When most people think of going to China, they imagine the usual routine of exploring the Imperial Palace in Beijing and walking along the Bund in Shanghai. While these sights are amazing and certainly not to be missed, adventurous types might be yearning for more unusual and unique options on their holidays to China.

There are a lot of great places to visit in China that get you off the beaten track and into a world less touched by westerners. One such way to explore these less-trodden spots is by taking the Tibet Railway.

The first railroad link between Mainland China and Tibet, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway connects Beijing to the Tibetan capital city, Lhasa. No small affair, the train takes two nights from Beijing and crosses some of the harshest and most starkly beautiful landscape in the world. In fact, since the train goes through Tanggula Pass at 5,072 metres, it is the highest rail line in the world.

Crossing through such high altitudes means that there are special considerations for the Tibet Railway. For instance, at high altitudes there is less oxygen available for breathing, and altitude sickness can become problem. Therefore, installed along the rail line are special oxygen production stations, and fresh oxygen is pumped into each of the eight railcars on the train to help passengers adjust to this extreme environment.

The severe conditions should not prevent anyone from taking this train, though, because it is really quite comfortable and modern. The views as you ride the train into the stark, snowy landscape of the Himalayan Mountains are, alone, worth the journey, not to mention the photo opportunities.

The Qinghai Railway was inaugurated in 2006 after nearly five years of construction. Before the train existed, travellers could go only as far as Golmud in Qinghai Province by train, and then had continue the rest of the journey on a rickety bus for several days through the mountains. Wendy Wu Tours is a tour operator which can help out with these type of holidays.