Beijing to Lhasa Train
Wednesday 5th September & Thursday 6th SeptemberWe settled down into our bunks, 6 to each compartment. The booking was for the Soft Sleeper carriage but were bumped off at the last minute and were put on the hard sleepers. Oh well! At least we were on the train and they refunded the difference. Our carriage was number 1.
Lights went out at 10pm, shortly after departure. We rumbled out into the night.
The next day we roared through the Chinese countryside, occasionally passing small villages and large industrial cities. There were vegetable farms, workers, and parents picking their kids up from school on push bikes. The whole countryside was a patchwork of colour.
The restaurant on the train was in carriage No. 7. The food wasn't bad and you could sit in comfort at the table and gaze out at the countryside. Food was also available from trolleys that were wheeled through the train. Fruit, soups, noodles and snacks as well as a range of drinks.
We chatted to a range of interesting people from many backgrounds. Sharing a compartment with a couple of our group were a couple from the NSW North Coast. Marcia and Laurie from Port Macquarie!
On the second night we went to bed after gazing out on green farmlands. The next morning was completely different. During the night, at Golmud, another engine was hooked on and we started the climb into the mountains. By daybreak we were on the Tibetan plateau; flat grazing lands covered in green and flanked by snow capped mountains. The sounds from the cabins were "ooohhh" and "ahhhh" as the adventurers awoke to the beautiful sights.
All through the second day we climbed higher into the mountains. Altitude sickness started to take its toll on 4 or 5 of the group, with headaches and nausea. The oxygen facilities on the train helped and were most welcome, as we had to climb to about 4,700 metres before descending to Lhasa which is 3,700 metres above sea level.
In Lhasa we arrived at 8pm and were met by our guide, Chimpell and the driver, Lobsang. Jill Connellan was also at the station to meet us and joins us for the Tibet leg of the journey.
The next day we roared through the Chinese countryside, occasionally passing small villages and large industrial cities. There were vegetable farms, workers, and parents picking their kids up from school on push bikes. The whole countryside was a patchwork of colour.
The restaurant on the train was in carriage No. 7. The food wasn't bad and you could sit in comfort at the table and gaze out at the countryside. Food was also available from trolleys that were wheeled through the train. Fruit, soups, noodles and snacks as well as a range of drinks.
We chatted to a range of interesting people from many backgrounds. Sharing a compartment with a couple of our group were a couple from the NSW North Coast. Marcia and Laurie from Port Macquarie!
On the second night we went to bed after gazing out on green farmlands. The next morning was completely different. During the night, at Golmud, another engine was hooked on and we started the climb into the mountains. By daybreak we were on the Tibetan plateau; flat grazing lands covered in green and flanked by snow capped mountains. The sounds from the cabins were "ooohhh" and "ahhhh" as the adventurers awoke to the beautiful sights.
All through the second day we climbed higher into the mountains. Altitude sickness started to take its toll on 4 or 5 of the group, with headaches and nausea. The oxygen facilities on the train helped and were most welcome, as we had to climb to about 4,700 metres before descending to Lhasa which is 3,700 metres above sea level.
In Lhasa we arrived at 8pm and were met by our guide, Chimpell and the driver, Lobsang. Jill Connellan was also at the station to meet us and joins us for the Tibet leg of the journey.
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