China’s Ultimate Tourist Adventure In the summer of 2006, the Tibet’s “rooftop of the world” became more accessible with the opening of a new fast train connecting China with Tibet. Over the previous 50 years, China had envisioned a 1,233-mile (1,972-km) railroad route to Tibet, which required crossing some of the world’s most difficult terrain. Eight years after construction of this high-tech railroad, including the most difficult completion of the last 710-mile (1,142-km) leg from Golmud to Llasa.he engineering feat has made it one of the newest world tourist adventures. Lhasa Express The Sky Train, Lhasa Express, Rocket to the rooftop of the world, Worlds highest railway; regardless of what its called, This qinghai tibet train is truly an engineering wonder. The train is equipped with 2 Oxygen sources, 1) released throughout the cabins when reaching Golmund and heading into Tibet and 2) Personal Oxygen Canisters in case you feel light headed and only available from Tibet to Golmund or from Golmund to Tibet (see tibet train oxygen). Between Xining and Golmud the tracks pass by Qinghai Lake - Chinas largest. But its the Golmud-to-Lhasa sector which offers the most breath-taking scenery. That segment also offers the record-breakers: the worlds highest passenger railroad (at Tanggula Pass - elevation: 16,640 ft.; 5072m) and the worlds highest railroad tunnel (Fenghuoshan - elevation: 16,093 ft.; 4905m). Over 80% of the journey is at altitudes above 13,000 feet; fully half the track on this sector was laid atop permafrost. Major attractions along the Tibet by Train route include: * Xining: Xinging, a city of just over one million inhabitants, is situated in a remote valley on the eastern edge of Qinghai Province - occupying Chinas rugged, cold-weather northern frontier. The city is best known for the Kumbum Monastery (Taer Temple), one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist sites in China. The Gelugpa sect was founded here by Tsongkhapa, and the hillside monastery was erected in 1560 in his honor. Up to 2,000 monks can gather to chant sutras in the Great Hall of Meditation, whose roof is supported by carpet-wrapped pillars. The Hall of Butter Sculpture includes colorfully-painted yak butter scutptures depicting important events in Buddhist history. Once home to over 3,000 monks, Kumbum Monastery now houses 600. * Qinghai Lake: The lake is about the size of the Great Salt Lake in Utah, though Qinghai Lake is not nearly as salty. Its waters support a variety of fish which, in turn, support a variety of birds - many of which call on Qinghai Lake during their bi-annual migrations. Commorants, gesse, cranes and swans are plentiful here. The summer months bring herds of yak. Over twenty rivers and streams flow into the lake but theres no outflow; evaporation maintains its level. * Golmud: The citys economic mainstays are its burgeoning mineral, oil and chemical industries. But to the visitor Golmuds main function is transportation hub. Through here funnels traffic from Chinas eastern and northern cities to the lone highway (and now, the lone railroad) leading southwest to Lhasa. To many visitors passing through, Golmuds surrounding landscape presents an almost lunar look; at an almost 10,000-foot elevation, the region is virtually treeless. A deluxe 5 star sightseeing train (Tangula Luxury Train)will soon be up and running on the newly-completely Qinghai-Tibet railway, Ma Jiantang, vice governor of Qinghai province, revealed during a tourism promotion meeting held in Shanghai.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 05:49:17 +0000
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