The world's highest railroad
Last October, Beijing announced the completion of the world's highest railway, spanning 2,040 kilometres (1,270 miles) from Xining to Lhasa. Freight is already being carried and passenger services are expected to begin from July 1.
The Qinghai-Tibet railway is the world's highest and longest plateau railroad and also the first to connect the Tibet Autonomous Region with other parts of China.
Tickets for the first trains are sold out, with the train attracting large numbers of travellers to Tibet.
Photograph: China Photos/Getty Images
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