Yanshiping Station, world's highest passenger stop, eases travel in Xizang

Yanshiping Railway Station in Amdo county, Xizang autonomous region, the world's highest passenger stop, has been making life easier for residents who long relied on lengthy road journeys.

Built on July 1, 2006, the station sits 4,721 meters above sea level and was originally an unstaffed stop on the Qinghai-Xizang Railway, used mainly for train crossings and temporary stops. Passenger services began in December 2025, benefiting more than 10,000 residents in Yanshiping and nearby townships.

For Drolkar, a local, the journey between Yanshiping and Amdo once took at least five hours by road in good conditions, and up to eight or nine hours when conditions were poor. By train, the trip now takes about two and a half hours, she said.

Tashi Kyizom, a passenger service attendant at the station, helps keep the high-altitude stop running, assisting passengers and guiding local herders.

"I came here at the beginning of this year. The cold, the lack of oxygen, and being the only person on duty most of the time can make it feel quite lonely," Tashi said. "But a sincere 'thank you' from local herders is what keeps me going."

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the full opening of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway, which runs nearly 2,000 kilometers, linking Xining in Qinghai province with Lhasa in Xizang.