Lhasa’s 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. Buses from Shigatse or Tsetang to Lhasa also stop at the airport. At Gonggar Airport, there are flights to Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Xi'an, Xining, Guangzhou, Chamdo, Kunming and Katmandu.
Gonggar Airport flight information: Tel. 0891-6246465.

The Lhasa Express is the world’s highest railway line. It runs from Xining in Qinghai Province, past China’s largest lake, Qinghai, to Golmud. Oxygen is released into the cabins at Golmud to prevent altitude sickness and is on hand in canisters for the Golmud to Lhasa leg. This leg of the journey offers breath-taking scenery, and takes in a couple of railway world records: the highest passenger railway (Tanggula Pass, 5072m) and the highest railway tunnel (Fenghuoshan, 4905m).

There are trains to Lhasa from Beijing (48 hours), Xi’an (36 hours), Chongqing (47 hours), Chengdu (48 hours) and Xining (25 hours).

Lhasa Long Distance Bus Station is located at the junction of Minzu Road and Jinzhuzhong Road.

Getting Around

Taking a minibus is the cheapest way to get around in the city. The fare is 2 yuan no matter how far you go. Both buses 1 and 2 run from Norbulingkha to Lhasa Long Distance Bus Station. Buses 3 and 5 bus go to Dreprung Monastery and 4 goes to Sera Monastery. There are privately run minibuses or jeeps following certain fixed routes and the fare is also 2 yuan. Most of them stop at Tibet Hospital in Jokhang Square.

Taking a taxi should 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 ought to pay about 20 yuan.

Tricycle cabs on the streets of Lhasa are an interesting sight. If you want one, just wave your hands. Riding a tricycle is a good way to enjoy the appearance of the city at a slow pace. 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 the price.