Discover Sichuan

Chengdu has two major international airports: Tianfu International Airport (TFU) — opened 2021, the main hub — and Shuangliu International Airport (CTU). Both handle international and domestic flights. Chengdu is also a major high-speed rail hub with direct services to Beijing (~8hrs), Shanghai (~11hrs), Chongqing (~1hr), Xi'an (~3.5hrs) and Kunming (~3.5hrs).

For Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, fly to Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport (JZH) — the world's second highest commercial airport at 3,448m. Daocheng Yading Airport (DCY) at 4,411m is the world's highest commercial airport.

Chengdu city has an extensive metro network (Lines 1–20). DiDi ride-hailing is the most convenient option for short trips. High-speed rail connects Chengdu to Leshan, Ya'an, and other provincial cities.

For remote areas like Jiuzhaigou, Daocheng Yading, Kangding and the Tibetan plateau, you will need a private car hire or organised tour. The famous G318 Sichuan–Tibet Highway is best driven with a guide and experienced driver.

China runs almost entirely on WeChat Pay and Alipay. International visitors should link a foreign card to WeChat Pay before arrival — this now works with international Visa/Mastercard. ATMs accepting foreign cards are widely available in Chengdu city.

Chengdu is excellent value compared to Beijing or Shanghai. Budget travel: ¥250–350/day. Comfortable: ¥500–900/day. Remote areas like Yading require more budget for transport and accommodation.

Mobile data in Sichuan is fast 4G/5G in cities and major tourist areas. Signal can be limited in remote Tibetan areas and mountain valleys. Buy a tourist SIM at Chengdu airport on arrival.

Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and most Western apps are blocked in China. Download and test your VPN before entering China — many VPN providers are blocked from within the country. Pleco (dictionary) and Google Translate offline packs are essential.

China offers visa-free entry to 38+ nationalities for up to 30 days (2024–2025 policy, continuously expanding). Check the latest official list. Most Western passport holders are now eligible for visa-free entry.

Chengdu Tianfu Airport offers a 144-hour transit visa exemption for many nationalities — useful for a long stopover. The Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture does not require a separate Tibet Permit, unlike the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Chengdu sits at only 500m altitude — no issues. However, many of Sichuan's greatest attractions are at serious altitude: Jiuzhaigou (2,000–3,100m), Kangding (2,600m), Siguniang Mountains (3,050m+), Daocheng Yading (3,700–4,600m), and Daocheng Airport (4,411m).

Acclimatise carefully: spend 1–2 nights in Kangding before heading higher. At Daocheng Yading, rest for a full day before trekking. Carry altitude medication (Diamox) if susceptible. Symptoms include headache, nausea and shortness of breath.

Sichuan cuisine is the most complex regional cuisine in China and one of the world's great food cultures. The defining flavour is málà (麻辣) — the numbing tingle of Sichuan peppercorn combined with chilli heat. Chengdu was designated a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2010.

Must-eat: hot pot (火锅), mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐), dan dan noodles (担担面), kung pao chicken (宫保鸡丁), and zhong dumplings (钟水饺). Buy Pixian Doubanjiang (郫县豆瓣酱) spicy bean paste as a souvenir — the soul of Sichuan cooking.

Sichuan is very safe for tourists in the main cities and tourist areas. The main risks are natural — earthquakes (the region is seismically active: the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake killed 87,000 people), landslides on mountain roads during heavy rain, and altitude sickness on the Tibetan plateau areas.

Travel insurance with emergency evacuation cover is strongly recommended for remote highland areas. UV radiation is intense at high altitude — strong sunscreen is essential. Tap water is not drinkable anywhere in China; bottled water is cheap and widely available.