As the Qinghai-Tibet train was just open in July 2006, millions of Chinese tourists flocked into Tibet in this economical way. It is quite difficult to book the train tickets sometimes, especially in July and August. Comparatively, taking train out from Lhasa is easier to operate for tour operators. In fact, flying in and riding out by train is a better choice for most tourists. In this way, people can get used to the altitude in Lhasa at the height of 3650 meters above sea level. Then taking the train to the highest point of 5072 meters above sea level. Otherwise, once tourists have some unease on the way to Lhasa by train, it may affect the tour program.
Like traveling in other parts of China, if you don’t speak any Chinese or have little knowledge of this country, please bring a phrase book with you. Though the attendants had some crash courses of English, it is surely not enough to cover different situations on board.
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Overseas tourists planning on entering Tibet must first obtain a Chinese L-visa (Tourist visa) from the Chinese Embassy or Consulate of their region. An exception applies to those who reside in countries that have signed special agreements with China. A list of those countries can be found online.
The tourist must then apply for the Tibet Travel Permit at the same Embassy or Consulate. When applying for this permit, foreign tourists are asked to submit basic identification information (including name, nationality, age, sex, occupation, and passport number), route to and point of entrance, approximate travel time, travel intentions, telephone contact information and other materials, to designated offices of the TTB. This can be done directly or through travel agencies. A copy of the Chinese visa and first page of the tourist’s passport need to be faxed or emailed to the TTB (Tibet Travel Bureau). Tourists should receive confirmation for travel to Tibet within two to four business days.
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Although I had already visited many Tibetan areas of Qinghai and Sichuan provinces, this trip into Tibet itself had a different feel to it.
First off, foreigners must join a tour group in order to visit Tibet. Second, Tibet itself seemed much more developed than the places we had just seen in Qinghai and Sichuan.
For example, the hotels were much better and the roads were nicely paved and not pockmarked with potholes. Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet, seemed clean and orderly and caters to tourists with its many restaurants, sites and souvenir vendors. The scenery also seemed much larger: brighter sun, bigger mountains, more snow capped peaks and skies that are clear and blue. Temperatures can be warm during the day and then cold at night. The Tibetans that live here are different from the Kham Tibetans we encountered in Qinghai and Sichuan; the attire and language are very different.
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