Xian – Chengdu High Speed Railway: Open in December 6 of 2017

Xi’an – Chengdu: Train VS Flight

Distance between Xi’an and Chengdu: 842 kilometers, around 522 miles.

Xi’an, the capital city of Shaanxi Province is far from Chengdu, the capical city in Sichuan Province. Taking a train or flight is usually the way to go for travelling between Xi’an and Chengdu. Each travel way has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you can design your route plan depending on your budget and conditions. Taking a flight is the fastest and most straightforward but a little bit expensive, and taking an overnight train would be an economical way because it helps save you a hotel bill and allows you to arrive in the morning. Just compare the travel fares and times of each option below.

Option Price one-way Duration Note
By plane from CNY 720 1h 45mins Check real-time airfares at Ctrip
By high speed train (not available) No Bullet trains right now
By slow train from CNY 301 – 355.5 12 – 17 hours Using T & K type trains. Night train saves the cost of accommodation

xian chengdu high speed rail

Xian – Chengdu by High Speed Train

The Xian-Chengdu High Speed Rail will probably be open at  December 6 of 2017, and its official high speed train scheldule has just been leaked online(but you cannot check them on 12306.cn). Below shows the newest timetables for bullet trains from Xian to Chengdu or Chengdu to Xian. There are about 16 high speed trains daily, taking about 3.5-4.5 hours. All of the high speed trains depart from or arrive at Chengdu East Train Station and Xian North Train Station. Yet the ticket price has not been released.

  • Station used in Chengdu: Chengdu East (Chengdu Dong)
  • Station used in Xian: Xian North (Xian Bei)
  • Train Type used:: CRH3A (250km/h)

What the High Speed Trains are Like ?

The Chengdu Railway Bureau and Xian Railway Bureau will use CRH 3A type high speed train to run along the Xian – Chengdu High Speed Rail. The CRH3A high speed trains carry carriages for second classs seat (6 carriages), first class seat(1 carriage) and business class seat as well as buffet car (1 carriage), with a top speed of 250 km/h.

Xian to Chengdu Train TimesChengdu to Xian Train Times
Xian to Chengdu high speed train, from 21 Daily
Train No. From-To Dept Arri Travel Time
D1911 Xian North to Chengdu East 7:05 11:18 4h13
D1913 Xian North to Chengdu East 7:50 11:51 4h01
D1915 Xian North to Chengdu East 8:16 12:34 4h18
D1917 Xian North to Chengdu East 9:00 12:28 3h28
D1919 Xian North to Chengdu East 9:10 13:31 4h21
D1921 Xian North to Chengdu East 9:25 13:38 4h13
D1923 Xian North to Chengdu East 9:50 14:10 4h20
D1925 Xian North to Chengdu East 10:33 14:47 4h14
D1927 Xian North to Chengdu East 11:00 15:19 4h19
D1929 Xian North to Chengdu East 11:38 15:59 4h21
D1931 Xian North to Chengdu East 12:17 16:36 4h19
D1933 Xian North to Chengdu East 12:59 17:07 4h08
D1935 Xian North to Chengdu East 13:15 17:31 4h16
D1937 Xian North to Chengdu East 14:00 17:43 3h43
D1939 Xian North to Chengdu East 14:27 18:38 4h11
D1941 Xian North to Chengdu East 15:00 19:30 4h30
D1943 Xian North to Chengdu East 16:17 20:33 4h16
D1945 Xian North to Chengdu East 17:10 21:39 4h29
D1947 Xian North to Chengdu East 18:00 22:15 4h15
D1949 Xian North to Chengdu East 18:07 22:23 4h16
D1951 Xian North to Chengdu East 18:48 23:04 4h16
Chengdu to Xian high speed train, from 21 Daily
Train No. From-To Dept Arri Travel Time
D1912 Chengdu East to Xian North 7:28 11:42 4h14
D1914 Chengdu East to Xian North 7:47 12:06 4h19
D1916 Chengdu East to Xian North 8:28 12:53 4h25
D1918 Chengdu East to Xian North 9:00 12:29 3h29
D1920 Chengdu East to Xian North 9:19 13:49 4h30
D1922 Chengdu East to Xian North 10:02 14:34 4h33
D1924 Chengdu East to Xian North 11:38 15:53 4h15
D1926 Chengdu East to Xian North 12:11 16;36 4h25
D1928 Chengdu East to Xian North 12:49 17:14 4h25
D1930 Chengdu East to Xian North 12:57 17:26 4h29
D1932 Chengdu East to Xian North 13:51 18:22 4h31
D1934 Chengdu East to Xian North 14:00 17:45 3h45
D1936 Chengdu East to Xian North 14:31 18:51 4h20
D1938 Chengdu East to Xian North 15:07 19:31 4h24
D1940 Chengdu East to Xian North 15:39 19:57 4h18
D1942 Chengdu East to Xian North 16:39 20:49 4h26
D1944 Chengdu East to Xian North 16:58 21:24 4h15
D1946 Chengdu East to Xian North 17:33 21:48 4h11
D1948 Chengdu East to Xian North 17:56 22:07 4h11
D1950 Chengdu East to Xian North 18:13 22:24 4h16
D1952 Chengdu East to Xian North 18:58 23:10 4h16

Xi’an – Chengdu by Normal Train

As of August of 2016, there are 12 daily trains from Xi’an to Chengdu & 13 daily trains from Chengdu to Xi’an. All of them are normal trains (non-highspeed) using T or K type train.

Xi’an Railway Station: This station is about 15-minute walk from Wulukou Station (metro station 五路口) on the Line 1.

Xi’an South Railway Station (XianNan): by Bus no. 918, 920, etc. This station is very small with few trains.

Chengdu Railway Station: reached by metro line 1 (called by the locals: huo che bei zhan, North Station) Be care of this.

Chengdu East Railway Station: reached by line 2 & line 7 (not open yet).

Train Times, Fares & Duration: Xi’an to Chengdu

Xi’an = Xi’an Railway Station, Chengdu = Chengdu Railway Station

Xi’an to Chengdu Train (12 trains daily)
Trains From – To Dept – Arri Duration Ticket Fares (CNY)
Soft Sleeper Hard Sleeper Hard Seat
K879 Xi’an to Chengdu 13:10 – 05:06 (Day 2) 16h9m 301 194 112
K385 Xi’an South to Chengdu 21:02 – 08:52 (Day 2) 11h50m 355 230 128
K869 Xi’an to Chengdu 21:19 – 16: 18 (Day 2) 16h18m 301 194 112
K1363 Xi’an to Chengdu 13:10 – 05:06 (Day 2) 15h56m 301 194 112
K195 Xi’an Souht to Chengdu East 22:26 – 12:12 (Day 2) 13h46m 355 230 128
For a live schedule, please refer to http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/

Train Times, Fares & Duration: Chengdu to Xi’an

Chengdu to Xi’an Train (13 trains daily)
Trains From – To Dept – Arri Duration Ticket Fares (CNY)
Soft Sleeper Hard Sleeper Hard Seat
T8 Chengdu to Xi’an 09:00- 22:27 13h27m 301 194 112
K166 Chengdu to Xi’an 13:26 – 06:28 (Day 2) 17h02m 301 194 112
K870 Chengdu to Xi’an 14:38 – 08:35 (Day 2) 17h57m 301 194 112
K6 Chengdu to Xi’an 21:05 – 12:20 (Day 2) 15h15m 301 194 112
K196 Chengdu East to Xi’an South 14:12 – 00:55 (Day 2) 10h43m 355 230 128
For a live schedule, please refer to http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/

Xi’an – Chengdu by Flights

There are over 10 flights flying between Xi’an and Chengdu daily, operated by the carriers of China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air China, Sichuan Airlines, Hainan Airlines, etc. You can fire the live airfare for this route at Ctrip

Airport used: Xi’an Xianyang Airport (XIY) & Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU)

Frequent Asked Questions on Travel between Xi’an & Chengdu

Is there high speed trains between Xi’an and Chengdu?

No high speed trains available currently. The Xi’an – Chengdu High Speed Railway is under construction now and is estimated to be competed in November of 2017. When competed, it will significantly shorten the train travel time between Xi’an and Chengdu from 12 hours to 3 hours.

When will the Xian – Chengdu high speed train service open ?

No official announcement currently. According to some reports, it is scheduled to open at December 6 of 2017.

How long and how much to travel from Xi’an to Chengdu?

It will cost you over 300 yuan and 12 – 17 hours to travel between Xi’an & Chengdu by regular rail. If you travel by air, the airfare is from 720 yuan (Just for reference) and flight time is about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Is there any good China rail travel guide before I make this trip?

Yeah. The best resource would be www.seat61.com/China.htm. Mr Mark Smith gives very detailed information about how to travel China by train on his famous travel site Seat61.com.

Onward travel: Chengdu to Chongqing Train, Beijing to Xi’an Train, Xian to Chongqing high speed train

Trusted Online Ticket Agents:

Option 1: China Highlights is a reliable online agency  for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee.

Option 2: Trip.com  is an internatioal brand owned by Ctrip Group, China's largest online travel booking platform. Trip.com offers booking service for flight, train, hotel, activities, etc

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