Train to Tibet

Going to Tibet was high on our list of China adventures so we really wanted to make it happen and luckily we did. Although you can buy an air ticket pretty easily from a few places in western China there was no resisting a chance to take the world's highest train from Beijing to Lhasa. We opted for the soft sleeper car which has four comfortable bunk beds and is pretty luxurious for Chinese standards. The train ride was pretty incredible especially the second half travelling up through the mountains and gorges on our way to Tibetan plateau. For the most part the journey is very relaxing even though the quarters are very close. As the air gets thinner oxygen is pumped into the cars via a central system.

Although the train is billed as non-smoking in the cars and completely non-smoking during the latter half of the trip when major elevation gains are in effect there was no enforcement whatsoever during any part of the trip. I would not recommend this trip for somebody with allergies. On the other hand if you have always dreamed of becoming a smoker China could be your dream destination.
Train stats:
highest point on trip 16,737 ft
Beijing-Lhasa 2519 miles
47.5 hours