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Current park time · GMT+8 Wed, Oct 28, 2026, 13:35 Shown in the park’s local time (Beijing Time, GMT+8). Please confirm your visit date accordingly to avoid choosing the wrong date or time slot.
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The permit is usually declared together with your entry dates and route; submit once your plans are fixed and allow ample processing time.Foreign travellers need a Tibet Travel Permit to enter Tibet; the Everest, Ngari, Yadong and Zhangmu directions also require a border pass.During peak periods volumes are high and processing may take longer; for trips close to departure choose express and confirm acceptance in advance.

Home / Travel Guide / Shanghai to Lhasa: flights, trains and connections

Shanghai to Lhasa: flights, trains and connections

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ShanghaiBy airBy trainConnections 43 views 2026-10-28 08:53:47

By air

There is normally one direct flight a day from Shanghai to Lhasa, leaving early in the morning and arriving in the afternoon, about eight hours including the stop. Booking early helps with fares in peak season.

By train

Train Z164 leaves Shanghai in the evening and arrives in Lhasa in the evening of the third day, about 47 hours, with a hard sleeper around 1,260 yuan.

A useful combination

Fly to Xining and take the train from there: the Xining–Lhasa section is the most scenic part of the Qinghai-Tibet line, and the shorter rail leg is easier on the body than two full days on the train.

Documents

Foreign travellers need the Tibet Travel Permit arranged ahead of time; bring the passport used for the application and keep it with you on the train and at checkpoints.

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FAQ

Is altitude sickness milder if I fly or if I take the train?
Each has trade-offs. Flying is quick and lets you rest at your hotel soon after arrival, with easy access to medical care. Overland travel climbs gradually, which in theory helps acclimatisation, but long rough drives and high passes are exhausting and can trigger symptoms. Choose according to your time and fitness.
How long does it take to reach Lhasa from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu?
By air: roughly four to six hours from Beijing, about eight hours from Shanghai including the stop, about six hours from Guangzhou and two and a half hours from Chengdu. By train: about 40 hours from Beijing, 47 from Shanghai, 52 from Guangzhou and 36 from Chengdu. Schedules change, so confirm when booking.
Are there health requirements for travelling to Tibet?
The plateau is high in altitude; travellers with heart disease, severe hypertension, respiratory conditions or who are pregnant should consult a doctor before departure. Rest well on the first day, avoid strenuous exercise and alcohol, and drink plenty of water.
Who should not travel to Tibet?
People with serious heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe asthma or other serious respiratory conditions should not travel to the plateau, and travellers who are pregnant should consult a doctor before departure. A significant cold should be cured before setting out.
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