Trekking Tibet just got a whole lot easier. Coming this July you will be to hop aboard the first train of the new Qinghai-Tibet railway will haul passengers
from the Chinese capitol of Beijing to Tibet’s Lhasa in a rather impressive 48 hours. When you think about it, this is
really big news, certainly a boom for tourism i the region. Of course, whether it’s good or bad news is an open
question. I mean, isn’t the whole allure of Tibet that it’s exotic, difficult to reach (well, sort of…OK, not
really). But the point is, do we really want to cart in trainloads of rich yahoos?
Well, the deal is done.
There’s not much you or I can do about it, but it does make me want to get there before the thing starts up.
Sadly, that probably won’t happen.
Anyhoodle, for those who opt for the cushy train ride, the viewing
cars will feature gaping windows and spacious sleeping cars. There will be fine dining and alcohol. There will be
helpful porters who will cater to your every whim and fancy, and mysterious passengers who carry locked briefcases
filled with secret documents. Cross them, and they will kill you. OK, I added that last part. But that’s how I
imagine train travel in the region.
(via Luxist)