Asia Travel : China's Qinghai-Tibet Railroad Touches the Skies
Summary
Traveling to distant lands can be a very rewarding experience. Far from the beaten track the traveller can obtain first hand knowledge of people and customs that only meeting face-to-face can bring. The free travel guide features Tibet reknowned for its culture and habitat.
07/09/2006
Author: Subert Kiing
Article:
Tibetan mountain ranges and landscapes are home to an immense
diversity of species of rare plants and birds. Tibetan forests
are also famous for its tremendous spectrum of herbs for Chinese
medicines. But due to the freezing temperatures and geographical
altitudes, China's tourist access to
Tibet region has been very
limited until recently.
On July 1, 2006
Qinghai-Tibet Railroad
commenced its passenger service, marking a remarkable milestone
in China's infrastructure building. This opens up a way for
adventurous tourists to travel from
Beijing to the remote Tibet
by train with a low budget. An estimated 90% of tourists would
use the railroad to reach
Lhasa, Tibet. It is an unique ground
expedition across clear cascading streams, spectacular mountain
ranges, and the colorful landscapes almost untouched by modern
civilization. It would be the dream of urban travelers to
experience nature with such a panoramic vision, indulging and
rejuvenating for a true getaway from the hectic city-life.
A Centennial Dream Comes True From its initial conception in the
early 1950s, the construction of
Qinghai-Tibet Railroad went
through a lengthy 50 years to build. The first section of 814
km, from
Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, to Golmud began
operation in 1984. The
Golmud-Lhasa section commenced
construction in June 2001.
On July 1, 2006, the 1,956-Km
Qinghai-Tibet Railroad started its full-length operation. Its 2
inaugural trains, "
Qing 1" and "
Tibet 2", started service from
Golmud and
Lhasa separately. China President
Hu Jintao labeled
the project as an unbelievable achievement both in China and the
World's railway construction. This completed mission also
realized a centennial dream of
Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the pioneer of
China's democratic revolution. The Physical Deterrents
Geographical conditions from Golmod to Lhasa are especially
harsh. Perennial icy soil as hard as steel, thick blankets of
Winter snow and the high altitudes deterred and slowed down
project progress through the many years of site execution.
An American,
Paul Theroux, prophesized that
Kunlun Range was a
definite impossible geographical barrier for railroad to get to
Lhasa. But the inauguration of Qinghai-Tibet Railroad, now the
world's highest railroad terminating in Lhasa, has proven
Theroux's prophesy untrue.
Key Facts of Qinghai-Tibet Railroad l
Qinghai-Tibet Railroad is the world's highest.
- 960 kms of its
tracks are located 4,000 m above sea level.
- The highest point
is 5,072 m above sea level or 200 meters higher than the 2nd
highest Peruvian railroad in the Andes. l 550 kms of the route
run on frozen soil
- Tanggula Railway Station is the highest
railway station in the world (5,068m above sea level)
- Fenghuoshan Tunnel is the world's highest tunnel on frozen soil
(4,905 m above sea level)
- It is the world's longest plateau
railroad, extending 1,956 kms from Xining, Qinghai to Lhasa,
Tibet.
- The Golmud-Lhasa section zigzags 1,142 kms across the
Tanggula and Kunlun Ranges.
- Kunlun Mountain Tunnel is the
world's longest plateau tunnel built on frozen soil(1,686 m)
- The maximum design train speeds are 100 km/h in frozen zones and
120 km/h on non-frozen areas.
Environmental Friendly Chinese
authority responded to international call for environmental
friendly and sustainable development. 8% of the total
development cost was set aside for conservation of environment.
Recommendations by the Academy of Environment Protection were
taken seriously by the Chinese government before construction.
Qinghai-Tibet Railroad was credited with the honor of being the
first environmental friendly railroad in the world.
Train Schedule for Tibet Tourists can join in this rail route from
several different cities in China.
- Western Beijing Train
Station to Lhasa, the whole journey is 4,064Km and takes 47
hours and 28 minutes. The ticket fee is RMB389 (USD48) for a
hard seat, RMB813 (USD102) for a hard sleeper and RMB1262
(USD160) for a soft sleeper. It leaves Beijing at 21:30 every
night and arrives in Lhasa at 20:58 on the third day. Another
train leaves Lhasa for Beijing at 8:00 each morning and arrives
in Beijing at 8:00 the third day, via Xian, Lanzhou, Xining,
Golmod and Nacku.
- Chengdu Train Station to Lhasa, the whole
journey is 3,360km. The ticket fee is RMB331 for a hard seat,
RMB712 for a hard sleeper and RMB1104 (USD140) for a soft
sleeper. It leaves Chengdu at 18:18 on the odd days and arrives
in Lhasa at 18:28 on the third day. It leaves Lhasa for Chengdu
at 9:05 and arrives in Chengdu at 9:55 the third day, Via
Guangyuan, Baoji, Lanzhou, Xining, Golmod and Nacku
- Chongqing Train Station to Lhasa. The whole journey is 3,654Km The ticket
fee is RMB355 for a hard seat, RMB754 for a hard sleeper and
RMB1168 for a soft sleeper. It leaves Chongqing at 19:20 on the
even days and arrives in Lhasa at 18:28 on the third day. It
leaves Lhasa for Chongqing at 09:05 and arrives in Chongqing at
09:55 the third day, Via Guangan, Dazhou, Xian, Baoji,Lanzhou,
Xining, Golmod and Nacku.
Preparing for the cold temperatures,
Travelers to Tibet are advised to bring Winter clothing like ski
jackets, winter coats and thermal under-wears.
For more travel resources visit
www.1asiatravel.com
www.tropicalcaribbeantravel.com
www.1asiatravel.com/china.html Reprint of this article is
permitted by including the above live links.
About the author:
Subert Kiing - Architect who has lived and traveled in many
parts of Asia. He currently writes for www.1asiatravel.com and
www.tropicalcaribbeantravel.com
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