Passengers eager to try the Qinghai-Tibet Altiplano railway can book their tickets at Xining railway station's ticket office starting June 21st.

Although the Qinghai-Tibet railway will only be complete and functional after July 1st, dozens of eager travelers have been coming to Xining railway station every day to ask when the tickets will be available.

A staff member at Xining railway station says tickets for Altiplano trains will be available 10 days before each scheduled train.

Xining, capital of west China's Qinghai province, is the starting point of the 1956 km Qinghai-Tibet railway.

Starting July 1st, travelers who have ample time can take the new train, instead of a traditional plane, to visit China's "roof of the world."

(CRIENGLISH.com June 19, 2006)