Transportation in Chengdu,Chengdu Travel,Chengdu Travel Guide, Chengdu Adventure Guide, China Travel Guide

Fortunately, the old Chinese saying "It is easier to get to heaven than to get to Sichuan" no longer applies. Today transport facilities are fairly good here and, as the "Gateway to Tibet" many travelers pass through this city.

By Air
Chengdu has one airport, the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU), in the southwest of Chengdu City. It is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the center of Chengdu City. The facilities in the airport are complete.

CTU offers flights to more than 70 domestic cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Xian. International flights include service to over 20 cities such as Tokyo, Shanghai (Beijing)-Fukuoka, Osaka, Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Katmandu, and Beijing-Paris and regional flights of Chengdu-Hong Kong and Chengdu-Macau. In July 2005, six international lines were opened including Chengdu to Los Angeles, Vancouver, London, Sydney, Melbourne (Australia) and Delhi. In addition, flights inside the province are available: Chengdu to Dazhou City and Xichang City, etc.

Chengdu has also opened the first cargo flight to Frankfort of German. That is a great achievement. Chengdu is the transportation hub of Southwest China, providing access to Yunnan, Qinghai and Tibet. Frequent one-hour flights are available to Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province. Flights to Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, take about one and a half hours, with two-hour flights available to Lhasa, capital of Tibet.

It is convenient to visit the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Spot by air from Chengdu, a 40-minute flight from CTU to Jiuhuang (Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong) Airport with one-way fare of about CNY 700. Visitors are advised to book flights early for this popular trip. Discounts may be available through hotels or travel agencies.

A shuttle bus is available at 20-minute intervals from airport to city center, about 35 minutes, fare CNY 8-10. The first bus starts at 5:00, starting point, Lantian Hotel Stop, at second section of Renmin South Road (beside China Southwest Airlines ticket office).

By Train
As the largest railway hub in southwest China, Chengdu Railway Station has trains to major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Urumqi, Xian, etc. A tourist express train serves neighboring areas including Guangyuan City, Yibin City, and Panzhihua City.

Train Ticket Office
Ticket Office in the city: Dongyujie Street
Chengdu Throughtransit Industry Co., Ltd: No. 91, second section, north of Second Ring Road, Chengdu
Chengdu Railway Station Transportation Office: No. 6, first section of Renmin North Road, Chengdu
Sichuan University: No. 24, first section, south of First Ring Road, Chengdu
Provincial Government Collective Economy Office: No. 31, third section of Renmin South Road, Chengdu

By Bus
Chengdu has several main coach stations including Chengdu Bus Station (Wugui Bridge Bus Station), New South Gate Bus Station, Ximen (West Gate) Bus Station, Dongmen (East Gate) Bus Station, Chadianzi Bus Station, Beimen (North Gate) Bus Station, and Gaosuntang Bus Station.

Wugui Bridge Bus Station is near Tazishan Park, east part of Chengdu City. It provides bus service mainly to cities along the Chengdu-Chongqing expressway and Neijiang-Yibin expressway such as Chongqing, Yibin City, Zigong County, Wanxian County, and Nanning City. For time-saving expressway service on high quality buses, the Wugui Bridge Bus Station is recommended.

New South Gate Bus Station, No. 57, Linjiang Road, provides bus service to renowned scenic spots, including Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, Mt. Leshan, and Mt. Emeishan via buses 6, 28, 49, 55 and 301.

Chadianzi Bus Station is seated in the Second Ring Road of Chengdu. Buses here run mainly to the famous scenic spots and Tibetan areas in the west and north of Sichuan, including Wolong Panda Reserve, Danba County, Mt.Siguniangshan, Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, and Mt. Qingcheng.

Beimen (North Gate) Bus Station is situated in the first Ring Road of Chengdu. The buses here serve primarily south Sichuan Province, such as Zigong County and Yibin City.

Located in the third section, north of the Second Ring Road, Gaosuntang Bus Station is easily missed. It is the station that provides buses for Lhasa, Tibet. It takes three days and two nights to run the whole distance at the price of about CNY 616. In addition, buses to Lanzhou, Xining, Shigatse and Urumqi are available here.

Moving on to Lhasa
Despite the fact that Chengdu is an important gateway for Lhasa, it can be very difficult to get tickets and transport into Tibet and some amount of planning is essential. China Southwest Airlines are currently the only airline who have flights to Lhasa and so tickets and prices are limited. It takes approximately 2 hours to reach Gongge Airport where flights to and from Tibet arrive and depart. Foreign tourists entering Tibet must have an official entry pass which can be bought from a travel agency in Chengdu. This pass registers you on an official "tour" which you are released from on arrival in Tibet.Tickets can be bought from any of the numerous travel agencies around Chengdu. It is almost impossible to reach Tibet by land.

By Taxi
Chengdu has created hundreds of new taxi stands in its streets. The stands are approximately two meters (78.7 feet) high, with a green ginkgo leaf shaped board on a blue Y-shaped support. The signs are written in both Chinese and English. Chengdu taxi drivers are said to be 'living maps'. They can give helpful suggestions on where to have dinner and to have fun in Chengdu.

By Bus
Chengdu's public bus services extend in all directions. You can get to most of places, especially sights inside the city, by bus. Common public buses charge some money, while buses with air-conditioning charge some money. Take small change as there are no conductors on many of the buses.

By Pedicab
Gathering within the First Ring Road, especially in the center of Chengdu, the pedicab has been a typical feature of the city. Drivers wear uniforms with identifying cards.

Rental
Despite traffic considerations, Chengdu welcomes private cars. Car rental is an option if you did not join a package tour. And also you can employ a driver.