The railway journey extends 1,980 kilometers between the two terminals of Xining and Lhasa. From Golmud to Lhasa, the railway crosses deserts, Gobi, marshes, wetland, snow capped mountains and meadow, unfolding heavenly sceneries before passengers' eyes.

Like a glistening ribbon, it travels through Mount Kunlun, the king of mountains, and by the Tuotuo River, the origin of the Yangtzi River, before traversing the Qiangtang Grassland, the carpet of Heaven. The ribbon finally ends in the holy city of Lhasa.

Video

 Xining-Golmud

Qinghai Lake, lying in the northeast of Qinghai Province, approximately 150 km from Xining, is famous for its Bird Island. May and June are the best seasons for bird watching. More than ten species -- including geese, gulls, sandpipers, cormorants, black-necked cranes and brown-headed gulls - nest on the island during the spring time. About 100,000 migratory birds occupy an area of 0.8 square kilometers, making it a paradise for people as well as birds.

Sixty km east of Gulmod Station is the second largest salt lake in the world, the Chaerhan Salt Lake. Covering an area of 6,000 square km, Chaerhan boasts a 32-km highway that runs along its shores paved with salt. It is said that the salt here could satisfy world demand for 2,000 years.

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