The Qinhai-Tibet Railway has carried a total of 7,241 people from Xining, capital of Qinghai province, to Lhasa, in its first two weeks of operation, a local railway official said Monday.

 

All trains from Xining to the capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region had been full since July 1, said Gu Yanmei, deputy director of the Xining Railway Station.

 

"All services to Tibet have been operating smoothly as of July 15," she said.

 

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway stretches 1,956 kilometers from Xining to Lhasa. About 960 kilometers is located 4,000 meters above sea level and the highest point is 5,072 meters, at least 200 meters higher than the Peruvian railway in the Andes, the former world's highest track.

 

Three passenger trains travel to Tibet from Beijing, Chengdu (or Chongqing) and Xining (or Lanzhou) everyday.

 

Before the opening of the railway, flights from Beijing, Chengdu and several other Chinese cities carried hundreds of people to Lhasa everyday.

 

However, the train has proved extremely popular due to its convenience, cost and the scenery en route.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2006)