About Lanzhou
Lanzhou is the capital of Gansu Province, seen as the geographical center on the national map of China. The earliest footprint of human found in Lanzhou can date back to 5,000 years ago. From the Han Dynasty, Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty, when the Silk Road was opened and connected the West and ancient China, Lanzhou has ever since become an important town and the transport hub for the trade of the silk to the west and the horses into the east. It is the intersection of several ancient civilizations of China, such as the Yellow River Culture, the Silk Road Culture, the Central Plain Culture and the culture of the Western region of China.
Traveling from Lanzhou to Tibet is a very popular choice for many foreign tourists. After Xining, Lanzhou is the gateway city within the second shortest distance from Tibet, while Xi’an is the third closest city to Tibet, as to the air travel distance and railway journey distance. There is no one city that is the best gateway city to Tibet. It depends on what types of attractions you’re interested in. So, you could read on to know a bit more about Lanzhou and see the convenience it can offer for traveling to Tibet.
Lanzhou City
The norm of traveling from Lanzhou to Tibet, is flying to Lanzhou and then taking a Lanzhou-Lhasa train into Tibet. By doing so, you can save your travel time by flying and also enjoy the grandeur of the energetic wonder-the Qinghai-Tibet Railway by taking the train, admire the amazing natural landscapes along the railway route and try to spot the wildlife on this one of the world’s toughest environments.
Every day, there are four or five trains departing from Lanzhou to Lhasa. Among them only one train originates from Lanzhou, which is Z9179(departing Lanzhou and arriving at Lhasa); and the rest trains are from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, or Chengdu. Below is the relevant information on the trains.
Ticket Price Table
| Ticket Types | Soft Sleeper | Hard Sleeper | Hard Seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ticket Prices | 823 RMB | 522 RMB | 240 RMB |
Lanzhou-Lhasa Train Schedules & Timetables
| Train No. | Originating Station | Departure time | Arrival time | Duration | Frequency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On Odd Days | Z323 | Chengdu | 09:28 | 09:55 | 24h27m | Every other day |
| Z917 | Lanzhou | 11:16 | 11:20 | 24h04m | Every other day | |
| Z21 | Beijing | 12:32 | 12:45 | 24h13m | Daily | |
| Z265 | Guangzhou | 16:41 | 16:45 | 24h04m | Daily | |
| Z165 | Shanghai | 18:34 | 19:35 | 25h01m | Daily | |
| On Even Days | Z223 | Chongqing | 09:28 | 09:55 | 24h27m | Every other day |
| Z21 | Beijing | 12:32 | 12:45 | 24h13m | Daily | |
| Z265 | Guangzhou | 16:41 | 16:45 | 24h04m | Daily | |
| Z165 | Shanghai | 18:34 | 19:35 | 25h01m | Daily |
Note: The train schedules are subject to change yearly. However, the basic rule is likely to remain stable for a long certain period.
Train Stations in Lanzhou and Tibet
In Lanzhou: There are three railway stations in Lanzhou. They are Lanzhou Railway Station, Lanzhou East Railway Station, and Lanzhou West Railway Station. All the trains from Lanzhou to Tibet depart from Lanzhou Railway Station. Please make sure that you get to the right station.
In Tibet: The trains from Lanzhou to Tibet arrive in Lhasa Railway Station, which is the only railway station in Lhasa and about 7 kilometers from the city center of Lhasa.
You may refer to Lanzhou to Tibet Train for more details.
Traveling from Lanzhou to Tibet by plane is a fast and also budget-friendly way. There are four airlines offering direct flights from Lanzhou to Lhasa. They are Tibet Airlines, Air China, Shenzhen Airlines, and Shandong Airlines. Some others like Qingdao Airlines and Hainan Airlines also have flights connecting Lanzhou and Lhasa, but they would stop at Xi’an or Mianyang for several hours.
The direct flights from Lanzhou to Lhasa have a duration of 2 hours 30 minutes. And these direct flights almost all depart at 07:30 in the early morning. Since the distance from Lanzhou city to Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport(LHW), is a bit too far, which needs 40 minutes by car, please make sure you set aside ample time for the travel to the airport.
Ticket Booking: It is often easy for travelers to buy discounted plane tickets as long as they book far in advance. In off season, even if you book the last minute ticket, you may be possible to have a ticket which only costs about 700 RMB(inclusive of fuel and tax).
In Conclusion, with a short air travel distance and very good priced plane tickets, flying from Lanzhou to Tibet is a very good option.
If you just plan to have one or a few days in Lanzhou, you can visit the historical sites in and around the city. These attractions are within easy reach by public transport, including Gansu Provincial History Museum(highlight cultural relic: Bronze Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow), where you get to have an insight of the Silk Road, the ancient colored pottery, enjoy the display of ancient wildlife and more. The Yellow River, China’s second longest river which is regarded as the mother river of China, runs through Lanzhou. The Yellow River Iron Bridge, the White Tower Mountain Park, and the Mother River statue can be visited to have an idea of the city development and the civilian life of Lanzhou people.
If you want to explore more about Lanzhou and the Province of Gansu, you can venture further to visit Gansu’s iconic attractions such as Zhangye National Geopark, Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. Both are quite a wonder of China.
Foodie’s treat: Zhengninglu Snack Night Market is where you can have a whole idea about the variety of Lanzhou local snacks; Lanzhou Hand-pulled Noodle(famous among the whole China); Beef Noodle, Fried noodle piece(sounded like Chow mein), grey bean porridge are all must-try local goodies.
