Golmud Transportation

Getting There

By Air
If you hate bumpy road journeys or longish rail trips, the best way to get to Golmud will be by plane. The only problem with air flight to and from the city is that flights are all subject to availability. Planes should set off from Xi'an every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 16:30, stopping in Xining at 17:50 and landing on the Golmud airstrip at 19:45.

The Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) office (Tel: 0979-414446) is in the Golmud Hotel. CAAC runs a bus from the hotel to the airport several hours before departures and in time for arrivals.

By Train
Coming into Golmud from the east, the most comfortable way to commute between Golmud and Xining is by train (800km, around 16hrs). From Xining to Golmud, train No.5701 departs at 19:45 and arrives at 13:01 the next day. Prices are around RMB55 for a hard seat and RMB120 for a hard sleeper.

Because of the recently opened railway between Qinghai and Tibet, by taking train from Xining and Golmud is becoming the most popular way to travel to Tibet. The train station of Golmud is the first station on the second section of this world-wide famous railway.

The railway station in Golmud is located in the southern part of this city. Between these and the Golmud Hotel, minibuses and bus No.1 are available.

By Long Distance Bus
It is possible to travel to Golmud from Xining by bus, although the ride can be a little bumpy. For information on times and prices, refer to the Xining Transport Link. One thing worth mentioning is that if you hope to see views of Qinghai Lake en route, the only way is to take a bus from Xining, for the train passes the lake at the dead of night.

The long-distance bus station is also located in the southern part of Xining. Between these and the Golmud Hotel, minibuses and bus No.1 are available, near to the railway station.

Price List for Long-distance Buses from Golmud