Why is Qinghai-Tibet Railway a world wonder?

The famous highest railway in the world, Qinghai-Tibet Railway is reputed as a man-made world wonder and attracts thousands of travelers to take a train to Tibet from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, etc. Why? It is not merely because it is the world’s highest railway, but also because that the railway is built on the land that many international experts thought it was impossible. So what were the challenges of building this railway to Tibet? The followings are the four major challenges Chinese engineers tackled in constructing the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.   

 

High altitude

 

High altitude is a great risk for travelers who travel to Tibet for the first time, let alone the constructors of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway who had to do heavy work. The oxygen content along the railway is only 50-60 percent of that at sea level as some 960 km of tracks are built on plateau - more than 4,000 meters above sea level. The highest point reaches 5,072 meters, which made it the world's highest railway. Therefore, the workers had to shoulder oxygen bottles to get to work.

 

The high altitude also makes low temperature along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The annual average temperature on some construction sites is below zero degrees Celsius with the lowest temperature at -45 degrees Celsius.

 

Permafrost and wetland

 

As we know, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is also known as the longest track on frozen earth. There is as long as 550 kilometers of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway constructed on the permafrost which features soft and wet soil in summer, hard and stretching in winter and is a great trouble for all engineers in the world.

 

To solve this problem, engineers used stone embankment - a layer of loosely piled chunks of granite about the size of baseballs that allows enough space between the rocks for air to circulate freely. In some places, the engineers bury ventilation pipes in the ground. The pipes simply allow the cold air to circulate underneath the rail-bed. In other spots, though, a pipe called a thermosiphon is sunk 5 meters (15 feet) into the ground and filled at the bottom with ammonia. The ammonia becomes gas at a low temperature, giving off a vapor that draws heat from the bottom of the tube and flushes it out the top, cooling at the same time.

 

Building a bridge over the permafrost is the most expensive way to have the least impact on the area. The 11.7km Qingshuihe Bridge at Hoh Xil is the world-longest bridge built on the permafrost. If tourists travel to Tibet by train, it should be a notable place during the Tibet train tour.   

 

Fragile ecosystem

 

The ecosystem on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau is quite fragile. There are many rare animals and plants on the plateau, such as Tibetan antelope, Kiang, black-necked cranes. Protection of the ecological environment should be the first concern in the design of the Tibet Railway. Thus, the track must avoid the major habitats of wild animals. If it was impossible to keep away from the habitats, other solutions must be figured out. For example, 25 passageways for wild animals based on their migration habit were built along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to minimize disturbance to the nature reserves for endangered animals when the train to Tibet is in operation. Besides, engineers also figured out ways to prevent damage to permafrost and wetlands.

 

All waste water from construction and camp sites was also processed to meet the corresponding sewage treatment standard before discharge. Solid waste from construction sites and trash from campsites was sorted out and recycled whenever possible. Waste and trash that cannot be degraded was moved to appropriate places for batch treatment.

 

Train to Tibet

 

All the Tibet trains were also tailor-made according to the environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. All the trains to Tibet were installed with environment-friendly toilets, wastewater deposit tanks and garbage treatment facilities to protect environment along the railroad.

 

The train to Tibet is totally sealed, air-conditioned and equipped with special facilities, such as supercharging system, oxygen supply, altitude display, etc. Tourists who travel to Tibet by train would feel very comfortable on the train to Tibet. 

 

The railway to Tibet is one of the world's top 25 iconic rails

Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the only railway to Tibet is one of the world’s top 25 iconic rails according to the US-based Society of International Railway Travelers that has published a list of the world's top 25 iconic rail adventures. The list includes a variety of trains from the first-class Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, which crosses eight time zones from Europe to Asia, to India's wheezing 125-year-old steam Toy Train. 

 

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway, dubbed the railway on the "roof of the world", was put in operation in 2006 and has carried millions of travelers to Tibet. This railway to Tibet greatly changes travelers’ way of travelling to Tibet. In the past, tourists can only travel to Tibet by air and overland. By train to Tibet seemed delusional before the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

 

The Qinghai-Tibet railway, a miracle in human’s project history, makes many world’s firsts. 

 

1. World’s highest railway - With an average altitude of 4,000 meters, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway ranks the highest railway in the world.

 

2. World’s highest train station - With an altitude of 5,068, Tanggula Railway Station along the railway to Tibet is renowned as the highest train station in the world.

 

3. World's longest plateau railway – Extending 1,956 kilometers from Xining to Lhasa on the Tibetan Plateau, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is considered at the longest plateau rail.   

 

4. World’s longest rail on frozen earth – With 550 kilometers constructed on frozen earth, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway has the longest rail on frozen earth in the world.

 

5. World's highest railway tunnel – Located at 4,905 meters above sea level, Fenghuoshan railway tunnel on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the highest in the world.   

 

6. World's longest plateau tunnel – With 1,686 meters in length, Kunlun Mountain Tunnel is the world's longest plateau tunnel.

 

If you miss an experience on such a miraculous railway when travelling to Tibet, it will be a great regret in your lifetime. At present, travelers can take train to Tibet from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Xining and Chongqing. Except from Xining, it generally takes two days to arrive at Lhasa by train. For instance, the Beijing to Lhasa train will take about 44 hours to Lhasa and the Shanghai to Lhasa train will take around 47 hours to Lhasa. 

 

Besides, if you travel to Tibet by train, a copy of Tibet permit is enough to board the train to Lhasa together with your train ticket, but if you go to Tibet by air, the original Tibet permit is required. It is quite easy to get a copy of the Tibet permit. For example, your travel agency can send you a scanned copy of the Tibet permit by email or fax, and then you print it by yourself. Very easy!

Tips to get Tibet travel permit 2013

Generally, all travelers to Tibet can get Tibet permit easily, but there are still something you should know if you are a fresh traveler to Tibet. Hope the following tips to get Tibet travel permit 2013 will be helpful for you.

 

1. Prepare proper documents to apply for Tibet permit

 

To apply for Tibet permit, you need to send your Tibet travel agency the high-quality scanned copies of your valid passport and China visa. At the same time, you need to offer the following information: your full name, gender, date of birth, passport number and nationality - all exactly the same as on your passport and your Tibet tour route.

 

2. Travelers in the following careers are not allowed to apply for Tibet permit through travel agency

 

If you are a diplomat, journalist or government official, you cannot travel to Tibet with a travel agency. You should travel to Tibet under the arrangement by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Government.

 

3. Leave enough time for your Tibet travel agency to arrange Tibet permit for you

 

As the Tibet Tourism Bureau needs at least 10 to 15 days to process your application for Tibet permit, you need to send necessary documents to your Tibet travel agency at least two weeks in advance.  

 

4. Do not mention Tibet as your destination when applying for Chinese visa

 

Tibet is a politically sensitive area. If you mention Tibet as your tour destination, your application for Chinese visa might be refused without any specific reasons. You can mention Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai or other China mainland cities except Tibet.  

 

5. Travelers in a Tibet tour group only can get one permit for the members in the group

 

Permits are now being issued to groups of all sizes, even solo travelers. At this time, groups of travelers of different nationalities cannot obtain a single travel permit for their Tibet tour. They can get a group permit. But if you travel to Tibet by air, the original Tibet permit is required when boarding the flight. Therefore if there are several travelers in your tour group planning to fly to Tibet, you should take the same flight to Tibet. In fact, it is easily to solve this problem. You can apply for Tibet permit individually and then travel in Tibet together after arriving in Lhasa.

 

If you travel to Tibet by train, a copy of the Tibet permit works when boarding the train to Tibet. So the travelers in your tour group do not need to take the same train to Tibet. For example, you can take the Beijing to Lhasa train, while your travel mates can take Shanghai to Lhasa train or Chengdu to Lhasa train.

Shall travelers cancel tour to Tibet after Yaan Quake?

The Yaan Quake, just like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky, awakened many Sichuan people out of a good sleep on weekend and also killed over one hundred people. We feel deeply sorry for the victims in the quake. The deadly disastrous quake also raises a question - “Shall travelers cancel tour to Tibet after Yaan Quake?”

 

“Travelers who have booked a tour to Tibet or have a tour plan to Tibet in this April or May do not need to worry about their tour to Tibet.” According to Catherine Jing, the manager of Tibettravel Org, a local Tibet travel agency.

 

“Everything in Tibet is OK after the Yaan Quake. Even in Chengdu which is 114km east of Yaan, there is no any damage during the quake, let alone Lhasa which is over 2000km away from Yaan.” Catherine Jing said.

 

If tourists are still afraid of travelling from Chengdu to Tibet, they can travel to Tibet from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Kathmandu. There are flights and trains to Lhasa from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa. All the trains and flights to Tibet are operated as normal after the Yaan earthquake.  

 

Now, it is the best time to visit the world’s highest peaks in Tibet due to the clear weather, such as Mt. Everest (8,848m), Qowowuyag Peak (8,201m) and Xixabangba Peak (8,027m). Tourists can make an Everest Base Camp Tour or Tibet Nepal Tour to view the grand mountains during this season.  

 

The weather becomes warmer and warmer in Tibet and Tibet tourism enters its peak season. Many traditional Tibetan festivals will also be celebrated in the next months. For instance, the annual grandest Tibetan religious festival, Saga Dawa Festival will be celebrated on May 25^th, 2013. During the Saga Dawa Festival, thousands of Tibetan pilgrims will do pilgrimage to Lhasa and Mt. Kailash. Lhasa is the holy center of Tibet and receives millions of pilgrims each year, while Mt. Kailash is the holiest mount in Tibet.

 

Then in June, exciting Gyantse horse racing festival and interesting Tashilhunpo Festival will be held. In July, Choerkor Dhuchen Festival and Ganden Thangka Festival will show you the Tibetan Buddhism culture.   

 

Shoton Festival, the most popular Tibetan festival among travelers, will be celebrated in Lhasa in early August. At the same time, famous Nagchu horse racing festival will be held on the grassland of northern Tibet. 

 

If you travel to Tibet during these festivals, you will be rewarded with extra cultural experience except the breathtaking landscape of Tibet with turquoise alpine lakes, grand snow-capped mountains, vast grassland dotted with herds and wild flowers, ancient monasteries, kind Tibetan people, delicious Tibetan food, etc.

Since more and more travelers flock in to Tibet, it is best to make an early Tibet tour plan, including choosing a reliable Tibet travel agency, designing a proper Tibet tour route, applying for Tibet travel permit and booking hotels, air tickets and train tickets, especially the train tickets to Lhasa. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is such a scenic track to Tibet that the Tibet train tickets are usually sold out several days before departure.  

Tibet Everest Tour Popular in May

In May, tourists can get a clear and close view of the highest peak in the world, the famed Mt. Everest, which is usually surrounded by mist. Thus, Tibet Everest tour is popular in May among travelers from all over the world. Besides, Mt. Everest is also popular among mountain climbers in May for it is also the best time to climb the Everest. Both travelers and Everest climbers would make a Lhasa tour for fully acclimation of the altitude and environment of Tibet first before heading to the highest peak.  

 

Why May is the best time to visit the Everest and also climb the Everest?

 

For travelers making tour to Everest Base Camp, they can see the most beautiful Everest Peak in a year. The Mt. Everest is always surrounded by cloud and mist in the other seasons, but not in this season from the beginning of March to mid May and from the beginning of September to mid November.

 

In winter, it is very cold and snow may make it difficult to travel to the Everest Base Camp. What’s more, the lodges may be closed above this altitude due to the harsh climate and few guests during winter. Not only at the EBC, even in Lhasa there are hotels that would be closed during winter, especially hostels and guesthouses. Thus, if you travel to Tibet in winter, you will have a limited option on hotels.

 

Summers, on the other hand, are wet, and the spectacular peaks are often lost in the clouds. April and May is a good time to see the hedgerows and trees bursting into bloom, with Rhododendrons, in particular, adding a spectacular splash of colour to the landscape. However, dust from the plains of India during the spring routinely provides less than ideal conditions for clear mountain views. The views are much better after the summer monsoons have cleared the atmosphere of dust, but the days are shorter and cooler. But summer is a great season to enjoy a Tibet tour, and some tourists also would make an Everest Base Camp Tour.

 

 

For Mount Everest Climbers, it comes down to snow, temperature, and wind. Mount Everest protrudes into the stratosphere, and most of the year the summit is buffeted by winds of over 100 miles per hour that will kill a climber in minutes or even hurtle them into the void. It is only during the onset or cession of the Asian Monsoon that these winds die down and allow climbers short seven- to 10-day windows to climb the mountain, and also allow tourists get a chance to see the real appearance of the Everest when the travel to Tibet.

 

The highest recorded wind speed at the summit was a 175 mph in February 2004. For reference, a Category 5 hurricane has sustained wind speeds of at least 157 mph. Throughout the winter, hurricane-force winds pummel the summit for three days out of four.

 

The two windows in which those wild winds die down happen in May and September. But snow falls during the September calm, so fresh snow drifts offset the break from the wind. That's why so many people try the ascent in May and tour to EBC.

 

The monsoon season also provides survivable temperatures. The Everest summit temperature ranges from an average of minus 4 F to minus 31 F, but the temperature is generally warmer as the winds blow more gently from the end of May until the third week of October, according to weather reports. May to mid-October is also the peak season of Tibet tour.

 

The mountaineering enthusiasts with different colors gathering at the Everest Base Camp in May also make a great sight for tourists doing an Everest Base Camp tour in this month. It is no exaggeration to say that the Everest Base Camp is a small UN in May. You can find people from every corner on earth.

 

An impressive trip to Tibet by Beijing-Lhasa Train

We heard that the best way for first-time travelers to Tibet was taking a train to Tibet for it can help travelers acclimate the altitude of Tibet gradually. But we realized it was a great mistake after we sought proof from a friend who had ever taken a train to Lhasa. He said it was just like travelling at a low altitude when staying on the train to Tibet. Anyway, the breathtaking scenery along the way and the world’s highest railway also attracted us to choose the Beijing-Lhasa train.

 

We booked the train tickets 10 days before travelling to Tibet. The train from Beijing to Lhasa arrived at Xining in late afternoon of the second day. From Xining, the starting point of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, our Tibet train journey actually started. Oxygen was supplied from Xining.

 

When the train ran through the Hoh Xil, we saw gazelles, wild yaks and Tibetan kyang, but we were not lucky enough to have a glance of elegant Tibetan antelope. It did not matter because our Tibet train trip was full of surprises. Especially when the train ran by the beautiful Cuona Lake, we were deeply shocked. It was just located by the railway.  

 

The Beijing to Lhasa train ran over 40 hours to Lhasa. After we reached Lhasa, we realized that it was really wise for us to take shower before boarding the train to Tibet. In addition, we were advised not to take a shower on our first day in Tibet for taking a shower may cause a bad cold which was not helpful for us to acclimating the altitude and environment of Tibet.  

 

Not everyone to Tibet suffers from altitude sickness. But it is best to follow the advice from local tour guide. Generally, travelers can take Rhodiola rosea 10 days before starting to Tibet. After arriving in Tibet, drinking some butter tea is also helpful for reducing the impact of the high altitude. 

 

If you stay at a high-end hotel with good shower facility, taking a shower actually can help you relieve from tiredness. But do keep warm. 

 

After arriving in Lhasa, we transferred to our hotel for a little rest and then went out for dinner. For curiousness about authentic Tibetan food, we found a Tibetan restaurant. We ordered some butter tea, Tibetan Tomato Bun and Yak meat. The Tibetan food was great and very cheap.

 

I felt a little headache after dinner. Maybe I was a little tired or the altitude began working on me. So I had to go back to the hotel for a good rest and prepare for our coming Lhasa tour.  

 

The next morning, we got up very early to visit the Barkhor Street which is the representative and symbol of the ancient city of Lhasa. Though we got there very early, there were already many pilgrims doing ritual walk along the street. Most of them walk along the Barkhor Street with the prayer wheels while turning prayer wheel and murmuring some words in Tibetan language, but some of them even prostrate along the street. We were impressed and touched by the scene.

 

Then we paid a visit to Sera Monastery in the afternoon. The Buddhist Scripture Debating among monks is the most attractive part of the monastery. Though we couldn’t understand what they said, the atmosphere was very interesting. They used various gestures during the debating.

 

Then we made a Tibet Nepal Tour via the Friendship Highway. On the way, we also made a detour to the Everest Base Camp.

 

Saga Dawa Festival Tour, the Top Tibet Pilgrimage Tour 2013

If you are feeling lost in your life, make a spiritual tour to Tibet and find yourself, find your dream, find your life. A Saga Dawa Festival Tour, the top Tibet Pilgrimage Tour in 2013, is highly recommended. 

 

In my high school, a friend told me that Lhasa was a must-visit place in his life and that it should be his last trip in his life. However, he travelled to Tibet after he was graduated from university for he felt lost in the competition of society. He said it was an amazing tour changing his life. When he saw how the devout Tibetan pilgrims kept faith to their belief no matter how hard it was, he realized that he must keep faith to his dream.

 

It is best to travel to Tibet during Saga Dawa Festival which is the best time to observe Tibetan pilgrims. The Saga Dawa Festival is the most significant event of the year for Tibetan Buddhists as three of the most essential events in Buddha’s life (birth, enlightenment and passing into Parinirvana) took place on the full moon day of the 4th lunar month in Tibetan calendar.

 

This month is regarded as the holiest time of the year. It is also known as ‘bum gyur dawa’ in Tibetan, meaning (the month which multiplies by 100000 whatever wholesome or unwholesome action is performed during this month has a 100000 times stronger effect than at other times). Therefore, thousands of Tibetans make a Lhasa tour to do ritual walks and ceremonies during the Saga Dawa Festival.

 

During the whole month Buddhists have celebrations and pay homage for Buddha Shakyamuni. Most auspicious ceremonies are also held in Holy Mountain Kailash region in Tibet as it’s believed that on Saga Dawa day Buddha Shakyamuni is coming from the heaven to the top of Kailash and people get blessed. People put auspicious huge prayer flag known as Darpo Che performing religious ceremonies.

 

The Saga Dawa Festival in 2013 will fall on May 25^th. Since there is lots of preparation work for a Tibet tour, it is time for you to get started now, applying for Chinese Visa and then Tibet Permits, booking air/train tickets, hotels, etc. 

 

As too many travelers and pilgrims travel to Lhasa during the Saga Dawa Festival, the hotels and air/train tickets are in great demand. In addition, taking Tibet train to Lhasa is a popular way to Tibet. It usually takes two days to Lhasa from mainland China, so soft sleeper berth is at greatest demand. Early booking is highly recommended.

 

As for the permits, if you just want to make a Lhasa tour, a Tibet entry permit is enough, but if you want to make a Kailash tour, Alien’s travel permit and military permit are also needed except the Tibet entry permit. Actually, it is not necessary to worry about the Tibet permits as the policy on Tibet travel permit 2013 makes it is quite easy for foreigners to get Tibet permits.