The Tibet Railway extends 1,956 kilometers from Xining, Qinghai Province to Lhasa, Tibet and is the world's longest railroad built atop a plateau. Construction started on June 29th, 2001 and opened to traffic on July 1st, 2006. The Golmud-Lhasa section extends 1,142 kilometers with the highest elevation being some 5,072 meters above sea level at Tanggula Range making it also the highest railway in the world. Great forethought, ingenuity and creativity overcame the engineering difficulties during construction, the design of the train itself, and the efforts made to protect the environment, flora and fauna.

As the Tibet Railway traverse three ranges and many rivers and lakes, the sceneries along the Railway to Tibet are marvellous and majestic. 45 railway stations offer vistors picturesque seneries among which nine sightseeing stations have sightseeing platforms. Some of the famous charming sights along the line are Qinghai Lake and Bird Island, Kunlun and Tanggula mountain ranges, Kekexili, Tuotuo Rivers, Yangpachen, and Potala Palace etc. Not only rivers, lakes, grasslands and forests, but also Jokul can be admired along the line.

Because Tibet is such a mountainous area and at such a great altitude, during the construction of the railway to Tibet, three challenges regarded as the world problems are encountered - permafrost, a fragile ecosystem, and lack of oxygen. However, all these difficulties were overcome after several years' research - winding roads replaced by bridges, 33 migration routes are offered for wild animals, and the garbage created during construction has been removed.

As the Tibet Railway is built on the plateau area, it has its unique characteristics compared with other railroads, no matter concerning its trains and railway stations or the environmental and wild animals' protection measures that have been taken.

The trains to Tibet and the 45 railway stations are a combination of the full-bodied Tibetan building style coupled with advanced construction methods. As the lack of oxygen is the primary threat to passengers, two systems are employed to supply enough oxygen. Passengers can also breathe oxygen through masks conveniently located beside their seats should anoxia appears. Doctors on the trains offer expert medical care at any time, day or night Among all the stations along the line, Lhasa and Tanggula stations are of the most characteristic ones with the latter being the highest railway station in the world.

Great measures have also taken to avoid pollution to the local environment both during and after construction. In order to protect the natural lifecycles of rare and wild animals such as Tibetan antelopes living on the plateau, 33 migration routes are also incorporated.

The Tibet Railway winds its way like a Dragon across the 'roof of the world' and is a great achievement and a modern wonder in both China's and the world railway history. At the same time, as Tibet is the only region that has no railway, the completion of the Tibet Railway marks a new age for the Chinese railway history and makes Tibet much more accessible to lovers of Tibet.

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Source: Travel China Guide