Chengdu Transportation

The transportation network in Chengdu is very developed. It has one of China’s busiest airports; it is the intersection point of five trunk railway lines; it is connected with thousands of miles of expressways and has dozens of coach stations sending passengers to various destinations. Within the city area, there are subways, city buses, taxis and many other transport conveniences for passengers to choose from.

 

Shuangliu Airport

There are two airports serving passengers in Chengdu: Shuangliu International Airport (CTU), in the southwest of the city and about 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the city center; and Tianfu International Airport (TFU) around 50 kilometers (31 miles) southeast to the city center. Have in mind which airport you are going to land in or depart from to save troubles. 

Both serve domestic and international flights. 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, a 40-minute flight to Jiuhuang (Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong) Airport.

  Chengdu Flights (brief introduction & flight search)
 

As the largest railway hub in southwest China, the city has convenient railway transportation. At present, it has three railway stations for passenger transport: Chengdu Railway Station, namely North Railway station, East Railway Station, and South Railway Station. Another passenger railway station, west railway station is now under construction. When completed, the “two principals (north and east railway stations), two assistants (south and west railway stations)” setup of the city's rail transport will be formed and better service passengers.

Chengdu Railway Station

Platform at Railway Station

This city has several main coach stations transfering passengers within or outside Sichuan Province, including General Bus Station (Wugui Bridge Bus Station), Xinnanmen Bus Station (Tourism Bus Center), Chadianzi Bus Station, Airport Bus Station, East Railway Station Bus Station, Beimen (North Gate) Bus Station, and Wukuaishi Bus Station.
 

Metro Station

Currently, Chengdu metro line 1, line 2, line 3, line 4, line 5, line 6, line 7, line 8, line 9, line 10, line 17 and line 18 are in operation. Passengers can take line 1 from Weijianian to Science City via North Railway Station, Tianfu Square, Sichuan Gymnasium, South Railway Station, Jincheng Plaza and other places in the city. Line 2 can take travelers to Chadianzi Bus Station, People's Park, Chunxi Road, East Railway Station, Institute of Public Administration and other areas. Line 3 runs between Taipingyuan and Military General Hospital, passing Chunxi Road, Chengdu Zoo, Xinnanmen Bus Station and Zhaojue Temple. Line 4 connects Xihe and Wansheng, passing some popular scenic areas like Wide and Narrow Alley, Sichuan Museum and Cultural Park. Linking Huagui Road and Huilong, metro line 5 totall has 41 stations stretching around 49 kilometers. Line 6 links Wanggongci and Lanjiagou, covering Southwest Jiaotong University and Renmin Road North. Line 7 passes South Railway Station, East Railway Station and North City Bus Station with the duration of 66 minutes. Line 8 travels between Lianhua and Shilidian. Line 9 connects Huangtianba and Financial City East via 13 stations. Chengdu metro line 10 links Taipingyuan and Xinping, passing Terminal 1 & Terminal 2 of Shuangliu International Airport. Line 17 links Jinxing and Jitouqiao, running in the northwest-southeast direction. Line 18 operates between South Railway Station and Tianfu Airport North, containg 9 stations. 
In addition, Line 13, Line 19, Line 27 and Line 30 will serve the public in the near future. 
 Metro Maps
 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 CNY 1, while those with air-conditioners charge CNY 2. Take small change as there are no conductors on many of the buses.
 Bus/ Metro Search
 Travels non-stop and directly to attraction sites, sightseeing bus saves travelers, especially independent travelers a lot of time. Although different from those of other cities and mostly sold together with entry ticket to the destination, it is still cheaper than taking taxis. Also, there are free schedules.

Hundreds of taxi stands are available in the city. Except hailing a taxi at a stand, it is also feasible to take one along the street. To shuttle around by cab, you’d better avoid the rush hours between 07:30 – 09:00 & 17:00 – 19:00. In addition, it shall be quite normal that a driver doesn’t use the taximeter if the car departs from railway stations or long-distance bus stations. In this case, it is recommended to discuss for a flat rate before getting on the car. For difrerent brands of cars, the fare varies a little:

Magotan
Fare	Day	Night
Flag-down Rate for First 2km (1.2mi)	CNY12	CNY13
Fare between 2-10km (1.2-6mi)	CNY3/km	CNY3.3/km
Fare between 10-60km (6-37mi)	CNY4.5/km	CNY4.95/km
Fare beyond 60km (37mi)	CNY3/km	CNY3.3/km

 

Sagitar 2.0L; cars with 1.4T Emission
Fare	Day	Night
Flag-down Rate for First 2km (1.2mi)	CNY9	CNY10
Fare between 2-10km (1.2-6mi)	CNY1.9/km	CNY2.2/km
Fare between 10-60km (6-37mi)	CNY2.85/km	CNY3.3/km
Fare beyond 60km (37mi)	CNY1.9/km	CNY2.2/km

 

Elysee, Jetta, Sagitar 1.6L
Fare	Day	Night
Flag-down Rate for First 2km (1.2mi)	CNY8	CNY9
Fare between 2-10km (1.2-6mi)	CNY1.9/km	CNY2.2/km
Fare between 10-60km (6-37mi)	CNY2.85/km	CNY3.3/km
Fare beyond 60km (37mi)	CNY1.9/km	CNY2.2/km

 Notes:
1. Three types of taxis are serving in the city, and passengers can make a reservation by calling 028- 962999. It should be noted that the cars of Magotan brand won’t run in the city unless being reserved, and the other two types are quite common on the street.
2. For every 5 minutes’ waiting, the cost equals to the unit price per kilometer (0.6mi). 
3. It is regulated that taxis running in the districts of Jinjiang, Qingyang, Jinniu, Wuhou and Chenghua, as well as from/to Shuangliu Airport must charge by meter. Therefore, if confronted with refusal, you can dial 028-96515 to make a complaint. 

Riding a bike can be the best choice for a leisurely city tour. You can find many dockless bikes on the streets of Chengdu. Visitors just need to download bike sharing apps and finish the ID verification procedure to use these bikes. It usually costs CNY 0.5 - 1 for every 30 minutes.

Gathering within the First Ring Road, especially in the city center, the pedicab has been a typical feature of the city. Drivers wear uniforms with identifying cards. The charge starts from CNY 5. You can bargain.