01 · Departure
The journey begins at Shanghai
The published primary itinerary runs from Shanghai to Lhasa.
China · Sleeper · Scenic
Shanghai to Lhasa: train Z164/Z165
Train Z164 leaves Shanghai in the evening and reaches Lhasa forty-five hours later, covering 4,372 kilometres via Nanjing, Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Xining and Golmud. It is the longest single passenger run in China. Beyond Xining the train joins the Qinghai–Tibet railway, where the carriages are supplied with extra oxygen for the climb over the Tanggula pass, the highest point on any railway in the world.
Shanghai → Lhasa
Overnight service
Image: AI-generated editorial illustration by Rail Atlas
- Time needed
- 45h 03m
- Best for
- Rail enthusiasts · Slow travellers
- Landscape / arrival
- Arrival context not yet verified
Why take it
Let the distance pass while the night does.
Two nights on board buys you a continuous transect of China: the crowded Yangtze delta, the loess country around Xi'an, the dry Qinghai basin and finally the Tibetan plateau, where the train runs for hours across grassland at over 4,000 metres with herds of antelope and snow peaks on both sides. Because you gain altitude slowly rather than flying in, most people arrive in Lhasa better acclimatised. Permits for Tibet must be arranged before you buy the ticket, and berths sell out far ahead in summer.
Shanghai → Night → Lhasa
One departure. A night in motion. One arrival.
02 · Through the night
Shanghai to Lhasa, overnight
Two nights on board buys you a continuous transect of China: the crowded Yangtze delta, the loess country around Xi'an, the dry Qinghai basin and finally the Tibetan plateau, where the train runs for hours across grassland at over 4,000 metres with herds of antelope and snow peaks on both sides. Because you gain altitude slowly rather than flying in, most people arrive in Lhasa better acclimatised. Permits for Tibet must be arranged before you buy the ticket, and berths sell out far ahead in summer.
Arrival
The route reaches Lhasa.
Arrival · Lhasa
45h 03m · China
Evidence on demand
Practical reality
Route, onboard, season, fit and booking detail remain available without interrupting the journey above. Unknowns stay visible.
Time & itinerary
45h 03m · One night
The published route runs from Shanghai to Lhasa.
Confirm the selected departure and any engineering changes with the operator before travel.
View route map and verified stops
Shanghai → Lhasa
Z164/Z165: Shanghai–Lhasa
The published route runs from Shanghai to Lhasa via Nanjing, Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Xining, Golmud.
4372 km · Shanghai to Lhasa
Key stops
Shanghai Railway StationNanjingZhengzhouXiningGolmudLhasa
Shanghai Railway Station
China
Nanjing
China
Zhengzhou
China
Xi'an
China
Xining
China
Golmud
China
Lhasa
China
When to go
Year-round · Runs
Verify the selected travel night and engineering changes.
Where to sit
Seat-side guidance not yet verified
We have not confirmed a better side for this journey. We would rather say nothing than send you to the wrong window.
Good for
Good fit for
Rail enthusiasts
Especially good
The train and the line itself are a large part of the reason to travel.
Slow travellers
Especially good
A long journey where the time on board is the point.
Photographers
Especially good
Published photography score is high for this route's landscapes and structures.
Think twice if
You sleep on board
An overnight service, not a daytime sightseeing run.
You cannot just turn up
A reservation is required for this journey.
Booking takes some effort
Verified as difficult to book.
How it scores
Our current editorial assessment, for comparing journeys, a considered judgement, not a measurement.
SceneryExceptional
ComfortModerate
Character of the trainStrong
Show the full editorial profile
More subjective
UniquenessExceptional
Iconic statusExceptional
PhotographyExceptional
Travelling with childrenLimited
Not rated yet: value for money, food & drink, seat quality, onboard service, slow travel quality, romance, remoteness.
Step-free access and assistance are set out with the practical detail further down rather than reduced to a score.
Reservation & booking
- Reservation
- Required
- Booking difficulty
- Difficult
Not yet verified: typical price, rail pass validity. We leave these blank rather than guess.
- A Tibet travel permit is required in addition to the ticket, and soft-sleeper berths on the Lhasa trains sell out weeks ahead in summer.
Check availability with China State Railway Group (China Railway) (opens the operator site in a new tab)Compare similar journeys
This is the operator's own reservation entry point. Fares and availability are confirmed there, not here. Journey length: 45h 03m. Checked 12 Sep 2026 · China Railway 12306 (official ticketing).
Sources & freshness
The compact source record remains at the end of this guide. Review the evidence.
Your next step
Plan the night, then confirm it with the operator.
A Tibet travel permit is required in addition to the ticket, and soft-sleeper berths on the Lhasa trains sell out weeks ahead in summer.
Check availability with China State Railway Group (China Railway) (opens in a new tab)This is the operator's own reservation entry point. Fares and availability are confirmed there, not here.
Far by Rail is a discovery guide, not a live timetable or booking service. Confirm times, fares and availability with the operator.
Continue the story
Two ways onward
From the same station
Beijing to Lhasa by train
A direct sleeper train runs from Beijing West to Lhasa, taking around forty hours. It uses conventional lines as far as Xining, then joins the Qinghai–Tibet Railway for the plateau section with its oxygen-supplied carriages.
Leaves from the same station at Lhasa; a separate service, not a continuation.
Read the journey →Another journey
Xining to Lhasa: the Qinghai–Tibet Railway
Leaves from the same station at Lhasa; a separate service, not a continuation.
Sources & freshness
Journey information is reviewed against published material and maintained as sources change.
Last reviewed 12 Sep 2026.
Official sources
Checked 12 Sep 2026