The document discusses travel to Tibet after the Yaan earthquake and concludes that it is safe. Transportation to Tibet, including flights and trains, were not affected by the quake. While the Sichuan-Tibet highway is closed to foreigners, the Qinghai-Tibet highway remains open as an overland route. Train and air travel from major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu are the most common options for foreigners, and these were not impacted by the earthquake. The Tibet tourism permit process also remains straightforward after the quake.

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Some travelers who have a Tibet tour plan in 2013 may be wondering whether it is safe to travel
to Tibet after Yaan Quake. The answer is absolutely YES. All areas in Tibet Autonomous Region
are not affected by the earthquake. The transportation to Tibet, including flights and trains to
Tibet, is also not affected by the Yaan earthquake.
Yaan is located at the border between Chengdu Plain and Tibetan Border and works as an
important gateway city for travelers who travel to Tibet by Sichuan-Tibet Highway which is not
open to foreign travelers. At present, only Chinese citizens are allowed to travel to Tibet by
Sichuan-Tibet Highway which is a scenic road popular among Chinese travelers who travel to
Tibet by car or by bike. If travelers want to travel to Tibet by overland, they can choose
Qinghai-Tibet Highway instead of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.
For foreign travelers, travelling to Tibet by train or flight from mainland China and by overland
from Kathmandu to Lhasa are the most common ways. After the earthquake, all the trains and
flights to Tibet are in normal operation.
At present, Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the world’s highest railway, is the only rail to Tibet. Tourists can
take a train to Tibet from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Xining, Lanzhou,
Xian, etc. The Beijing to Lhasa train, Chengdu to Lhasa train, Shanghai to Lhasa train and Xining to
Lhasa train are the most popular trains to Tibet among foreign tourists for Beijing, Shanghai and
Chengdu are famous international metropolises in mainland China, while Xining is the starting
point of the famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
Accordingly, the train tickets to Lhasa from Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu are in great demand
and usually sold out several days before departure, especially the sleeper train tickets. As it takes
a very long time to travel to Tibet by train, most travelers prefer sleeper berth. It is easier for
travelers to book train tickets from Xining to Lhasa for all trains to Tibet make stopover at Xining.
There are three kinds of Tibet train tickets, soft-sleeper, hard-sleeper and seat tickets. In fact, the
hard-sleeper berth is also soft, not hard. One difference between the soft-sleeper and hard
sleeper is that four passengers share one soft-sleeper compartment, while six passengers share
one hard-sleeper compartment. Therefore, there is more private room in a soft-sleeper
compartment. Another difference is that there is a door for each soft-sleeper compartment and
no door for hard-sleeper compartment.
After the Qinghai-Tibet Railway put in operation in July, 2006, going to Tibet by train prevails
among both domestic and overseas travelers. But travelling to Tibet by air is still an easy way. On
one hand, it is fastest way to Tibet. One the other hand, it is easier to book an air ticket to Tibet
than train tickets because there are more options on flights to Tibet.
Currently, tourists can fly to Lhasa directly from major cities of mainland China, like Beijing,
Shanghai, Chengdu, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Xining, Xi'an, Kunming, Zhongdian, Xiamen,

2. etc. There are also flights from Chengdu to Nyingchi, southeast Tibet and from Kathmandu to
Lhasa.
Another popular way to Tibet among foreigners is travelling from Kathmandu to Lhasa by
overland via Friendship Highway. The road condition of the Friendship Hwy is quite good. Besides,
travelers can visit many famous tourist sites en route, such as Mt. Everest, Tashilhunpo
Monastery, Yamdrok Lake and so on.
After the Yaan Earthquake, it is not only safe to travel to Tibet, but very easy to travel to Tibet due
to the easy application for Tibet permits. According to the policy on Tibet permit 2013, even solo
travelers can get Tibet permit easily so that travelers enjoy more flexibility on Tibet tour.