We Rode the Worlds Highest Railway | Tibet Train Ride from Beijing to Lhasa

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the highest railway in the world, crossing the Tanggula Pass at 5,068 meters (16,627 ft). Tibet travel VLOG • Once in a Lifetime Tri...
Tibet Travel Guide weretherussos.com/everest-bas...
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[@Weretherussos]

Info on Tibet Travel: weretherussos.com/everest-base-camp-tibet/

[@Auzzzie82]

Someone sounds jealous of Chinese success!!

[@kannithaingridnuestro766]

@@Auzzzie82 jàpan

[@mahmudmitu]

How could I get permit to travel or do business in lasha

[@morelovenaresh]

howmuch speed nd cost nd where to where teavel

[@user-dw9do5vz7m]

真正优秀的人，绝不是因为他到处展现自己的优越感，总用挑剔的眼光看待一切。而是因为他懂得尊重，能够欣赏不同的环境和人。 就像我去美国的时候，不会抱怨糟糕的基础设施，满街的大胖子和乞丐一样。

[@ZoeCuiM]

有你这么夸自己的吗？😂😂😂

[@plewin4681]

I'm the only white man he Say's at the train station , as a white man walks behind him in shot 😂

[@cricetus9361]

that guy ain't white enough 😂

[@deziking]

He didn't have a cowboy hat.

[@nutlover3609]

He could be a jew

[@Caocao8888]

But he's not a Southern Baptist.

[@GyacoYu]

Once you arrive at Lhasa, white people will outnumber Tibetans 😂😂😂

[@afendiafendi9642]

I went to tibet on 2013. Its really beautiful and exciting. But the thin oxigen made me really sick for the whole 7 days trip. Love from Indonesia.

[@PeterGregoryKelly]

I had some mild altitude sickness in Tibet. Nothing too bad. The train trip going up to 5,072 metres was memorable. The Chinese are building another railway to Tibet from Sichuan connecting Lhasa and Chengdu which will be finished in about 2030. The first stage from Lhasa to Nyingchi will open next year.

[@ZhangtheGreat]

Yeah, it can be rough upon high altitude if you're suddenly just...there. It takes the body time to adjust, just like it does with jet lag.

[@zhumadeleine4041]

If you have the chance to go to Tibet, I suggest you to Nyingchi, where it is the region with the lowest altitude, best climate and best ecological environment in Tibet.

[@97anthonyz]

@@paldentsering6210 Free California from America

[@Sleepyhead101]

@@paldentsering6210 psytrance lul

[@xiaotianhuang5818]

The natural scenery of Tibet is truly unparalleled. Like heaven, in 2013, I went to Tibet from Guangxi Province by bicycle. It took 2 months to ride 2000 kilometers. It was a crazy move! I plan to drive to Tibet this year!（西藏的自然景色真的无与伦比，天堂一样，2013年，我骑自行车从广西去西藏，花了2个月时间，骑行2000公里，那真是疯狂的举动！今年打算开车去西藏！）

[@ninad8480]

太酷啦！勇敢！

[@mynameismyname8608]

Bicycle... OMG..!! Wish you good luck and best fitness...

[@kreteshi9788]

佩服佩服

[@Himalayan_Overland]

2 months 2000kms on bicycle... WOW. great..

[@cassielsean9990]

Is it true that tourists need to bring their poops back when they leave there?

[@williamt3931]

The train looks fantastic, much better than the older version of the train. China has done really good job to improve transportation system throughout China.

[@hoganhughes3265]

Welcome to China, and I promise you'll have a great journey here.The most important, you'll see a totally different country that is often denigrated by the western media (except sometimes the air pollution issue in some industrial cities.🤣The cost of development,but we're working on it and have tremendous progress)

[@BamesNond4882]

you don't say? kinda wrong there, some places have just barely roads that go there.

[@hoganhughes3265]

@@BamesNond4882 Are you telling me that the world's most efficient infrastructure conductor can't build roads in some places? Well then, no one else build that road if you refer to Himalaya

[@BamesNond4882]

@@hoganhughes3265 Yeah something like that

[@Rabbit-yo1cc]

German technology

[@cottagegymfun]

Came here looking for lives on a van, instead got to see the bullet train going from Beijing to Tibet holy cow what an unexpected treat! Keep'em coming :)

[@ALWH1314]

Riding the train to Tibet is a bucket list item for me. Thank you for the travel info.

[@maureentweedly]

Magnificent video Russos......that is probably a trip I will never do so I am very appreciative that you have taken us along and shared your adventure. Simply grand....looking forward to more. Thank you.

[@calebwensloff]

Your wife is so positive!! She seems like a fun person to travel with.

[@AlmightyAaron0423]

Caleb I thought that's his nanny

[@yug5156]

Funny right after he said he's the only white person at the station, a white dude walked behind him at 4:18 lol.

[@luxi2701]

Yu G lots of foreigners come to China due to feeling special themselves. In reality, no big difference.

[@rossanoortega]

That is what I was trying to say...

[@johnsoncao3114]

Maybe he think he is more whiter. 😂😂😂😂

[@Unknown_Ooh]

@@luxi2701 wrong

[@briannancylowtay7947]

CHINA IS.N* 1

[@Paul_Lucas]

Great video. Always wanted to do this trip.

[@VicariousVoyager]

You and me both man.

[@timlilijinsheng4070]

@@VicariousVoyager damn, double down

[@ankursagale]

Damn! The bond is strong.

[@abineappanreji4704]

Waiting......

[@604Jimmy]

right after Joe said he was the only white guy for miles, a white guy walks just behind him @4:17

[@heraclesking4527]

hahah noticed that too, and the old gentlman is more white than him, even hair.

[@car24dude]

I bet if you was was from Africa as a black man, they will be on you like green on grass.

[@angleslee935]

Hhhhh cute

[@marcopoloh4759]

White dudes especially Americans have this narcissistic trait of being the only..

[@tropicalcasa]

Outstanding videos, that motivate to go to Tibet. Great trip in a train. Thanks

[@irfannurfajri]

the inspiring video made me want to go to lasha to feel the sensation of riding the train, greetings from Jakarta Indonesia

[@chriswenqingxu2831]

I used to take the train from Beijing to Lahsa in about 42 hours, amazing view all along the trip.

[@oscaren.voyage3094]

Hi - did the trip in the summer of 2009 (after the Total Solar Eclipse of 2009), I had the ‘hard sleeper’ and meet some wonderful Chinese co-travellers on the way.

[@johnmoran8174]

BTW - A while back I watched the building of the train to Lhasa, many problems, they had to account for expansion & compression of the rails and the rails are actually heated because of the extreme weather. As you mentioned, the train is pressurized with oxygen.

[@GerryIsNear]

Wow, oxygen pumped into the trains. Definitely one of the most unique travel experiences I've ever heard of. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

[@robin6564]

An absolutely wonderful adventure👏❤️. So envious but happy to see this video.

[@mazda62632]

Thank you very much! Your filming of this trip is fantastic!

[@RavichandranJv]

9:31 green mountains! Amazing video, one of the best so well done by the Russos!

[@phcphcphc]

This is a really huge upgrade from my train rides on hard sleeper back in 1997

[@petechandanatural]

The squad toilet is actually better to expell your feces, because in the squatting position you open those passages more so to expel more effectively vice sitting on the thrown. Squatting while deficating is healthier because who wants any left over poop in their system.

[@annelizebuitendach7523]

I love train trips. This was very informative. Beautiful scenery going to Tibet. I was in several towns in the Shanxi Province, and as a white woman, I was also stopped and looked at and I ended up on many, many selfies. The people are very friendly.

[@45strength]

Thanks for the information, hope to make on of those trip one day, before I left this planet. It’s sure a beautiful world around we use have to keep it together.

[@deankapu4331]

Thank you for sharing. Very informative. Wow, Train Travel has certainly changed. I took a train In 1990 from Beijing to Harbin on A Dieseled Engine. It took over 18 hours: Now, on a high speed (bullet) train it only takes 8 Hours. It was really comfortable.

[@PakistaniTrucker]

Train journey is different from rest, I realy love. The beauty you see on the way ❤

[@malcolmabram2957]

Thank you for this interesting video. You are right, the best way to get to know a place is on land, be it by train, bus or car. On a train I love looking out of the window.

[@pradeepmane1998]

Wow! What a beautiful railway and railway journey it was. I loved it. Hope one day, I may be able to go and see firsthand.

[@lufth.2042]

Great video! Thanks for sharing your experience. Really good info.

[@coweatsman]

I caught the Tibet train 3 years ago but from Lanzhou, not Xinning. Spectacular scenery. There is an extension rail line from Lhasa to Xigatse which I travelled on. From next year the rail line from Nyinchi to Lhasa will open and that section will be part of the Chengdu/Lhasa rail line which will open in about 2030 being a second line into Tibet from China.

[@KendraCoakleyPense]

so cool! thanks for taking us along!

[@vikram1278]

WOW!!! SO COOL! Thank you for this video. I didn't know this journey existed! It's on my list now. 👍🤝

[@bboyfriend]

wow !! Tibet!! always wanted to go!! cant wait to go soon ! x thanks for sharing!

[@fsh3702]

6:00 is like landing on another planet.

[@AmitSingh-lf8yu]

You people are really living in luxury, Once i had to travel from jammu to tamil nadu (india) for my exam, it was 52 hour journey, and my ticket was not confirmed (although i booked it before 15 days of journey), the train was fully packed with passengers i was forced to do the whole journey by standing and by sitting on the floor. I will never forget that experience.

[@hong3170]

Remind me when I was in university in 1990 our classmates had to travel that kind of long hours standing in the train. I did that too but only 20 hours.

[@JamesBrown-ij1px]

Thank you! First time seeing you both! I’ll be watching more!

[@sunillazar4997]

SPARKLING CLEAN PLATFORMS IN HUMUNGOUS YET EXQUISITELY DESIGNED, AND SUPERBLY ORGANISED RAILWAY STATIONS. ANOTHER HALLMARK OF CHINESE PROPENSITY FOR DETAIL & PERFECTION.

[@toddreimer1158]

Awesome trip! Amazing views!

[@willardcardona5342]

WOW!, 5,068 meters above seal level, that's really has thrill!... My family and I hopefully like to experience this in the future for vacation in China. Thanks for info Joe & Kait, and God Bless....

[@robrodriguez8736]

I had the wonderful opportunity to take the same Qinghai-Tibetan railway a few years ago as a college student studying abroad in Nanjing. Taking the train is definitely the way to go when getting to Tibet.

[@kunga._-123]

QINGHAI, SICHUAN, GANZU, YUNNAN IS ALSO TIBET

[@lauralyon4769]

Loved the video and tips BUT THE ESCALATOR WAS THE BEST!!!!

[@rickymendoza8605]

Love the videos keep them coming 👍🤙

[@jamesmcmahan2376]

I took this train, one of the first trains from Beijing to Lhasa October 2006, no permit required, beautiful blue sky and crystal clear water.

[@user-vh5ce5cd9z]

G318，another amazing way to tibet……enjoy the trip

[@huaweiwifi6691]

How the scene changes from dusty to clear panoramic. Wow.

[@rcasturi55]

Thanks for sharing . You both have a great time

[@MG-bq1uk]

I wish Amtrak trains looked this nice on the inside! Thanks for sharing!

[@louissimons7787]

Are you willing to pay the real cost of your Amtrak trip ? The Feds heavily subsidize Amtrak and it still runs deficits. There is very little money left for new cars.

[@deadlinetugas8181]

@@louissimons7787 i mean if they improve the service poeple will love to use train

[@natraj_j]

The landscape looked surreal. Great trip and video

[@milesbehrstihl5718]

Great Video. Amazing Couple. It is Awesome to do things together. Stay Strong, Stay Healthy

[@kathifoynm]

What a grand adventure, and you two look none the worse for the wear. Loved Kait’s enthusiasm.

[@NancyLudden2]

Awe. But Kait. I do miss your longer hair. 😕 😢 😟

[@flybyairplane3528]

Nancy Ludden I wonder what her family in China thought about her very short cut ?

[@rimonagale1625]

Thanks for sharing the long but comfortable getting there.

[@AbdielOcalagan]

Awesome video! Thank you for sharing.

[@flybyairplane3528]

Actually, glad to see some of your trip, nice!

[@mikeparkerson3484]

When we moved from Florida to Colorado, we left Daytona Beach for Woodland Park, which sits at 8,500-plus feet up in Ute Pass west of Colorado Springs. Unpacking consisted of carrying a box down the truck ramp, then sitting down for five minutes to catch my breath. It took months to adjust to feeling normal again. When the hill climb racing season came around, I was a sports writer chasing hill climbers for the paper. At the top of Battle Mountain, I spent a day at the finish line interviewing drivers at close to 11,500 feet. I was still a smoker and keeping a cigarette lit was tough. But life at nearly two miles high does become normal. One adapts even to that. (I quit smoking soon, however.) I went to the top of Pikes Peak once and felt truly weird. Breathing wasn’t difficult but 10 steps at 14,110 feet tired me enormously. There was lots of air, but little oxygen. If I ever go back, I’ll need to take a tank with me.

[@divox9pqr]

Absolutely amazing railroad journey.

[@shreyasmaheswari9052]

Beautiful !!! The landscape is crazyyy

[@apurbakumarroy1307]

Everything is perfectly paradise. I'm obsessed by watching this lovely video made by you both. I have a keen interest to travel from Beijing to China.But amount is big to afford. Then I have to reach Nepal and Kathmandu to Lhasa by air and then from Lhasa to Beijing and from Being to Lhasa and again Nepal and then again INDIA. So big amount to afford. Therefor I keeping lagging behind thinking the budget but I have been cherishing a dream to travel through the highest rail line train from Beijing to The capital City Lhasa of Tibet. It is life times wonderfully blessed and marvelously great experience to cross through the Paradise on Earth Tibet which is known to us The Roof of the World. Magically enchanting to look through the window extraordinary beautiful surroungding full of natural beauty from the start Beijing to Lhasa. A wonderfully marvelous train journey which can achieve a lucky few to keep the unforgettable memories forever in their minds to recall during the painful times to get comforts and peace of mind. Thank for uploading such magnificent video.

[@donald6688]

Thanks for the fantastic video!

[@shireenpaul2017]

Thanks for the spectacular video....

[@giannizampolli]

Great video, and thanks for being so natural and spontaneous!

[@Weretherussos]

You’re very welcome

[@nottiebynature]

I missed the live chat, but I like how we could chat with you real-time.

[@JTforItaly]

Lol, I think I got altitude sickness just watching this video! You guys filmed such beautiful scenery though, one day I may brave that trip.

[@DrTalks-wx7ed]

This remind me of college days.. i travelled 8 days across Beijing to Nepal

[@robsemail]

I'll get there, though perhaps by another route. I'm in love with Nepal, and so I will probably take a vacation there once every few years for as long as I live and am able to travel. On my last trip there I went to the Mustang region, which is on the western side of Nepal and south of the border with Tibet. A special permit is required to go to the area closest to Tibet, and I did not acquire that permit, but I may do that next time. Mustang is the most beautiful place I have ever been, largely populated by Tibetan expats, and I intend to investigate whether it is possible to get a visa that will allow me to enter Tibet from Nepal. If not, then I will take this railway most likely, in a few years.

[@brianwinters5434]

in Hawaii you can drive in a passenger car to the top of Hailiakala in a passenger car. it is over 10,000 feet. it was harder in the early 200s than in 19080 0n my honeymoon, the stairs seemed much higher 25 years later.

[@wanerjim7749]

thanks for sharing. I v been lasha for two times

[@scotmarq]

It looks awesome!!! What a ride!

[@padamagarwal8184]

It looks very exciting and promises great scenery on the way.

[@julesl7679]

What a fun travel experience. Have a blast.

[@jerryj5606]

兰州 is my home town! Thanks for sharing the video.

[@maroon419]

My hometown too!

[@Haleluo]

兰州拉面 is my home

[@skunk614]

we only call it 牛肉面@@Haleluo

[@senya4040]

@@Bhumoyakpo Why？

[@Sleepyhead101]

very good vpn!!

[@rongxiangliu257]

我没去过西藏，感谢老外的视频带我去了一次。

[@eyetsal2264]

Rongxiang Liu 我去过一周，难忘的体验，海拔太高，刚去的一段时间因为缺氧脑瓜一直疼，还好没高反，风景不错，找机会去玩

[@DnSAdventures]

Wow that is so awesome! Can't wait to see the rest of the journey guys! :) I felt a little funky on when driving trail ridge road in Colorado, wonder if I am some of those same conditions you have Joe. Hope all is well! - Shane

[@flybyairplane3528]

DnSAdventures you need to go on some SOUTH AMERICAN RAILWAYS, switchbacks to go up, and they give you some oxygen, by large bags, .

[@ngfunboon4824]

We did this trip way back in 2013, 7 of us. Took the train from Beijing (not the bullet train). We had a Beijing friend booked and bought the train tickets for us. Its snapped up very fast the moment tickets open for booking. He's right though, if you do not have the foreigner's permit, you cannot alight at Lhasa train station, you have to backtrack out of Tibet. Unless you're Richard Gere (staunch follower of the Dalai Lhama), you can easily book a trip via the many agents on the websites , and the agents will arrange for your permit upon your arrival at Lhasa train station. There's also another permit which the agent will obtain for you, i.e. the travel within Tibet permit. Do not fret my friends, just book this railway trip with the tour agents. They will arrange everything. Do not try to embark on this journey by your own, I.e. backpack on this trip. Its difficult to buy the train tickets let alone you cannot obtain the foreigner's permit without the tour agents help. The real purpose is they want the tour agents to monitor your activities in case there are the ' Free Tibet Movement' in their midst. Our journey from Beijing took us 43 hours to Lhasa train station. Yes, he's right, right after Tanggula pass (elevation 5,200 m) the sleeper berth will bleed oxygen at the corner of your bunk. If you dont want to dine out at the food car, there will be a lady usher with a pushcart selling ready to eat foods, instant noodles, snacks, fruits, drinks, water, beer, ciggies..every hour.you must take this trip once in your lifetime. Security at Lhasa is tight. At every corner of the city, there will be military checkpoints, X ray scanners, body searches. Wonderful part is, Potala Palace is right smack in the middle of the city. Sad though, you can't take pictures within the temple grounds.

[@357721386]

Hoho, it's really a long trip, thanks for your video. If there is a chance, we should go to Tibet, it's one of the beautiful places on the planet.

[@wiredmp]

Good insight into what the actual travel was like. How was the food on Trains? Looking forward to next part.

[@Jomievolution8]

Hi guys!!!!!! I love visiting China it’s been an awesome experience !! Glad you guys are having fun.

[@pumpkinpit2606]

Kalsang Choedon Because Tibet is a province of China ，the high ways was built by Chinese government

[@partyhu]

Kalsang Choedon 傻缺能死远一点吗？

[@devsh9803]

Tibet is very nice and peaceful country.

[@ChardonnayWest]

An FYI to the western friends here. Most people do NOT take the train from Beijing but rather from Chengdu/Lanzhou which is much closer.

[@javasoy]

really nice video, you guys!

[@jessicafeinleib7850]

I went from Guangzhou (Canton) to Lhasa by train and bus over a similar route in 1994. It took 4 days and the trains had triple decker bunk beds in the 1st class. The floors were covered in spit and the bathrooms were unmentionable! The last phase of the trip was from Golmud to Lhasa by bus for 22hrs in a 1950s English built bus. The locals had sheeps stomachs filled with oxygen to puff on during the trip. For 10hrs there was no bus "station" rest stop. So I begged my friend to ask the bus driver to stop after 8hrs for a pee. (Yes I am a wimp) At that altitude there is vegetation and only some rocks. So I just had to pee for all to see or burst. This trip sounds like a dream now. Also we were a bit under the radar as at that time there was a separate currency system FEC vs RMB that cost 10x as much.

[@saudfaisal5478]

Comparing 1994 and now, China has developed much.

[@hong3170]

You are a brave girl. Most tourists took plane to go to Tibet at that time. 1990's were the worst time to travel in China by train. Railway system couldn't keep up the pase of rapid economic development. China was following USA way to develop automobile industry and to build more highways than railways. The railways were outdated and slow. The changes started in 1997. You should visit again and take the same route from Guangzhou to Lhasa. There is a direct high speed train from Guangzhou to Lanzhou and then overnight train to Lhasa.

[@dhirendrabahadurbista]

A rare Railway of world who need Oxygn.

[@idtyu]

This is a good way of travelling to Tibet, helps you to climatize, rather than sudden altitude change from plane rides

[@deepalib3096]

What a lovely train journey on the world's highest railway!

[@betty-in-air]

You are lucky to complete this trip successfully, it's indeed an once in a lifetime opportunity.

[@jimwong2269]

Nice video! Thanks!

[@julianeccleshall8397]

thanks for the video! i have never ride on one of those 'green skin' train in my life. the general impression of green skin is poorly equipped and unclean, but the one in your video is pretty good. cheers!

[@lynnepierce3676]

Thanks for sharing your China/Tibet trip😊. Will probably not get a chance to visit. Really enjoy seeing where you travel. Looking forward to seeing where you go next.😊

[@al.va.ro.magnetizers5792]

It's a good reason to visit Lhasa ,Thanks for recording this.

[@Weretherussos]

Always welcome

[@allankawakami7851]

What an exciting journey!

[@intikhabhussainmirza1975]

Excellent video man!

[@kalinga2nihon]

These kind of travel videos are great for people who can't afford to travel for real. 20 Years ago, people who couldn't travel could only see other places via photographs and left it to their imagination. Now we can travel virtually, not only the places but also enjoy a train ride! Unlike the last decade's 480p quality documentaries, we can travel with vloggers in 4K.

[@madisonhuang2960]

great video! I LOVEIT.

[@cdlady54_95]

Awesome trip! You guys look great and inspired me to purchase an Instsnt Pot. Now Kait, what are some good starter stay healthy get going recipes?

[@KARTAVIDEO2TRAINS]

Waw, Nice trip. Greetingfrom Indonesia.

[@quintoflyer]

thanks for the journey

[@nguyenhoangthanhphong]

it's really really cool trip. I do love this route so much... Thanks for your Vlog

[@Weretherussos]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@iknowu6068]

catching a train to Tibet. this is epic!!!

[@raymondcheang1405]

Amazing trip, from Beijing to lanzhou, lanzhou to xining, xining to Tibet via lhasa. Thumb up

[@LenaMellow]

So awesome they built this!