Getting There
The airport is 20km (12 miles) west of Golmud. Taxis charge around ¥20 for the journey into town. You can buy air tickets at the CAAC office at Chaidamu Zhong Lu 4 (tel. 0979/842-3333). Four flights per week go to Xining and Xi'an. All Lhasa trains (14 hr.) pass through Golmud, and although it has a relatively small sleeper ticket allocation you should be able to get a berth within a couple of days, and seat tickets are readily available. Heading east to Xining (10 hr.) or Lanzhou (13 hr.), tickets in all classes are readily available. The Golmud Bus Station (tel. 0979/845-3688) is directly opposite the train station, with buses to Dunhuang (8 hr.; ¥93 seat, ¥105 sleeper) at 9am and 6pm; and to Xining (12 hr.; ¥95) at 5pm and 7pm. CITS in the Ge'ermu Binguan can assist with securing a Tibet Travel Permit which you will require if you intend to travel to Lhasa.
Getting Around
Taxis charge ¥5 to ¥6. Buses cost ¥1, paid to the conductor. Bus no. 2 runs from the railway station to the center of town.
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange & ATMs -- The Bank of China, Chaidamu Lu 19 (Mon-Fri 8:30am-6:30pm; Sat-Sun 9:30am-4pm), changes cash and traveler's checks and has an ATM.
Internet Access -- "Ai wo ba" Wangba (9am-midnight) is above a grocery store, on the corner of Xi Shichang San Lu and Zhanqian Er Lu.
Post Office -- The main post office (8:30am-5pm) is on the northeast corner of Kunlun Lu and Chaidamu Lu.
Travel Permits -- If you want to buy a ticket to Lhasa and don't have a permit you'll need to visit CITS (tel. 0979/841-2764) in the Ge'ermu Binguan. Offices are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to noon and 2:30pm to 6pm.
Visa Extensions -- The PSB (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-noon and 2:30-6pm) at Chaidamu Lu 68 (tel. 0979/844-2550) grants 1-month extensions in 2 days.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
