BudgetTravel

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Austin, TX: Is China still limiting visas to groups to Tibet or can a single person get a visa to travel to Tibet? If so, how does one make a reservation on the train from Beijing to Tibet? Thank You, Roger

Dan Washburn: I have never been to Tibet so I can't speak with much expertise on this topic ... yet (I really, really want to go). Check out the Beijing Tibet Tourism Office's website. Here is what they say:

Based on group tour or individual tour, both groups and individuals can apply for the permit and get it right here from Tibet Tourism Office Beijing. To apply for the permit for groups, group list with guests' full name, sex, birth date, nationality, occupation, passport number and Chinese visa valid date is required, while individuals should provide the copies of their passport details with the same items as above.

There is also a Tibet Tourism Office in Shanghai. A friend who recently went to Tibet said he saw several foreign tourists traveling alone in Tibet. But he also described the whole travel permit process as "shady." "There are the official rules and then there's how things are actually done," he said. As with most things in China, there is almost always a way -- you just need to talk to the right person. I would start by talking to the Beijing Tibet Tourism Bureau, and if you don't like the answer they give you, try someone else. People at the Lonely Planet forum may have some good insights, too.

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Dan Washburn: OK, everyone, that's all for me. It's late here in Shanghai and my dog is barking at me -- time for a walk. Thanks for all your questions! And you can always find me online at Shanghaiist.com. Good night.

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