Shanghai to Lhasa by Train

I'm assuming you've already arranged your trip with an agent and will have a Tibet travel permit. You won't be able to get on the train without the permit.

For the journey, take food and plenty of reading material, ipod, computer or whatever else you need to pass the time. There are boiling water urns in each carriage, so take a mug and tea-bags/coffee if you drink it. A lot of people take instant noodles to eat.

Toilet paper and wet wipes or hand sanitiser are also useful.

To Joolz2,
Thank you for the valuable information. I do have a permit lined up so hopefully it will all happen. You answered another question that has been floating around in my head and that one was regarding electronics. I have a Kindle with several books on Tibet downloaded and would seriously hate having it confiscated...could this be a problem?

Confiscated? Why? Have you ever heard of a foreigner on a train or plane or otherwise have reading material suspected of anything?

You know how much the Chinese love electronics, Ipads and Iphones, not mention books? Unless you carry a large sign denouncing the Govt/issues in Tibet, they could careless what you are reading.

The average Chinese is more connected electronically, than most westerners...

Thanks for your comment SoloHobo. Actually, I have had reading materials confiscated. That was on a train from Finland to what was then Leningrad. After the border crossing soviet soldiers boarded the train, went through everyone's luggage and took anything readable.

I'm just thinking that in politically sensitive areas times may not have changed that much.

In Tibet proper, westerners need to exercise caution if involved with protest/street demonstrations, rallies, and associating with certain anti-govt agent types...in other words, just keep on the up and up, journalist draw the ire of the authorities.

A couple of thoughts:
You might want a middle bunk in the cabin. The lower bed is used by all during the day to sit on. The upper one is ok if you like to climb. I liked the middle one; easier to get to. So, you
can ask your permit/ticket agent to buy a ticket asking for the middle bunk, and hope that its available.
One small item -- I took a pair of inexpensive slippers to walk around in. Slip ons are more practical than regular shoes. I discarded them at the end of the trip. Those floors around the wash basins and the bathrooms are usually wet and slippery.
I took my own food, however, many folks ate in well-stocked dinning room, altho' it got crowded during meal times.
At the start my ticket was picked up by one of the conductors and in its place he gave me a plastic card. At the end of the trip I had to show and turn in the plastic card; my ticket was then returned. So -- hold on to that plastic card.
I like long train rides.

Have fun!

To SanchoPanza1, Thanks for those Great Thoughts...and very useful ones they are!

I am heading to Lhasa via train from Chengdu on April 18th. I will be traveling solo and am wondering if we will be on the same train? My trip is about 44 hours from Chengdu and goes to Lanzhou, Xining, Golmud and then on to Lhasa (with a couple of other stops mixed in). The responses to your e-mail were helpful to me too. I have heard that the train food is pretty good but expensive. I am looking forward to the train ride... and the scenery.

The train that I was taking from Shanghai to Lhasa was to leave on April 15 That trip is 47 hours. Sadly, since my last posting a personal emergency has forced me to postpone this trip until later this year. Have you arranged for train tickets and permits yet?

I was using Tibetravel.org. It's CITS but they seemed to be able to make train connections more easily than the Tibetan organizations that I contacted.

Good luck and have fun!