Qinghai-Tibet railway is a great man-made world wonder in the world. There are many technical difficulties for such a railway. About half of the second section was built on barely permanent permafrost. In the summer, the uppermost layer thaws, and the ground becomes muddy. Chinese engineers dealt with this problem by building elevated tracks with foundations sunk deep into the ground, building hollow concrete pipes beneath the tracks to keep the rail bed frozen, and using metal sun shades. The completion of this world’s highest railway is a change in Tibet’s history without railway. After its operation in 2006, tourists can take a train to Lhasa from Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc.

Below are some facts about the Qinghai-Tibet Railway:

Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the world’s highest railway. Some 960 kilometers of its tracks are located 4,000 meters above sea level and the highest point is 5,072 meters, at least 200 meters higher than the Peruvian railway in the Andes, which was formerly the world’s most elevated track.
The railway is the world’s longest plateau railroad, extending 1,956 kilometers from Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region. The newly completed Golmud-Lhasa section zigzags 1,142 kilometers across the Kunlun and Tanggula mountain ranges.
About 550 kilometers of the tracks run on frozen earth, the longest in any of the world’s plateau railways.
Tanggula Railway Station, 5,068 meters above sea level, is the highest railway station in the world.
Fenghuoshan Tunnel, 4,905 meters above sea level, is the world’s most elevated tunnel on frozen earth.
Kunlun Mountain Tunnel, running 1,686 meters, is the world’s longest plateau tunnel built on frozen earth.
Upon its completion, the maximum train speed is designed to reach 100 km/h in the frozen earth areas and 120 km/h on non-frozen earth.
Construction of the Golmud-Lhasa section of the landmark railway commenced on June 29, 2001 and test runs were on July 1, 2006.
1,686 meters: Kunlun Mountain Tunnel, running 1,686 meters, is the world’s longest plateau tunnel built on frozen earth.
4,905 meters: Fenghuoshan Tunnel, 4,905 meters above sea level, is the world’s most elevated tunnel on frozen earth.
45 stations: Altogether there are 45 stations along the rail line. Tanggula Railway Station, 5,068 meters above sea level, is the highest railway station in the world.
120 kilometers per hour: Upon its completion, the maximum train speed is designed to reach 100 km per hour in the frozen earth areas and 120 km per hour on non-frozen earth.
1,956 kilometers: The railway is the world’s longest plateau railroad, extending 1,956 kilometers from Qinghai’s provincial capital Xining to Lhasa in Tibet.
5,072 meters: Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the world’s highest railway. Part of its tracks are located 4,000 meters above sea level and the highest point is 5,072 meters.
550 kilometers:About 550 kilometers of the tracks run on frozen earth, the longest in any of the world’s plateau railways.