How do I get Beijing to Lhasa Soft Sleeper Train Tickets

I need to know this too. Has anyone done it?

I still haven't found an answer to my question yet. There are a couple persistent folks who continue to recommend Leo's Hostel, but so far from my dealings with them I have chosen not to use them. I'm not leaving until the end of the month and I won't be able to have tickets in hand for sure until 10 or 11 days prior to departure.

#2, that's because train tickets in China don't go on sale till a max of 10/11 days before departure date. So no one would be able to confirm with you about those, earlier than that. The only trains which go on sale 20 days before departure date would be D and Z trains.
Cheers!

Thank you ellyse for thisinformation. Can you tell us if when the tickets go on sale they sell out quckly as a Rolling Sones Concert? So can you count on getting a soft sleeper on a specific day? And where would be the best place to get the ticket in Beijing? Thanks much

Sorry, I'm not based in Beijing nor have I ever bought tickets for the Beijing -- Lhasa train, so I'm no position to comment.
Cheers!

I'm hoping someone has any new information on this. I work in rural China and can make all the arrangements for a trip to Tibet, but can't find anyone who can help purchase tickets on the Beijing-Lhasa train for the end of the first week in April. I'll be in Beijing for 2 days prior to the time I want to go, but would like to obtain tickets now as opposed to waiting. If anyone has any ideas on who I can contact to help purchase train tickets, it would be appreciated. Thanks much.

dogslife

Try contacting the agent who is arranging your Tibet permit.

Train tickets from mainland China (especially Chengdu, Xining, Shanghai and Beijing) are very difficult to get, even if you book the soft sleepers, it cannot be guaranteed and you may get hard sleepers instead (or postpone your trip if you must get the soft sleepers in case they can't get the soft sleepers on your preferred date).

The booking is so corrupted and so confusing that most tour agents will not help you to get the train tickets alone if you are not joining a tour.

Booking fee can also be very expensive, sometimes around 300 RMB to 450 RMB per ticket (the ticket price is around 800 only, imagine if you are paying RMB 300 for the reservation, it's actually quite ridiculous!)

I would suggest you to ask your tour agents who help you to make the permit if they can buy the tickets for you, this is probably the most straightforward way.

If train tickets are a lot of pain, I would suggest you to fly into Lhasa instead.

While the train may have very little acclimatization effect (the train compartment is not pressurized, but filled with oxygen, so the acclimatization effect is not very effective).