THIS is what the world’s highest train line with over 600 miles of track and speeds of 100mph looks like – it even terminates at an iconic landmark.
The so-called Sky Train has been dubbed a “miracle” of engineering.
The line reaches an elevation of over 5,000m[/caption]
The train connects Xining to Lhasa[/caption]
The line attracts thousands of tourists each year[/caption]
Train line ends at world famous landmark
The Qinghai-Tibet railway connects Xining in Qinghai Province, central China, to Lhasa in Tibet.
In addition to stretching across hundreds of miles, the line also crosses challenging terrain from high-altitude permafrost to the Kunlun Mountains.
Climbing to a staggering elevation of 5,702m the transport route has claimed the title of world’s highest train line.
Beyond this, it also terminates at a famous landmark – Lhasa City, Tibet.
Also known as the Forbidden City, Lhasa is famed for being the spiritual and cultural centre of Tibetan Buddhism.
It is also home to many iconic landmarks including, the Potala Palace and Jokhang.
The city draws in large crowds of tourists and pilgrims from all over the world.
Bridges make up a seventh of the railway[/caption]
The train terminates in Lhasa, Tibet[/caption]
Lhasa is more commonly known as The Forbidden City[/caption]
Nearly fifty years in the making
The train line also boasts idyllic views of “the roof of the world”, as passengers look out on a vast landscape.
Work began on this huge project over fifty years ago in 1958.
Today, the line transports up to 70,000 passengers a day.
In 1984, construction of the first section was completed, and saw the linking of Xining with Golmud.
During this time, the trains operating on the line were powered by steam, whereas now the locomotives run on either diesel or electric.
By 2006, the Golmud to Lhasa section opened, marking the completion of the line.
Lhasa tourism boom
Upon its completion, the region saw a significant tourism boom with 2.5 million visitors arriving in the first five months alone.
This triggered above-national-average growth, leading to a radical remodelling of Lhasa to cater to the sudden surge.
Hotels were quick to go up, as well as, paved roads and condominiums.
During the inauguration ceremony at Golmud Station, President Hu Jintao described the section of the railway as “a magnificent feat in China’s history of railway construction.”
The president also dubbed it a “miracle of the world’s railroad history”, reports the BBC.
To overcome the issue of seriously uncertain foundations, a full seventh of the route was built on bridges.
The primary route from Xining to Lhasa takes approximately 20 hours with the trains offering hard and soft sleepers, in addition to hard seats.
Lhasa City has accommodated for the surge in tourism by building more hotels and roads[/caption]
The route boasts spectacular views of the vast rural landscape[/caption]
The line transports up to 70,000 passengers each day[/caption]
Sun Travel’s favourite train journeys in the world
Sun Travel’s journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.
Davos to Geneva, Switzerland
“After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass.” – Caroline McGuire
Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen
“Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you’re whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too – as you’ll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way.” Kara Godfrey
London to Paris by Eurostar
“Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord.” – Sophie Swietochowski
Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail
“From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond.” – Hope Brotherton
Beijing to Ulaanbatar
“The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city’s high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I’ve witnessed anywhere.” – Ryan Gray