China to Build Strategic Xinjiang–Tibet Rail Link Near India’s LAC

China is set to begin work this year on one of its most ambitious infrastructure projects — a railway line linking Xinjiang with Tibet, with parts of the route running close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. The new Xinjiang–Tibet rail link will connect Hotan in Xinjiang to Lhasa in Tibet, creating a strategic 2,000 km artery that will pass through some of the world’s most challenging terrains.

The Xinjiang–Tibet Railway Company (XTRC), backed by China State Railway Group, has been registered with a capital of 95 billion yuan (£10.2 billion) to oversee the project’s construction and operation. The initiative is part of China’s long-term plan to establish a 5,000 km plateau rail network centred on Lhasa by 2035.

Once completed, the line will join the existing Lhasa–Shigatse railway with a new section from Hotan to Shigatse. It will cross the Kunlun, Karakoram, Kailash, and Himalayan mountain ranges, traversing glaciers, frozen rivers, and permafrost, at an average altitude of over 4,500 metres. The extreme conditions, winter temperatures as low as -40°C and oxygen levels less than half of inland areas — will pose major engineering challenges.

Rovaniemi-like in its potential for winter tourism, the rail line is expected to boost connectivity across north-western and south-western China, making remote regions more accessible for trade, tourism, and development. Its proximity to the LAC adds strategic significance, as the region has limited infrastructure and remains sensitive due to past tensions between China and India.

The project follows other large-scale developments in Tibet, including the construction of the world’s biggest dam over the Brahmaputra River, close to Arunachal Pradesh. Beyond transport, the XTRC’s scope includes tourism, catering, accommodation, and international contracting, signalling that the railway will serve not just as a trade route but also as a major driver of local economies.

Survey and design work for the Hotan–Shigatse section began in 2022, and with construction set to start this year, China is moving ahead with a project that blends engineering ambition, regional connectivity, and strategic positioning.