Expert: Jay - 11/25/2007

Question
QUESTION: The new train that goes from Beijing to Lhasa, Tibet - does it run year round? Is it possible to make this trip in December 2007 or January 2008?

ANSWER: Thank you for your question.

Yes, the train does run all year round.  Dec/Jan are good times to go as it is Summer so there should not be too many weather problems.  The only problem you may have is ticket availability.  If you go towards the end of Jan then that is around Chinese New Year when the whole country is on holidays and it feels like the whole country travels.  

Hope this helps.  Have a great trip and let me know if you have any other questions.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the very quick reply! But I'm confused now - China is in the Northern Hemisphere -- wouldn't Dec/Jan be winter there, like other places in the Northern Hemisphere?

Answer
Yeah.  Sorry, I just spoke to my family back in Australia and they were telling me how hot it was getting and I got a little confused.  Winter time in China, Tibet does get cold but it is not as bad as what most people believe.  The good part about Winter in Tibet is the very little rainfall.  I have spoken to a few people who have gone in Winter time and did not have any trouble.

Apart from my little confusion, everything else was correct.  Try to avoid the end of Jan.