to Tibet, but also the Tibet Travel Permit and a well-ranged Tibet tour.

Since we handle your Tibet travel permit processing and Tibet train ticket reservation together, we can respond in time to adjust your travel plan in case of any unexpected situation, such as delayed insurance of Tibet permit or sold-out tickets. We always have plan B to make you fulfill your dream to Tibet.

Notice: You can also book on yourself through the official website 12306.cn, which is currently available in Chinese and English. Make sure you are registered as a member and have the appropriate Chinese online payment method (Alipay, Wechat, etc.)

Get Your Chengdu Lhasa Train Ticket with Tibet Permit

If you book your Tibet train ticket with us, you can choose the delivery service. Once we get the paper ticket, we will deliver it to your hotel or address in China.

You can also collect the train ticket at Chengdu West Railway Station, no matter you book it with us or by yourself. Before going to the ticket office, please make sure to bring the printed-out confirmation number of your train ticket, your Tibet travel permit as well as your valid and original passport.

Notice:
Once getting your train ticket, please read the ticket and double-check Your Name and Passport No. on it. If the name and passport number are not matched with your passport and Tibet Permit, you may not be allowed to board the train.

Some useful phrases you may need to read Z322 Chengdu to Lhasa Train Ticket:

成都西站: Chengdu West Railway Station
拉萨站: Lhasa Railway Station
xx年xx月xx日: xx Year xx Month xx Date
xx车xx号: xx Carriage xx Berth
上/ 中/ 下铺：Upper/ Middle/ Lower Berth

Information guide on Chengdu to Tibet Train Ticket

6 Steps to Get on your Train to Tibet

1. Get to the right station in advance

Recently, Chengdu has four railway stations, and the only one that offers trains to Tibet is Chengdu West Railway Station.

Located at the Wanhui 3rd road, Qingyang District of Chengdu, Chengdu West Railway Station is served by Metro Line 4 and Line 9. You can also get to the railway station easily by taxi or by bus.

It is suggested that you arrive at Chengdu West Railway Station at least 1.5 hours in advance, as there is a queue to go through the security check, ticket inspection, etc.

2. Check at the entrance

At the entrance, you need to show your passport, Tibet train ticket, and Tibet travel permit. The automatic gates at the entrance of the railway station can only recognize Chinese ID cards. You need to bring your passport, Tibet Travel Permit, and the train ticket to get through the manual entrance check.

3. Go through the security check and Healthy Code check

After getting through the entrance of the station building, you need to line up for the security check to enter into waiting hall.

You should put all your luggage, such as backpacks, carry-on bags on the security scanner conveyor belt, and walk through a detector gate and wait for staff to use a scanner on you to check forbidden articles.

4. Find the right waiting room

Once enter into the waiting hall of Chengdu West Railway Station, you can find an LED screen showing Train Number (车次), Terminal (终到站), Departing Time (开点) and Waiting Room (候车室). Get your waiting room information and wait for check-in there. Train number Z322 is well marked in the correct waiting room.

5. Check in to get to the Platform

Usually, the check-in starts 15 to 30 minutes before departure and barriers close 5 minutes before departure. After passing through the ticket gate, follow the LED screens to find your platform.

Please be careful with your luggage when going up and down the stairs. If you are traveling with children, please also take care of your children.

6. Find your train and seat

There are usually trains stopping on both sides of the platform. Please follow platform instructions to find your train.

The staff waiting at the carriage gate will check your ticket again to make sure you board the right carriage of the right train. You can also ask the staff for help if you have any questions.

After getting on the train, you can find your berth according to your ticket. Put your baggage on the rack overhead or under the lower berth.

Your sleeper ticket will be exchanged for a plastic berth card by staff shortly after boarding. The staff will return your train ticket and get back the berth card about half an hour before arriving at your destination.

You can take the train to Lhasa from Chengdu West Railway Station.

Tips for Getting on board the Chengdu Lhasa Train

1. Carry your Tibet Travel Permit, your passport, and your train ticket with you as you could be checked many timed during the train journey. It is also advisable to have some copies of your Tibet Travel Permit in case you lose it.

2. It is possible to swap a ticket with other people to stay with friends or family in the same cabin. You may ask the conductor to swap tickets with other passengers to stay with your family or friends. Do remember your cabin and seat Number.

3. We offer a pick-up service in Lhasa. After you arrive at Lhasa Railway Station, our guide will greet you and bring you to your hotel in Lhasa.

Life onboard

Having a ride on the Qinghai-Tibet train like the Chengdu-Lhasa route is definitely the experience of a lifetime. The long-distance and pressurized train tailor-made for acclimatization of extreme altitude make the ride different from other train journeys.

How about the life onboard? What are the things to do onboard? Here we are going to show you the real life on the Chengdu Lhasa train.

Dining and Drinking

You can get 3 meals a day and drinks from the dining carriage located in the middle of the train.

Usually, only Chinese dishes are available onboard. It costs about 20 CNY per meal. You can pay by cash, Wechat, and Alipay.

There are also trolleys loaded with food served in each compartment sporadically. You can buy food and snacks from the staff onboard.

If all that Chinese food is not your taste, you can bring some instant noodles, as you can get free boiled water from a hot water dispenser near the sinks on board.

It is suggested to bring some snacks and fruits on board as a way to pass the time as the long ride begins. Sharing snacks with roommates is also the easiest way to break the silence.

A gentleman is having meat ball and spicy shredded carrot in the dining car.

Oxygen Supply on Chengdu Lhasa Train

Oxygen Supply System
As a train to Tibet Plateau, it is important to ensure that passengers do not suffer from hypoxia and other altitude sicknesses on the train.

To better adapt to the high altitude, the Chengdu-Lhasa train is tightly sealed and pressurized like an airplane.

There are two sets of oxygen supply systems on the train: the dispersion-mode oxygen supply system operated by the train staff and the distribution-mode oxygen supply that can be connected to individual passengers.

As the train ascends to Golmud, the oxygen is automatically pumped into the train. You can also use the oxygen outlet with a disposable pipe distributed by train staff. It may help to minimize altitude sickness symptoms such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, etc.

Notice: Smoking is not allowed onboard.

An illustration of how to use oxygen outlet on Qinghai-Tibet train

Altitude Changes along Chengdu Lhasa Railway
Chengdu lies 500 meters above sea level. The slight altitude change between Chengdu and Lanzhou will not cause discomfort to passengers.

After Lanzhou, the altitude climbs slowly and reaches 2,275 meters at Xining. Xining is the first station where altitude sickness is likely to occur for a few passengers.

After Xining, the altitude starts to ascend and reaches 2,829 meters when arriving at Golmud. And the altitude increases sharply by more than 1,000 meters in less than 100 kilometers, causing altitude sickness for some passengers.

When arriving at the world’s highest railway pass, the Tanggula Pass (5,072m), most tourists will suffer from altitude sickness. Then, the altitude drops slowly as you travel south through Nagqu and finally reaches 3,650 meters in Lhasa.

This graph gives you a rough idea of how altitude changes along Chengdu-Lhasa railway line

Toilets on board

Toilets onboard are located at the end of each carriage, adjacent to the washbasin, dustbin, and hot water dispenser. Each soft sleeper carriage has one western-style toilet and one squat-style toilet, while each hard sleeper carriage just has two squat-style toilets. The toilet on board will be locked when the train arrives and stops at a station.

Next to the toilets are washbasins. Unfortunately, there is no shower room on the train. Do bring some wet wipes in stores and a small towel. And the small but equally important thing is to bring enough toilet/tissue paper.

Views along Chengdu Lhasa Railway

The stunning scenery along the Chengdu Lhasa railway will never let you down, especially when the train passes Xining and enters Golmud region.

Major attractions along Chengdu Lhasa Railway are Qinghai Lake, Yuzhu Peak, Kekexili Nature Reserve, Tuotuo River, Tsonag Lake, etc.

Be sure to capture the memorable experience with your camera.

Qinghai Lake is the largest saline lake and inland lake in China

Tanggula Mountains means "mountains in highland" in Tibetan language

Sheep grazing leisurely on the boundless Nagchu Prairie

Tips for Taking Photos on the Train to Tibet
When you enter the Tibetan region, it is not possible to get off the train and take pictures at most stations. Even if you can get off the train, you should be aware that the stopping time is usually very short, so don't go far and miss the boarding time.

Most of the beautiful scenery is encountered while the train is moving. Be aware of the reflections in the windows when taking pictures on board.

It is recommended to keep the lens close to the glass window and use manual focus as the autofocus tends to focus on the glass.

More Things to do without Wi-Fi onboard

It is time to bring a good book with you to kill your time during the 3 days 2 nights journey from Chengdu to Lhasa. If you travel with your family or friends, you can also bring cards and enjoy the happy time with them.

If you want to watch movies or videos on the train, you will need to download them to your cell phone or laptop in advance, as there is no free Wi-Fi on the train to Tibet.

Notice:
Although there are power plugs in the corridors or under the table in the cabin, it is suggested to bring a power bank with you.