The 'Grand' Train Ride To Tibet

The Chinese government, in a fit of sensitive and well-meaning diplomacy, have built a railway that goes from Xining to Lhasa. Tibet, a mysterious and spirtual nation located high in the snowy Himalayas was invaded, plundered and repopulated annexed by the Chinese government in 1949. Suprisingly the move by the People's Republic has been billed as 'controversial' by the several Tibetan rights groups, who feel that a direct line in to the virtually inaccessible plains of Tibet might encourage even further dilution of the native population.

The train boards 100 passengers and takes a total of 48 hours to cover more than 2,040km of track. Tickets will cost $1,000 and are likely to be targeted at wealthy tourists. On board entertainment, according to the Beijing Times, consists of 'showers... karaoke' and gourmet 5-star service. For $12,000 punters will be enrolled on the Super Deluxe package, which will include a personalised tour of the Potala Palace - the traditional home of the Dalai Lama. Sadly the Dalai Lama cannot greet tourists in person as he is currently exiled in a hilly region of India called McLeod Ganj - which isn't a Scottish hallucinogen.