Lhasa Transportation
Lhasa Things To Do
About Lhasa
Lhasa Travel Service
Lhasa Weather Forecast
Getting to Lhasa
Lhasa can be accessed by air, train or by bus, but it is most convenient for tourists to get to Tibet by air.
Lhasa Gonggar Airport
Lhasa’s Gonggar Airport is 97 kilometers away from Lhasa City. It takes about 2 hours to get to downtown Lhasa by bus and the fare is 20 yuan. Buses from Shigatse or Tsetang to Lhasa also stop at the airport. At Gonggar Airport, there are flights to Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Xi'an, Xining, Guangzhou, Chamdo, Kunming and Katmandu.
Gonggar Airport flight information: Tel. 0891-6246465.
Lhasa’s air tickets booking office: 1 Nangre Road; Tel: 0891-6833446; 0891-6822393 (at night).
The Lhasa Express
The Lhasa Express is the world’s highest railway line. It runs from Xining in Qinghai Province, past China’s largest lake, Qinghai, to Golmud. Oxygen is released into the cabins at Golmud to prevent altitude sickness and is on hand in canisters for the Golmud to Lhasa leg. This leg of the journey offers breath-taking scenery, and takes in a couple of railway world records: the highest passenger railway (Tanggula Pass, 5072m) and the highest railway tunnel (Fenghuoshan, 4905m).
There are trains to Lhasa from Beijing (48 hours), Xi’an (36 hours), Chongqing (47 hours), Chengdu (48 hours) and Xining (25 hours).
Lhasa Long Distance Bus Station
Lhasa Long Distance Bus Station is located at the junction of Minzu Road and Jinzhuzhong Road.
Getting Around
Taking a minibus is the cheapest way to get around in the city. The fare is 2 yuan no matter how far you go. Both buses 1 and 2 run from Norbulingkha to Lhasa Long Distance Bus Station. Buses 3 and 5 bus go to Dreprung Monastery and 4 goes to Sera Monastery. There are privately run minibuses or jeeps following certain fixed routes and the fare is also 2 yuan. Most of them stop at Tibet Hospital in Jokhang Square.
Taking a taxi should cost you 10 yuan no matter where you go in the city. But if you want to go out of town, you'd better negotiate with the driver over the price. For Dreprung Monastery, you ought to pay about 20 yuan.
Tricycle cabs on the streets of Lhasa are an interesting sight. If you want one, just wave your hands. Riding a tricycle is a good way to enjoy the appearance of the city at a slow pace. A tricycle usually takes two people and the price varies from 4 yuan to 7 yuan. Before getting on it, don't forget to negotiate the price.
There is international bus available every Tuesday from Lhasa to Kathmandu, the bus departs Lhasa Liuwu bus station at 8 am in the morning and arrive Zhangmu at 11pm, stay one night there and pass customs next morning and proceed to Kathmandu. The bus fare is RMB520 per person.
In Tibet, you need to pay attention to your physical condition, giving time to acclimatize to the altitude to avoid altitude sickness. Do not run or do strenuous exercise, and take effective measures to prevent sunburn, drink lots of water and rest well especially on the first day of arrival. China Highlights has offered some tips on altitude sickness:
http://www.chinahighlights.com/tibet/health.htm
For more tips about visiting Tibet, please visit:
http://www.chinahighlights.com/tibet/travel-tips.htm
Hi Purna,
We don't hear often news of train cancellations due to heavy snows or rains, though they can be delayed. Under normal weather, trains would run on normal schedule, if the weather gets extreme, it would be good to cancel it or put it on hold for the sake of passengers' safety.
