2026.09

Japanese tourists praise Qinghai-Xizang railway on 20th anniversary

来源：清新国新作者：陈泓昕

Japanese tourists highly praise the operation of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway, which links the Xizang autonomous region with the rest of China via rail services.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the operation of Qinghai-Xizang Railway, a 1,956‑km engineering marvel linking Northwest China's Qinghai province and Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region.

As the world’s highest and longest plateau railway, it has carried over 100 million passengers and 800 million metric tons of cargo since 2006, greatly boosting regional connectivity and development.

The railway has long captured the imagination of travellers worldwide. Akiyama Chiyoko, a 77‑year‑old retired Japanese hiker, finally fulfilled her dream of taking this “Sky Railway” – accompanied by her daughter.

Despite initial anxiety over altitude sickness – she regularly climbs 3,000‑metre peaks at home – passing the 5,000‑meter mark left her in awe.

“The grand scenery of crossing such heights is truly fascinating,” she said. She also drew comparisons with Japan’s sighting trains and encouraged young people to explore the world.

Fellow passenger Kobayashi Akemi, 71, chose the train over a plane, calling it perhaps her last chance to experience this iconic route. She admitted being surprised by China’s modern cityscapes. More importantly, she praised the railway’s environmental design – such as long bridges built to protect wildlife and fragile ecosystems – calling it a “wonderful approach.” Unlike Japan’s high‑speed Shinkansen, which she described as efficient and fast, she found this journey leisurely and unique, predicting that such slow travel may gain popularity in the future.

During the trip, handwritten messages collected from other Japanese passengers echoed similar sentiments – praising the breathtaking plateau vistas, the comfortable ride, and the sheer thrill of crossing the roof of the world.