China (Golmud, Qinghai) Sept 2012

Xining > Golmud, Qinghai (785km)

Golmud > Lhasa, Tibet (1.164km)

Train: Xining > Golmud - Y45 (hard seat); Golmud > Xining - Y106 (hard seat)

Food: Y37

Taxi: Xining West train station - Y21

Bus: Y2
Subdries: Y25

Total cost incurred: Y236

Golmud (2,800m), Qinghai

As a solo traveler, I was unable to obtain an entry permit to Tibet. Golmud, Qinghai used to be an outpost of China. After the completion of the Lhasa Express train line in 2008, it is no longer a hassle taking a train from Xining or Golmud to Tibet.

So for curiosity sake, I took a day train (08.30>20.00) from Xining to Golmud. The scenery on this stretch of route is rather monotonous, mostly semi-arid lands. I did not bother to stay overnight in Golmud, so upon arrival after a dinner at a nearby restaurant in the Golmud town, I took the next earliest night train (22.35>08.30) back to Xining. What a whirlwind visit to Golmud !

1) The start of my train ride from Xining West station > Golmud, Qinghai (approx 784km)

2) Countryside scenery as viewed from train's windows

3) Golmud train station, Qinghai 

" No window shopping for me on this Golmud visit; this ambitious trip from Xining to Golmud, Qinghai (to & fro) by trains for 24 hours on a single day was all about window viewings from the trains to capture a glimpse of the Qinghai landscape, short of my dream visit to Tibet.

When the going is tough, the tough get going - no regret at all after making this trip ....only "crazy" traveller like me could take on this whirlwind train trip from Xining to Golmud & return on the same day ! "