Xining Transportation

Getting Around
Qinghai Province is one of China's least accessible and roughest regions. Beyond the capital Xining, which has fairly convenient transport on to Golmud following the old southern Silk Road, your transport options may be limited to the tourist routes that head either to the massive Qinghai Lake or on into Tibet.

By Bus
Although it is not recommended to take a bus from most provincial destinations, except from nearby cities in Sichuan and Gansu, buses remain a popular form of transport and are usually the cheapest. Bus is the best way to visit the Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Temple), Qinghai Lake, and the only way to continue on from Golmud into Tibet.

By Train
In the past, the most popular mode of transport to enter the province was by rail, despite the long hours that these journeys often took. The monotony of the long stretches is offset by the grand views of the rough plateau scenery en route. With the recent railway improvements, it now takes just 33 or 44 hours to Xining from Beijing or Shanghai, respectively. Train also remains the most comfortable way to reach Golmud.

By Air
Qinghai boasts two airports, one in Xining, the capital city, and another in Golmud, a small city to the west of the capital. Thanks to the region's growing popularity among Chinese and foreign tourists, it is now possible to access the capital from almost all the major cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xian. Golmud Airport is far less accessible, and frequently flights to Xining or Xian here are postponed or cancelled due to low demand.