Xining is the real starting point of Qinghai-Tibet Railway, all highland views start from here. Based on the new regulation of China Railway, no matter where you start your Tibet train tour, you need to transit to the oxygen-supplied train in Xining – when train arrives in Xining from your original starting city, passengers need to move to the oxygen-supplied train, you have to unload your luggage and move them into the new train. Most other cities have but one train to Lhasa daily or every other day, but in Xining, there are many trains departs to Lhasa daily, thus the train tickets are easier to book than from other cities. Train from Xining to Lhasa is abt 24hrs only, almost 50% shorter than from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing or Guangzhou. Xining is abt 2200m above sea level, a night or two here is good for acclimatization for your trip in Tibet later. Plus Xining is a star itself rich with travel resources.