Chengdu is one of western China's main rail hubs, and the high-speed network is the easiest way to add Chongqing, Leshan, Xi'an, or other regional stops to a trip. Trains are clean, punctual, and comfortable. The main challenges for foreign visitors are booking with a passport, choosing the right station, and allowing enough time for security and platform walks.
Stations and routes
Chengdu East Railway Station is the main high-speed hub for destinations east and north, including Chongqing and Xi'an. Chengdu South serves some high-speed routes and is connected to the airport lines. Chengdu West handles some regional trains. Always check the station on your ticket; the city has several stations and they are far apart.
Popular routes include Chengdu to Chongqing (about 1–1.5 hours), Chengdu to Leshan (about 1 hour), and Chengdu to Xi'an (about 3–4 hours). These times are approximate; check the current timetable before booking.
- Chengdu East: main high-speed hub
- Chengdu South: some high-speed routes and airport connections
- Chongqing 1–1.5h; Leshan 1h; Xi'an 3–4h
Booking with a foreign passport
Use the official 12306 app or website, which has an English interface, or a reputable booking platform. Register with your passport number exactly as it appears on the document. You can usually scan your passport at the gate, but some stations require a visit to the ticket window for verification, especially on a first trip.
Arrive 40–60 minutes before departure. Security checks bags, and large stations involve long walks to the platform. Your passport is your ticket; keep it accessible. Seat classes are second, first, and business; second class is comfortable for short trips.
Luggage, food and connections
There are overhead racks and luggage areas at the end of each carriage. You are responsible for your own bags. Food is available on some trains and at station shops, but it is overpriced; buy snacks and water before boarding.
If you are connecting to a flight, leave a generous buffer. Chengdu East and Chengdu South are connected to the metro, but the transfers take time. For Tianfu Airport, allow at least 2 hours between train arrival and flight departure.
- Arrive 40–60 minutes early
- Passport is your ticket
- Buy snacks before boarding
Tickets, platforms and station practicalities
Book through 12306 or Trip.com and keep the passport you used for the booking with you; the gate reads it, and a different document will not work. First-time foreign users sometimes need to verify the passport at a ticket window before the gate accepts it, so arrive early rather than treating the 40-minute buffer as optional. Seat classes are second, first, and business; second class is a 3+2 layout and fine for the one-hour runs, but book earlier if you want two seats together on a busy weekend.
At Chengdu East, the metro arrives underneath a huge station; follow signs for your departure level and allow ten minutes to walk from the metro to security. Security scans bags and sometimes asks you to drink from a bottle. Platforms are announced in Chinese and English, and boarding usually starts 15–20 minutes before departure. If you are continuing to Tianfu Airport, the metro connection from Chengdu South is long; two hours between train and flight is a realistic minimum, not a comfortable one.
- Passport must match the booking
- Allow 10 minutes from metro to security at East
- Two hours minimum between rail and Tianfu flight
Best for
- Travelers adding Chongqing or Leshan to a Chengdu trip
- Visitors who prefer trains to domestic flights
Honest notes
- Some stations require ticket-window verification on first use.
- Station food is expensive and limited.
- The metro connection to Tianfu Airport is long; allow extra time.
Not for
- Travelers with very large luggage and tight connections
- Anyone who has not verified station names
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