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 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 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.
- Train type: T, K trains (Normal train, 120 – 150 km/h)
- Seat class: Soft sleeper, hard sleeper & hard seat (See what is it like on Wikipedia).
- Travel time one-way: 12 – 17 hours.
- Ticket price one-way: See below.
- Stations used: Xi’an Railway Station (西安站, location on Google Map); Xi’an South Railway Station (西安南站, Xi’an Nan, location on Google Map) & Chengdu Railway Station (成都站, Map), Chengdu East Railway Station (成都东站, Chengdu Dong, Google Map)
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 |
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For a live schedule, please refer to http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/
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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 |
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For a live schedule, please refer to http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/
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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
