The railway closest to the sky: The Lhasa-Shigatse “Lari Railway” to open in August

The Lari Railway is 253 kilometers long, with altitudes ranging between 3,600 and 4,000 meters, and has 13 stations. It is the section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway that maintains the highest altitude throughout its route.Starting from Lhasa Station, the terminus of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the Lari Railway is designed with a speed of 120 km/h. The line traverses nearly 90 kilometers of the Yarlung Tsangpo River canyon area, offering breathtaking views of Tibet’s magnificent natural scenery within just a two-hour journey.

The opening of the Lari Railway will completely change the current situation where southwestern Tibet relies solely on road transport, marking the end of an era without railway access.

The travel time from Shigatse to Lhasa is drastically reduced to just two hours, making it easier for those who wish to see the splendor of Mount Everest. The railway will have a significant impact on the over 700,000 people in southwestern Tibet, and is expected to boost the local economy, particularly in mineral exports and tourism development.