Society

Luxury train to Lhasa costs $10,000 a ticket

By Zhao Chenyan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-03-31 16:14

A luxury train from Beijing to Lhasa, capital of Tibet autonomous region, with a ticket price of more than $10,000 is expected to put into operation this year, according to an official with Tibet Tourism Bureau, Tibet Daily reported Thursday.

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Liao Lisheng, director of policies and regulations department of Tibet Tourism Bureau, said the train can only take 108 passengers and its travel time would last a week.

The rooms on the train will be classified into different standards and luxuries for passengers include baths and meeting areas, Liao said.

Due to limited tickets reservations are required, Liao added.

Another official with Tibet Tourism Bureau said that the department would outline more detailed plans in April.

As the Tibetan travel season nears, airlines to Lhasa will increase and Tibet Airlines plans to test flights soon.

Liao said that during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015), China planned to invest 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) in Tibet's tourism infrastructure construction and the Tibet autonomous regional government would also establish more campsites for travelers who drive.