Transportation condition in Tibet has changed greatly in recent years. Lhasa can be accessed by air, train or by bus, but it is most convenient for tourists to get to Tibet by air.   By Air By Train By Taxi By Bus

By Air

To get to Lhasa, most foreign travelers arrive by plane. Chengdu, Beijing, Xian, Chongqing and Xining are all the starting points to Lhasa.
Gonggar Airport connects Lhasa with most cities. The airport is located in Gonggar County, about 65 kilometers (40.3 miles) south of Lhasa city. It takes aboutw 2 hours minutes and costs approximately CNY 25 by shuttle bus to downtown Lhasa.

By Train

Traveling by train to Lhasa is another choice. The first section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway between Xining and Golmud was put into use in 1984. The second section between Golmud and Lhasa began to operate on the 1st of July, 2006. With a total length of 1,956 km (around 1,215 miles), Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the longest plateau railway and also the highest in the world beginning from Xining in Qinghai and ends in Lhasa. Trains on the railway are well equipped. Signs inside the carriage are written in both Tibetan and Chinese Han language. Oxygen respirators are available too.
At present, there are seven railway lines to Lhasa from Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Lanzhou, Xining, Chongqing and Chengdu. They pass through many big cities and special tourist lines are opened via Qinghai Lake, Kunlun Mountains, Kekexili, the Three Rivers Resource Area, Northern Tibetan Grassland, Potala Palace and other famous sights in the plateau.

By Taxi

It is easy to hail a taxi on the city streets. The taxi fare is RMB 10 for travel anywhere within the city. For longer trips, you need to negotiate a fare with the driver beforehand. It is necessary to point out that during peak seasons the drivers like to charge higher prices.

By Bus or Mini-bus

Buses are available in central Tibet, but for tourists, they can take these busses only if they have the travel permit. Mini-busses are the main form of transport in Lhasa city, and throughout Tibet. It is a quick and convenient way to get across town. Travelers can easily find microbuses and charges usually start at 5RMB.