![Xining Railway Station, halfway between Beijing and Lhasa](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490335.t2psVCDX.XiningSep08241.jpg) Xining Railway Station, halfway between Beijing and Lhasa |
![Xining Railway Station](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490336.cgfpbbMb.XiningSep08243.jpg) Xining Railway Station |
![Red granite horse sculpture in front of Xining Railway Station](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490337.JkkIAnev.XiningSep08244.jpg) Red granite horse sculpture in front of Xining Railway Station |
![Monument in front of Xining Railway Station](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490338.QO6k0KEK.XiningSep08245.jpg) Monument in front of Xining Railway Station |
![Communist-style monument, Xining](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490339.AR3Cq7eE.XiningSep08246.jpg) Communist-style monument, Xining |
![An hour before departure for Tibet](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490340.gqufchWJ.XiningSep08247.jpg) An hour before departure for Tibet |
![Xining Railway Station, starting point for my 25 hour train journey to Lhasa, Tibet](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490342.RQonWodh.XiningSep08248.jpg) Xining Railway Station, starting point for my 25 hour train journey to Lhasa, Tibet |
![Xining to Lhasa 1956km](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490343.ND0lMuwe.XiningSep08249.jpg) Xining to Lhasa 1956km |
![I arranged the tickets through China Cultural Center in Beijing](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490344.fuuhMwU3.XiningSep08250.jpg) I arranged the tickets through China Cultural Center in Beijing |
![The local guide and driver, Xining](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490345.EQBHBhfj.XiningSep08251.jpg) The local guide and driver, Xining |
![Chinese characters for Xining](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490346.sjYzLVeH.XiningSep08252.jpg) Chinese characters for Xining |
![Getting tickets for Chinese trains is a big pain](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490348.8rhbrvmX.XiningSep08253.jpg) Getting tickets for Chinese trains is a big pain |
![4 trains through Xining for Lhasa today - from Chongqing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490349.ki67OqPJ.XiningSep08254.jpg) 4 trains through Xining for Lhasa today - from Chongqing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing |
![Waiting hall, Xining Railway Station](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490351.KqI03DJt.XiningSep08255.jpg) Waiting hall, Xining Railway Station |
![Chinese railway billboard](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490354.fhfPjBMr.XiningSep08256.jpg) Chinese railway billboard |
![The Beijing-Lhasa train at the platform in Xining](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490356.4MrtJtDt.XiningSep08257.jpg) The Beijing-Lhasa train at the platform in Xining |
![T27/28 Beijing West - Lhasa](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490358.RGiOrUya.XiningSep08258.jpg) T27/28 Beijing West - Lhasa |
![The trains are new and rather comfortable](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105490361.cXrzrwfI.XiningSep08259.jpg) The trains are new and rather comfortable |
![The elusive rail ticket to Lhasa, a bargain at 810 yuan, if you can get one](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491516.ZM1IaUD3.QinghaiTibetRailroad002.jpg) The elusive rail ticket to Lhasa, a bargain at 810 yuan, if you can get one |
![18:29 departure from Xining to Lhasa](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491518.AdcjaPk5.QinghaiTibetRailroad003.jpg) 18:29 departure from Xining to Lhasa |
![Cliffs honeycombed with caves west of central Xining](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491519.YvQ3SZuh.QinghaiTibetRailroad006.jpg) Cliffs honeycombed with caves west of central Xining |
![Leaving Xining behind](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491520.I7ej0P1U.QinghaiTibetRailroad007.jpg) Leaving Xining behind |
![In the 4 berth cabin](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491521.wHIf6g1l.QinghaiTibetRailroad008.jpg) In the 4 berth cabin |
![My other 3 cabin mates were all Chinese from Beijing](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491522.dHBennAm.QinghaiTibetRailroad010.jpg) My other 3 cabin mates were all Chinese from Beijing |
![Corridor of the railway carriage](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491523.52KlE3ye.QinghaiTibetRailroad011.jpg) Corridor of the railway carriage |
![Luckily I didn't need this too often](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491524.7PF8K3YB.QinghaiTibetRailroad012.jpg) Luckily I didn't need this too often |
![What a shock...only American Budweiser on board](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491525.NSuZvBn3.QinghaiTibetRailroad013.jpg) What a shock...only American Budweiser on board |
![Kitchen of the dining car](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491526.yJDlXzi5.QinghaiTibetRailroad014.jpg) Kitchen of the dining car |
![Dining car - Qinghai-Tibet Railroad](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491527.tdR3JYwh.QinghaiTibetRailroad016.jpg) Dining car - Qinghai-Tibet Railroad |
![Washbasins outside the toilets](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491528.OYZbViVf.QinghaiTibetRailroad017.jpg) Washbasins outside the toilets |
![Early morning after a relatively good sleep having slept through the stop at Golmud](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491529.vKZY0l12.QinghaiTibetRailroad018.jpg) Early morning after a relatively good sleep having slept through the stop at Golmud |
![Snow along the old road to Lhasa, Qinghai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491530.7HR3sKzB.QinghaiTibetRailroad022.jpg) Snow along the old road to Lhasa, Qinghai Province |
![It takes several days to drive from Xining to Lhasa](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491531.PUt2OUpU.QinghaiTibetRailroad023.jpg) It takes several days to drive from Xining to Lhasa |
![Watchtower at a remote outpost along the railroad, Qinghai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491532.fOZaFWJC.QinghaiTibetRailroad029.jpg) Watchtower at a remote outpost along the railroad, Qinghai Province |
![Road bridge and railroad viaduct shortly past Chumaerhe station, Qinghai](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491533.FjzbsSnZ.QinghaiTibetRailroad036.jpg) Road bridge and railroad viaduct shortly past Chumaerhe station, Qinghai |
![Qinghai-Tibet Railroad crossing one of many wide rivers](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491534.Oh0KLx18.QinghaiTibetRailroad037.jpg) Qinghai-Tibet Railroad crossing one of many wide rivers |
![Barren Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491535.cqu2vk7H.QinghaiTibetRailroad040.jpg) Barren Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai Province |
![Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii)](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491536.Csgqmxlh.QinghaiTibetRailroad041.jpg) Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) |
![There's cellphone coverage along the railroad](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491537.EeSy9Qt9.QinghaiTibetRailroad042.jpg) There's cellphone coverage along the railroad |
![Outpost prior to Wu Dao Liang station](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491538.yFimSBfi.QinghaiTibetRailroad043.jpg) Outpost prior to Wu Dao Liang station |
![Wetlands, Tibetan Plateau](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491539.y1YaMc5w.QinghaiTibetRailroad044.jpg) Wetlands, Tibetan Plateau |
![Wudaoliang Railway Station, 1100km from Xining, Qinghai-Tibet Railroad](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491540.SWW7idrt.QinghaiTibetRailroad045.jpg) Wudaoliang Railway Station, 1100km from Xining, Qinghai-Tibet Railroad |
![Cloudy day over the Tibetan Plateau](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491541.PWbkRra2.QinghaiTibetRailroad046.jpg) Cloudy day over the Tibetan Plateau |
![The new railroad parallels the old road to Lhasa](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491542.2NdoqGys.QinghaiTibetRailroad047.jpg) The new railroad parallels the old road to Lhasa |
![It's +2C here](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491543.iAX7xoAI.QinghaiTibetRailroad049.jpg) It's +2C here |
![Streams passing through an area of snow fences](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491545.7E17BhJd.QinghaiTibetRailroad051.jpg) Streams passing through an area of snow fences |
![A lonely hut and tent with a man riding a yak](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491546.wZa4M4ll.QinghaiTibetRailroad053.jpg) A lonely hut and tent with a man riding a yak |
![Scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet Railroad](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491547.D00Fk7lI.QinghaiTibetRailroad054.jpg) Scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet Railroad |
![Herds of yaks and sheep alongside the railroad tracks](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491548.gQEjaQzY.QinghaiTibetRailroad055.jpg) Herds of yaks and sheep alongside the railroad tracks |
![Herds of yaks and sheep alongside the railroad tracks](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491549.pvWVnKb4.QinghaiTibetRailroad056.jpg) Herds of yaks and sheep alongside the railroad tracks |
![Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai-Tibet Railroad](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491550.Nng4f5PI.QinghaiTibetRailroad058.jpg) Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai-Tibet Railroad |
![Muddy dirt road alongside the railroad tracks](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491551.zLUFboOC.QinghaiTibetRailroad060.jpg) Muddy dirt road alongside the railroad tracks |
![The Tibetan Plateau is the source of the great rivers of China](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491552.TRNCmQcg.QinghaiTibetRailroad062.jpg) The Tibetan Plateau is the source of the great rivers of China |
![Snow capped mountains, Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491553.3gNoRcPc.QinghaiTibetRailroad064.jpg) Snow capped mountains, Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai Province |
![The road to Lhasa rejoins our route](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491554.rbzxfKo1.QinghaiTibetRailroad065.jpg) The road to Lhasa rejoins our route |
![I once thought it would be fun to drive from Xining, but I think I'll pass...](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491555.0S3GRjoC.QinghaiTibetRailroad068.jpg) I once thought it would be fun to drive from Xining, but I think I'll pass... |
![Highest railroad tunnel in the world - Fenghuoshan - 5072m/16,093ft](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491556.G3x0N0Wl.QinghaiTibetRailroad070.jpg) Highest railroad tunnel in the world - Fenghuoshan - 5072m/16,093ft |
![Small labor camp along the Tibet-Qinghai Railroad](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491557.5LHybhl8.QinghaiTibetRailroad072.jpg) Small labor camp along the Tibet-Qinghai Railroad |
![Snow covered peak near Jiangkedong Station, Qinghai-Tibet Railroad](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491558.K4kZVojj.QinghaiTibetRailroad073.jpg) Snow covered peak near Jiangkedong Station, Qinghai-Tibet Railroad |
![Collapses road bridge near Jiangkedong, 1174 km from Xining](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491559.wIVsQdmk.QinghaiTibetRailroad075.jpg) Collapses road bridge near Jiangkedong, 1174 km from Xining |
![My guess would be the river flooded](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491560.RjiX8wkl.QinghaiTibetRailroad076.jpg) My guess would be the river flooded |
![Communication tower along the Tibet-Qinghai Railroad](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491561.ohU3OMpK.QinghaiTibetRailroad077.jpg) Communication tower along the Tibet-Qinghai Railroad |
![Tibetan Plateau and the road to Lhasa](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491562.ykRuEPb9.QinghaiTibetRailroad078.jpg) Tibetan Plateau and the road to Lhasa |
![Tibetan plateau with snow covered mountains](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491563.wVGCGOfh.QinghaiTibetRailroad079.jpg) Tibetan plateau with snow covered mountains |
![Tuotuo He River,](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491564.vSkEOYe5.QinghaiTibetRailroad082.jpg) Tuotuo He River, |
![Stupa and prayer flags, Tuotuo Heyan](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491565.YE3SIiMV.QinghaiTibetRailroad086.jpg) Stupa and prayer flags, Tuotuo Heyan |
![Odd stupa near Tuotuo Heyan, Qinghai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491566.5xgcgJ9T.QinghaiTibetRailroad087.jpg) Odd stupa near Tuotuo Heyan, Qinghai Province |
![Tibetan prayer flags, south of Tuotuo Heyan](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491567.Z9ZEgVsF.QinghaiTibetRailroad088.jpg) Tibetan prayer flags, south of Tuotuo Heyan |
![Upper tributary of the Yangtze River, Qinghai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491568.Fc6SgrWk.QinghaiTibetRailroad090.jpg) Upper tributary of the Yangtze River, Qinghai Province |
![Qinghai-Tibet Railroad viaduct](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491569.QO3yml4v.QinghaiTibetRailroad091.jpg) Qinghai-Tibet Railroad viaduct |
![High altitude section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railroad nearing the border of the Tibet Autonomous Region](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491570.2RlAOzpb.QinghaiTibetRailroad092.jpg) High altitude section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railroad nearing the border of the Tibet Autonomous Region |
![Tibetan Plateau](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491571.8fEEe0EE.QinghaiTibetRailroad093.jpg) Tibetan Plateau |
![Tiny settlement along the Tibet-Qinghai Railroad](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491572.0xzRRfyG.QinghaiTibetRailroad094.jpg) Tiny settlement along the Tibet-Qinghai Railroad |
![Between Dri Chu and Tanggang Stations, Qinghai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491573.9NdJ6elV.QinghaiTibetRailroad095.jpg) Between Dri Chu and Tanggang Stations, Qinghai Province |
![Yanshiping, Qinghai Province (33.597N/92.069E](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491575.q0r8nmgm.QinghaiTibetRailroad096.jpg) Yanshiping, Qinghai Province (33.597N/92.069E |
![Tongtien He River, Qinghai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491576.ywKF7Bmr.QinghaiTibetRailroad097.jpg) Tongtien He River, Qinghai Province |
![Yan Shi Ping, Qinghai Province (33.597N/92.069E)](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491577.yD5KgXjG.QinghaiTibetRailroad098.jpg) Yan Shi Ping, Qinghai Province (33.597N/92.069E) |
![A small bridge across the river with the Tibet Highway on the opposite bank](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491578.Kk3bJhm7.QinghaiTibetRailroad103.jpg) A small bridge across the river with the Tibet Highway on the opposite bank |
![Nearing the border between Qinghai Province and the Tibet Autonomous Region](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491579.FKwBvUjg.QinghaiTibetRailroad106.jpg) Nearing the border between Qinghai Province and the Tibet Autonomous Region |
![Tibetan tent with a man and a motorbike](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491580.5wLHEog1.QinghaiTibetRailroad107.jpg) Tibetan tent with a man and a motorbike |
![Yakherder ,ear the Qinghai-Tibet border](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491581.P2eYCYjk.QinghaiTibetRailroad110.jpg) Yakherder ,ear the Qinghai-Tibet border |
![Yak herder on the Tibetan plateau](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105491582.bR8ceQE3.QinghaiTibetRailroad111.jpg) Yak herder on the Tibetan plateau |