For many of us, going to Mount Everest basecamp and taking Qinghai-Tibet Railway are once in a lifetime experience. We started this long-sought-after journey from Xining, taking Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Tibet. And then visit Mount Everest basecamp. We have to adapt to altitude sickness, coldness and local dietary all the way through.
A
Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Xining Station (青藏鐵路 - 西寧站)
We booked a train scheduled around 11pm. This is the Xining train station. The train journey is going to take 22 hours. Only one stop in between.
After some security checks, we arrived at the departure hall which looked like a regular high-speed train departure hall although Qinghai-Tibet Railway is not high-speed train in the time being. You can find small restaurants, convenient stores and tiolets in the station.
Boarding now ... very excited.
We have a "hard-bed" compartment with 6 beds. Each beds have a thin mattress and thick blanket. It is quite warm inside the train. Each bed also come with a oxygen outlet. If you need oxygen, the service lady would provide a breathing tube to get oxygen from the outlet. Compartment lights will be turned off at night. This compartment has no door.
The train has quite a number of tiolets including tiolets for the disabled. It has no bathroom. There are washing basins like this one for brushing your teeth. Hot water taps are also available to brew your instant coffee.
The train has a restaurant carriage. The menu is very comprehensive. No need to worry about getting hungry. Instead, my issue was altitude sickness had killed my appetite.
B
YuZhu Mountain (玉珠峰)
The train slowed down here to let passengers to take pictures.
C
Na Qu（那曲）
D
Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Tibet Station (青藏鐵路 - 西藏站)
After a looong ride, we finally got off the train. Still look fresh.
We met our tour operator at the Tibet train station.
Who is the boss?
1
Tibet (拉薩)
We took another full day for altitude acclimation and visit some must-go tourist attractions. The first stop is Potala Palace (布達拉宮).
The weather was superb. The palace was huge. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take picture inside the palace.
The next stop was Jokhang Temple (大昭寺).
The temple roofs are all golden. Again, no picture indoors.
2
Yamdrok Lake (羊桌雍措)
The next day we started our car trip toward the Everest basecamp. It was a 2-day scenic drive.
Here is one of the key attactions, Yamdrok Lake (羊桌雍措).
It is a well constructed scenic spot. It has cafes, restrooms, magnificent lake views and even paragliding.
3
Gyatsola Pass (嘉措拉山)
On the next day, after a long drive. We arrived at the entrance of Mt Qomolangma National Nature Reserve (珠穆朗瑪峰國家級自然保護區).
A tourist setup a mobile coffee shop.
Where are we?
We were very close to heaven. Closer than ever before.
After a short drive, there is a scenic outpost.
If there was no cloud, we could actually see the submit of Mount Everest from the outpost.
Let's take some cool portraits in such a beautiful weather.
4
Mount Everest National Park (珠穆朗瑪峰國家公園)
This is the entrance of Mount Everest National Park (珠穆朗瑪峰國家公園). You have to buy tickets in order walk/drive through this gate.
Breathe-taking views kept showing up.
We eventually arrived at a small town. There were many construction activities undergoing. Looks like it will become a major tourists stop in a few years.
Our car has to stop here, we need to transfer to a EV shuttle bus which would take us to the basecamp.
5
Everest Base Camp (登山基地)
Finally, finally, here we go. It is the Everest basecamp!
There are many tents. Each tents is a hostel. The tent has electricity. Some tents has limited air-conditioning. However, no tap water in the tent. They have plenty of bottled water though.
This is our tent. There are a few small rooms sharing a living room in the tent. Each room has 2 to 3 beds.
This tent is actually a grocery shop. Hot snack is available.
The grocery shop also serve as a shelter and a cup noodle cafeteria.
After settling down, let's check out the Mount Everest. However it was windy outside. The temperature was around 10C.
There are only public toilets like these. They are all dry toilets. No basin for washing hands. Bring your headlamp when you visit the toilet at night.
Bathroom? No bathroom up there. You will feel better when you treat it like wild camping.
We enjoyed a high altitude hotpot dinner in our tent.
A bunch of energetic youngsters threw a party at 5200M.
Time lapse of Mount Everest sunrise.
On the right of this picture showed some containers. These are actually the hostels of Rongbuk Monastery (絨布寺). That said besides staying in the tent, you have the option of staying in a container :). It is said the container is tidier than the tent in general.
Visit Rongbuk Monastery (絨布寺). Probably the highest temple?
We were very lucky to have a very clear sky in our visit. Around 70% visitors could not see the Everest submit.
Are they dscending from the peak?
6
Tashilhunpo Monastery (扎什倫布寺)
On the way back to Tibet, we stopped by Tashilhunpo Monastery (扎什倫布寺). It is a big cluster of temples.
A very beautiful day as usual.
Monk knowledge debate. It is to polish their knowledge on buddhism, medicine, astronomy and philosophy.
