BEIJING, Sept.20 -- A view of the restroom on the Shanghai-Lhasa passenger train, which is set to depart from the city on Oct. 1.

    The first Shanghai-Lhasa train is leaving the city on Oct. 1, launching the first day of the weeklong National Day holiday.

A view of the restroom on the Shanghai-Lhasa passenger train, which is set to depart from the city on Oct. 1. (Photo: Shanghai Daily) Photo Gallery >>>

    The tickets would probably go on sale at six local railway booths in the next couple of days, Shanghai Railway Administration announced yesterday.

    The Shanghai-Tibet trains would be carrying passengers from the city to Lhasa every other day. The Oct. 1 opening day train tickets beginning this Thursday, as tickets in general will be available about 10 days in advance of departure.

    "We would begin to print the tickets today and they could be ready to supply to the local ticket offices by Thursday. The railway administration, though, will decide when to start selling tickets for the first trip. It would be soon," said Shi, an SRA official.

    Shi estimated travelers especially the package-tour tourists may make up a large part of the first rail passenger group leaving Shanghai to the wonderland since the weeklong National Day holiday is a major "golden travel peak" in the country.

    The rail crew as well as the train police officers had been especially selected and must pass training courses to learn about Tibet religious beliefs, customs and basic local language as well as physical tests.

    The journey between Golmud, Qinghai Province, and Lhasa in Tibet - a trip on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau - would be arranged in daytime in both directions on the rails so travelers would get a clear view of the plateau scenery.

    A local train heading for Lhasa would depart at Shanghai Railway Station at 4:11 p.m. every other day and arrive in Lhasa at 7:50 p.m., more than 51 hours after starting.

    In addition to the ticket booths, a 24-hour hotline, 800-820-7890, for booking the Shanghai-Lhasa tickets has begun. Foreigners and Taiwanese must get travel permission approved by related departments in Tibet to buy the train tickets.

    Guidelines for completing the application procedure is available at the official Website for Tibet Tourism Bureau's Shanghai Office, www.tibetmate.com, which also offers an English version.

    (Source: Shanghai Daily)