One of the most special holidays you can have in China, is taking a ride on the Himalayan Express.

The project’s travel directors have named China’s new railway the Himalayan Express, which stretches 1142km between Tibet and Qinghai. The name is slightly catchier than the official name T27 or T28, depending on which way you are travelling.

So what makes this railway special compared to any other ones round the world? Well it is that the peak altitude is 5072m which makes for an exciting and spectacular ride.

This amazing feat of engineering took thousands of workers four years to build and was completed in 2005 ahead of schedule. As well as the track itself, the railway workers built 44 new stations including the worlds highest at Tanggula at 5068m. The total cost of the project has been reported at $3.68 billion.

So what can you expect if you take the plunge and take a ride on this amazing railway? Well depending on what station you board the train and where you depart, this will determine what sites you will witness.

One popular journey is travelling from Lhasa to Xining. On this journey you will travel across the Tibetan Plateau, taking in dramatic landscapes and cross through the Kunlun and Tangula Mountains. Once you arrive in Xining, you will be able to visit the amazing Ta’er Temple.

The train itself has many amenities to make your trip comfortable. There are tea and coffee stations, a simple Chinese menu to choose from and information boards that let you know statistics about your journey (speed, outside temperature).

It is always advisable to be aware of the hazards of travelling at high altitudes. If you travel up to quickly and fail to acclimatise properly, you may get sick. If you are travelling with an organised tour, they will make sure you are well looked after and take the appropriate measure so you won’t get ill.

So if you are considering China Tours as a possible holiday in the near future, why not take a trip on the Himalayan Express and see China in style.