Golmud Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Train

Express trains depart in the evening for Xīníng (train 5702, 14 hours) and Lánzhōu (train N904, 18 hours). A hard sleeper berth to Xīníng costs Y131 to Y156. Avoid the slower local train (8760).

Practical details for the Lhasa train were sketchy at time of writing. No trains actually start in Golmud but you should be able to buy tickets on a through train, of which there are four or five a day. A hard seat on the morning train costs Y143 but at the time of writing you couldn’t buy a ticket at the train station without first shelling out Y1440 to CITS for a tour/permit. This may change. Bear in mind that long-distance trains often arrive a few hours late. The 1140km trip takes around 15 hours.

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Air

Nobody actually flies to Golmud, but if you want to buck the trend, the city has four weekly flights to Xīníng (Y920) and Chéngdū (Y1350). Airport buses (Y10) depart from CAAC (842 3333; Chaidamu Lu), or take a taxi (Y30).

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