Photo (Foto: China Photos/Getty Images)
The
Qingzang railway, Qinghai–Xizang railway, or Qinghai–Tibet railway is a
high-altitude railway that connects Xining, Qinghai Province, to Lhasa,
Tibet Autonomous Region, in China. The total length of Qingzang railway
is 1956 km. Construction of the 815 km section between Xining and
Golmud was completed by 1984. The 1142 km section between Golmud and
Lhasa was inaugurated on 1 July 2006 by president Hu Jintao: the first
two passenger trains were "Qing 1" (Q1) from Golmud to Lhasa, and "Zang
2" (J2) from Lhasa.This railway is the first to connect China proper
with the Tibet Autonomous Region, which, due to its altitude and
terrain, is the last province-level entity in mainland China to have a
conventional railway. Testing of the line and equipment started on 1 May
2006. Passenger trains run from Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou,
Shanghai, Xining and Lanzhou. 54 images after a break.......
The
line includes the Tanggula Pass, which, at 5,072 m (16,640 feet) above
sea level, is the world's highest rail track. The 1,338 m Fenghuoshan
tunnel is the highest rail tunnel in the world at 4,905 m above sea
level. It is known as the nearest door to the heaven. The 4,010-m
Guanjiao tunnel is the longest tunnel from Xining to Golmod and the
3,345-m Yangbajing tunnel is the longest tunnel from Golmod to Lhasa.
More than 960 km, or over 80% of the Golmud-Lhasa section, is at an
altitude of more than 4,000 m. There are 675 bridges, totalling 159.88
km, and about 550 km of the railway is laid on permafrost. Text Via Link
