Qinghai-Tibet Railway Becomes the Most Popular Way to Tibet
Lhasa, Tibet (PRWEB) October 28, 2013 -- The highest railroad on earth, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway has become the most popular way to Tibet among travelers from home and abroad because this scenic railway itself is one of the top attractions on the Tibetan Plateau. It is reputed as an “Engineering Miracle”, while trains to Tibet are regarded as the “Rocket to the Roof” by Forbes.
Since its operation in July 2006, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway line has carried over 50 million travelers to and from Tibet, according to statistics from the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Company. A large proportion of travelers to Tibet went on this railway. For instance, of 8.5 million travellers to Tibet in 2011, 6.5 million went on this railway; of 10.6 million in 2012, 6.8 million did it. According to a recent interview with Catherine, Executive Manager of China International Travel Service (CITS) Tibet Travel ORG, a top online Tibet tour operator, 95% of the western travelers they had served went to Lhasa by train in 2012 and 2013.
It is no exaggeration to say that this railway was born a miracle. It is more than a mere means of transport; it is a man-made world wonder. Nine hundred and sixty kilometers of this railway lies 4,000 meters above sea level. Its highest point is 5,072 meters, at least 200 meters higher than the Peruvian Andes railway, the former world’s highest. Many worldwide problems were resolved during the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Among them, the biggest three were lack of oxygen, permafrost and fragile eco-environment. The railway has set several world records, such as the most elevated railway, the longest plateau railroad, the longest track on frozen earth, the highest train station, the highest railway tunnel, the longest plateau railway bridge and the first railway to Tibet.
Of course, the scenery along the railway is also breathtakingly beautiful. It traverses three grand mountain ranges (Kunlun, Tanggula and Nyainqentanglha), many vast grasslands, numerous rivers and lakes, connecting various famous resorts and places of interest. In one word, a journey on this track shows travelers a fabulous world entirely different from the cities, along with seasonal and regional changes, and different ecosystems on earth.
There are also a few other commonly acknowledged advantages of travelling by train. For instance, the trains to Tibet are the most advanced and comfortable in China and can be considered as a simplified mobile “destination”. Moreover, it is much cheaper (especially when the cost of air tickets to and from the airport is added). An economy class air ticket to Lhasa from mainland China is usually much more expensive than a first-class sleeper berth train ticket. Therefore, the railway offers the best train journey at low cost.
Source from Tibet Travel ORG (website: http://www.tibettravel.org ), specializing in Tibet train tour services, including booking train tickets, securing Tibet permits, customizing Tibet tour itineraries and offering experienced local tour guides.
Tibet Travel Org, Tibet Travel CITS, http://www.tibettravel.org, +86 2885552138, [email protected]
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