Chengdu Transportation: Airports, Trains, Metro & Travel Tips

Chengdu is a world-class city with culture, cuisine, and plenty of things to see and do. It also has an easy transportation system. You'll have no trouble getting in and out of the city and finding your way around. Plus, many of the signs are in both Chinese and English, and the public transportation runs regularly.

A giant panda in Chengdu panda base 

This guide will help you make the most of your time in Chengdu and see all of the great nearby attractions without missing a beat.

Chengdu Airports

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport

Two major airports serve Chengdu: the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Tianfu International Airport, and you can connect from major destinations like Beijing and Shanghai easily, where a flight from either destination is just 3 hours. There are also regular flights from Nanjing, Xi'an, Guangzhou, and Xiamen.

1) Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

This airport is just 14 kilometers from downtown Chengdu, and we recommend this option as the most convenient way to fly into the city. It also offers regular, 1-hour flights to Jiuzhaigou. There are several ways to get from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to the heart of Chengdu, including a 16-minute taxi ride or taking the Line 10 and Line 3 metros.

2) Chengdu Tianfu International Airport

The Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is further away from Chengdu, at 50 kilometers from the city center, but it is a larger and newer airport with plenty of international routes. Although it's not as close, you can still get into the city by taking a 45-minute taxi ride or using the Line 1 metro.

Chengdu Railway Stations

First class cabin of a high speed train

Chengdu has four major train stations: Chengdu West, Chengdu East, Chengdu South, and Chengdu Railway Station, and each of the trains connects with the city's metro.

You can get to Chengdu by train from many top destinations in China, such as Beijing, which is 7.5-9 hours away by high-speed train, and Shanghai, which is 10-12 hours away.

You can also take trains from Guangzhou and Xi'an. These trains also run to top attractions, such as Mount Emei and the Leshan Giant Buddha. They're one of the most effective and easiest ways to get around the country.

Chengdu Transportation: Metro

You'll find plenty of options for intercity transportation in Chengdu, including metro, bus, taxi, or a ride-share app. You can also rent city bikes to cruise around the city. We recommend the metro as your primary way to get around. It's clean, fast, and affordable, and it goes everywhere around the city.

You'll find plenty of major tourist attractions along the lines. Below are just a few examples of what you can expect on the major lines.

Line 1: Discover Tianfu Square, Haichang Polar Ocean Park, and Wenshu Monastery

Line 2: Visit Chunxi Road for excellent shopping and dining, Taikoo Li, and People's Park

Line 3: See the historic Wuhou Shrine and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Line 4: Explore Kuanzhai Alley, Jinsha Site Museum, Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Wangping Street, and Fanyinsi Temple

Tips for Riding the Chengdu Metro

You can pay per ride using WeChat or cash or get a Tianfu Tong Travel Card for 20 RMB, which you can top up as needed. The metro is open between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. While the metro is safe and efficient, it's always a good idea to keep an eye on your valuables, especially at night.

Chengdu Transportation: Buses and Taxis

Chengdu also has plenty of buses that run both in the city itself and to neighboring cities and attractions. There are two major bus stations: Xinnanmen Bus Station and Chadianzi Bus Station. These stations mostly operate long-distance buses to nearby cities and scenic areas, like Jiuzhaigou, which is accessible from the Xinnanmen Bus Station. For city buses within Chengdu, the standard fare is 2 RMB per journey. Please remember to bring exact change.

Taxis are another excellent way to get around the city, although they tend to be more expensive than the metro or bus, with a starting flag-down fee of 9 RMB. You can also download the Didi app, which is like Uber and works with your bank card.

Traveling from Chengdu to Nearby Cities and Attractions

While you're sure to want to spend plenty of time exploring Chengdu, it's also a convenient spot for visiting nearby attractions and other interesting parts of the country. Chengdu is a major transportation hub in Southwest China.

Chengdu to Chongqing

Chongqing is just 2 hours and 44 minutes away by fast train from the Chengdu East Station.

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Chengdu to Leshan Giant Buddha

You can get to the Leshan Giant Buddha in 1 hour by high-speed train from the Chengdu East Station. If you're driving, it takes 2 hours to get between Chengdu and Leshan.

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Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport offers 1-hour flights to Jiuzhaigou, or you can take a 7-hour bus ride from Xinnanmen Bus Station. We recommend taking the high-speed train from Chengdu East Station to Jiuzhaihuanglong, which takes 1 hour and 40 minutes. Then, you can take a direct bus or private car to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Spot, which takes around 2 hours.

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Traveling to Tibet from Chengdu

You can even get from Chengdu to Tibet with two easy options: flying or taking the train. The scenic train runs from Chengdu to Lhasa in 36 hours, and you can see the beauty of the Chinese countryside on the way. If you want a shorter journey, you can fly from Chengdu to Lhasa in 2.5 hours.

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Discover Chengdu with China Odyssey Tours

Chengdu has one of the most comprehensive transportation systems in the country. You can get anywhere around the city easily and quickly and even see some of the region's best attractions all on public transportation. At China Odyssey Tours, we're ready to help you with all of your trip logistics and planning. Email us at trip@odynovotours.com or visit our contact page to start on your customized itinerary today.