Shanghai-Lhasa train sets out for virgin trip

A train conductor (L) chats with passengers on the Shanghai-Lhasa train in Shanghai, east China, on Oct. 1, 2006. The first passenger train from China's leading metropolis Shanghai to Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, began its 4,373 km journey on Sunday. The train, departing every other day, is composed of two soft sleeping berth carriages, seven hard sleeping berth carriages, four hard seaters, one dining carriage and one for staff members. Oct. 1 to 7 is China's National Holidays. Lots of tourists home and abroad take the new Qinghai-Tibet Railway which began service on July 1 to visit Tibet. (Xinhua Photo)

Guan Yonggen, driver of the Shanghai-Lhasa train, prepares before departure in Shanghai, east China, on Oct. 1, 2006. The first passenger train from China's leading metropolis Shanghai to Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, began its 4,373 km journey on Sunday. The train, departing every other day, is composed of two soft sleeping berth carriages, seven hard sleeping berth carriages, four hard seaters, one dining carriage and one for staff members. Oct. 1 to 7 is China's National Holidays. Lots of tourists home and abroad take the new Qinghai-Tibet Railway which began service on July 1 to visit Tibet. (Xinhua Photo)

Two employees of the train pose for photos beside the plate of the Shanghai-Lhasa train in Shanghai, east China, on Oct. 1, 2006. The first passenger train from China's leading metropolis Shanghai to Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, began its 4,373 km journey on Sunday. The train, departing every other day, is composed of two soft sleeping berth carriages, seven hard sleeping berth carriages, four hard seaters, one dining carriage and one for staff members. Oct. 1 to 7 is China's National Holidays. Lots of tourists home and abroad take the new Qinghai-Tibet Railway which began service on July 1 to visit Tibet. (Xinhua photo)