Lhasa Transportation
Getting to Lhasa
Lhasa Gongar Airport
Now people get to Lhasa and get away from Lhasa is by air or by bus. People will be able to take train to Lhasa very soon. It is convenient for tourists to get to Tibet by air. Lhasa Gonggar Airport is 97 kilometers away from Lhasa City. It takes about 2 hours to get to downtown Lhasa by bus and the fare is 20 Yuan. The bus from Shigates or Tsetang to Lhasa also stops at the airport. At the Gonggar Airport, there are flights from and to Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Xi’an, Xining, Guangzhou, Chamdo, Kunming and Katmandu.
Tips:
For information of flights at Gonggar Airport, please call 0891-6246465.
The location of air-tickets booking office: No.1 Nangre Road; Tel:0891-6833446; 0891-6822393 (at night)
Lhasa Long Distance Bus Station
Lhasa Long-distance Bus Station is located at the junction of Minzu Road and Jinzhuzhong Road. The following schedules show the distance between Lhasa and other cities including the fares.
Bus Schedule (through Sichuan-Tibet Highway)
Leaving from | Going to | Distance |
Bus Fare (For Reference) |
Remarks |
Lhasa | Gongbujiangda | 279km | 70 Yuan |
|
Lhasa | Bayi Town | 464km | 80 Yuan |
|
Lhasa | Tongmai | 550km |
|
|
Lhasa | Zamu | 639km |
|
|
Lhasa | Bangda | 950km |
|
|
Lhasa | Rawok | 766km |
|
|
Lhasa | Jiangda | 1349km |
|
|
Lhasa | Chamdo | 1062km | 280 Yuan | Once for every 5 days |
Lhasa | River | 1436km |
|
|
Lhasa | Chengdu | 2415km |
|
No regular bus service |
Bus Schedule (through Qinghai-Tibet Highway)
Start |
Destination |
Distance |
Fare (for reference) |
Departure time |
Lhasa |
Nakqu |
326km |
63 Yuan (bus); |
Any time |
Lhasa |
Damxung |
162km |
44 Yuan |
|
Lhasa |
Amdo |
464km |
102 Yuan |
|
Lhasa |
Yanshiping |
653km |
152 Yuan |
|
Lhasa |
Tuotuohe |
745km |
|
|
Lhasa |
Golmud |
1165km |
210 Yuan (Sleeper bus); |
8:30 |
Lhasa |
Xining |
1947km |
340 Yuan (sleeper bus) |
11:30 |
Lhasa |
Lanzhou |
2216km |
380 Yuan (sleeper bus) |
13:30 |
Lhasa |
Yinchuan |
2321km |
392 Yuan |
|
Lhasa |
Chengdu |
3287km |
500 (sleeper bus) |
10:30 |
Lhasa |
Chengdu |
3287km |
616 (deluxe sleeper bus) |
Afternoon |
Lhasa |
Nanchong |
3660km |
550 (sleeper bus) |
17:30 |
Lhasa |
Chongqing |
3680km |
560 (sleeper bus) |
14:30 |
Note: Golden Dragon sleeper buses or Daewoo sleeper buses are used for some of the above routes.
Bus Schedule (through the China-Nepal Friendship Highway)
Start |
Destination |
Distance |
Fare (for reference) |
Lhasa |
Qushui |
68km |
10 Yuan |
Lhasa |
Nimu |
83km |
18 Yuan |
Lhasa |
Renbu |
126km |
25 Yuan |
Lhasa |
Shigates |
280km |
38 Yuan (mini-bus); 80 Yuan (Santana car); 60 Yuan (Golden Cup bus); 80 Yuan (Toyota jeep) |
Lhasa |
Lhatse |
437km |
No regular bus service |
Lhasa |
Tingri |
572km |
No regular bus service |
Lhasa |
Neyalamu |
724km |
No regular bus service |
Lhasa |
Zhangmu |
754km |
No regular bus service |
Lhasa |
Gyantse |
264km |
No regular bus service |
Lhasa |
Yatung |
73km |
100 Yuan (departure time: 10:30 am) |
1. You can find some privately run buses around the Lhasa Long-Distance Bus Station. Before you take one, you’d better have a look at the condition of the bus and bargain with the driver. It may be less expensive if you charter a bus with several other people. The drivers are nice and may introduce some practical information about traveling.
2. The bus fare may fluctuate and the bus schedule may change according to different season. Lhasa Long-distance Bus Station is in the junction of Minzu Road and Jinzhuzhong Road, facing the Monument of Qinghai-Tibet Highway and Sichuan-Tibet Highway. For information you can call 0891-6824469. The Eastern Outskirts Bus Station has buses to the neighboring towns. The newly built Northern Outskirts Bus Station has buses to Ngari.
3. If you want to go to Ali, you can take bus at Ali Office in Liangre Road in Lhasa, or at the Antelope Transport Company nearby. The company’s contact telephone number is 6888929.
Getting Around
Taking mini-bus is the cheapest way to get around in the city. The fare is 2 Yuan no matter how far you go. Both No. 1 Bus and No. 2 Bus may take you to Norbulingkha or Lhasa Long-distance Bus Station. No.3 bus and No.5 bus may take you to Dreprung Monastery and No. 4 to Sera Monastery. The private run mini-bus or jeep follows certain fixed route and the fare is also 2 Yuan. Most of them have a stop at the Tibetan Hospital (in the Jokhang Square).
Taking a taxi may cost you 10 Yuan no matter where you go in the city. But if you want to go out of town, you’d better negotiate with the driver over the price. For Dreprung Monastery, you need to pay about 20 Yuan.
Man-powered tricycles running on the streets are very interesting sights. If you want one, just wave your hands. Riding a tricycle is a good way to enjoy the appearance of the city. A tricycle usually takes two people and the price varies from 4 Yuan to 7 Yuan. Before getting on it, don’t forget to negotiate for the price.
Bus Schedule to Tsetang and Shannan
Start |
Destination |
Distance |
Bus fare (for reference) |
Lhasa |
Zhaweng |
144km |
22 Yuan |
Lhasa |
Samye Monastery |
155km |
23 Yuan |
Lhasa |
Tsetang |
191km |
30 Yuan (mini-bus); |
Lhasa |
Shannan |
|
27 Yuan (bus);40 Yuan (mini-bus); 50 Yuan (Santana car) |