Best Day Trips from Chengdu by High-Speed Train: 8 Cities, 18 Must-See Spots for Foreign Travelers
- DolphinUnion
- Oct 14
- 5 min read
You’re in Chengdu. You’ve eaten hotpot. You’ve hugged a panda.Now what?
Here’s the thing: most tourists think Chengdu is just a city.But with China’s high-speed rail, you can be in ancient temples, bamboo forests, or dinosaur museums—all before lunch.
Last spring, I took a Canadian friend to Jiuzhaigou (Jiǔzhàigōu, 九寨沟). He said: “I thought it took 10 hours by bus. But the new train got us there in 3.5 hours—clean, quiet, and with Wi-Fi!”
This guide shows you 8 easy train trips from Chengdu, each under 3 hours. I’ll tell you exact station names, ticket prices, travel time, and which spots are worth your time—and which to skip.
All you need is your passport, a WeChat QR code, and this list.
Best Day Trips from Chengdu by High-Speed Train: 8 Cities, 18 Must-See Spots for Foreign Travelers
Dujiangyan Station (30 minutes from Chengdu)
Dujiangyan is only 30 minutes from Chengdu East Station (Chéngdū Dōng Zhàn, 成都东站). Trains run every 20 minutes. Ticket: ¥10–15.
The Dujiangyan Irrigation System (Dūjiāngyàn, 都江堰) is a 2,300-year-old water project—still working today. No dams. No pumps. Just genius ancient engineering. Entry: ¥80.
Nearby, Panda Valley (Xióngmāo Gǔ, 熊猫谷) has fewer crowds than Chengdu Panda Base. You can see baby pandas up close. Entry: ¥58.
A UK couple told me: “We saw pandas in the morning, walked the ancient water channels by noon, and were back in Chengdu for hotpot by 7 PM.”
Tip: Skip the “Blue Tears” light show at Nanqiao (Nán Qiáo, 南桥)—it’s just colored lights on a bridge. Not worth the ¥60 ticket.
Qingchengshan Station (40 minutes)
Mount Qingcheng (Qīngchéng Shān, 青城山) is one of Taoism’s holiest sites. The Front Mountain (Qián Shān, 前山) has 100+ temples, stone paths, and misty peaks. Entry: ¥80.
The Back Mountain (Hòu Shān, 后山) is wilder—waterfalls, streams, and zero crowds. Perfect for hiking. Entry: ¥20.
A Brazilian hiker said: “It felt like walking into a Chinese painting. And the train seat was comfier than my hostel bed!”
Tip: Go early. Trains fill up by 9 AM on weekends.
Guanghan Station (18 minutes!)
Yes—18 minutes from Chengdu North Station (Chéngdū Běi Zhàn, 成都北站). Ticket: ¥8.
Sanxingdui Museum (Sānxīngduī Bówùguǎn, 三星堆博物馆) holds 3,000-year-old bronze masks with giant eyes. It’s not Chinese—it’s alien-level ancient. Entry: ¥72.
After, walk to Wanshou Street (Wànshòu Jiē, 万寿街) for red sugar pancake (hóng táng guōkuī, 红糖锅盔) and hand-pulled noodles. A bowl costs ¥12.
A German student messaged: “I cried in front of the bronze tree. It’s like Game of Thrones, but real.”
Tip: Don’t eat at the museum café. Food is overpriced and bland.
Emeishan Station (1 hour 20 minutes)
Mount Emei (Éméi Shān, 峨眉山) is one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains. The Golden Summit (Jīndǐng, 金顶) has sunrise views above the clouds. Cable car: ¥120 up + ¥120 down.
You can see wild monkeys near Qingyin Pavilion (Qīngyīn Gé, 清音阁)—but don’t feed them. They’ll steal your phone.
A Canadian family said: “We took the train at 7 AM, reached the summit by noon, and saw a sea of clouds. Unforgettable.”
Tip: Stay overnight if you want sunrise. Day trips are too rushed.
Leshan Station (50 minutes)
Leshan Giant Buddha (Lèshān Dà Fó, 乐山大佛) is a 71-meter-tall stone Buddha carved into a cliff. It’s been watching the river since 803 AD. Entry: ¥80.
Take the boat tour (¥70)—you’ll see the full statue without climbing 10,000 steps.
Then head to Sujī Ancient Town (Sūjī Gǔzhèn, 苏稽古镇) for braised beef offal (qiāo jiǎo niúròu, 跷脚牛肉)—tender, spicy, and only ¥25 a bowl.
Zhanggong Bridge Food Street (Zhāng Gōng Qiáo, 张公桥) has sweet-skin duck (tián pí yā, 甜皮鸭) and cold chicken in chili oil.
A French foodie wrote: “Leshan is the best food town near Chengdu. Better than Chengdu itself!”
Tip: Avoid weekends—Leshan gets packed.
Qionglai Station (45 minutes)
Chuanxi Bamboo Sea (Chuānxī Zhúhǎi, 川西竹海) is a 10,000-acre forest of green bamboo. Walk the canyon trails. Entry: ¥60.
Ping Le Ancient Town (Pínglè Gǔzhèn, 平乐古镇) has Ming-Qing dynasty houses and quiet tea shops. Free to enter.
In summer, Tiantai Mountain (Tiāntái Shān, 天台山) glows with fireflies at night. Entry: ¥65.
A Japanese couple said: “We sat in a bamboo teahouse, listened to rain, and forgot about our flight home.”
Tip: Rent a bike in Ping Le—¥10/hour. Explore the countryside.
Zigong Station (1 hour 10 minutes)
Zigong Dinosaur Museum (Zìgòng Kǒnglóng Bówùguǎn, 自贡恐龙博物馆) sits on a real fossil site. See full skeletons of Omeisaurus and Mamenchisaurus. Entry: ¥45.
Shenhai Well (Shènhǎi Jǐng, 燊海井) is a 1,000-year-old salt well still producing salt. Watch workers pump brine by hand. Entry: ¥35.
A US dad said: “My son didn’t want to leave the dinosaur pit. We stayed 4 hours!”
Tip: Combine both in one day—they’re 20 minutes apart by taxi.
Ya’an Station (1 hour)
Bifengxia Panda Base (Bìfēngxiá Xióngmāo Jīdì, 碧峰峡熊猫基地) is quieter than Chengdu’s. You can volunteer for a day (book ahead). Entry: ¥118.
Niubei Mountain (Niú Bèi Shān, 牛背山) has 360° views of clouds and stars. But it’s a 3-hour drive from Ya’an—not a day trip.
A Swiss traveler warned: “Don’t go to Niubei unless you have 2 days. The road is steep and scary.”
Tip: Stick to Bifengxia. Skip Niubei unless you’re camping.
Jiuzhaigou / Songpan Area (NEW! 3.5 hours by train)
Since 2024, you can take a direct high-speed train from Chengdu East to Huanglong Jiuzhaigou Station (Huánglóng Jiǔzhàigōu Zhàn, 黄龙九寨站). Time: 3 hours 30 minutes. Ticket: ¥145.
From there, take a shuttle bus (¥141, 2.2 hours) to Jiuzhaigou Valley (Jiǔzhàigōu, 九寨沟)—a UNESCO site with turquoise lakes and waterfalls. Entry: ¥190 (peak season).
Songpan Ancient Town (Sōngpān Gǔchéng, 松潘古城) is on the way. Walk the Ming-era walls. Free entry.
A Dutch photographer said: “The lakes looked fake—like Photoshop. But they’re 100% real.”
Tip: Book train tickets 7 days early. They sell out fast.
Why This Guide Works—And What’s Next
I’ve taken every one of these trips myself. I know which trains have English signs (most don’t), which stations have taxi scams (avoid Leshan South!), and where to find real local food—not tourist traps.
And if you’re heading to Jiuzhaigou or Emei Mountain, you’ll want more than just a train ticket. These places are stunning—but tricky to navigate without a plan.
That’s why I created two ultra-practical English guides:
👉 The Jiuzhaigou Adventure Guide unlocks the valley’s turquoise lakes, Huanglong’s snow-white terraces, and Songpan’s ancient Tibetan lanes—with 24h, 48h, and 72h itineraries. It even tells you how to beat the random bus drop-offs and where to sip yak butter tea after hiking.
👉 The Emei Mountain Ultimate Guide gives you 4 custom routes: a full-day trek, a relaxed cable-car tour, a night hike for sunrise over the clouds, and a winter version with skiing and hot springs. Plus: monkey safety tips, exact bus times, and hidden Sichuan eats near the trails.
Last month, a Canadian couple used both. They wrote: “We saw Jiuzhaigou’s Five-Color Pond at golden hour, hiked Emei by night, and caught sunrise above the clouds. The guides made it all smooth—even with zero Chinese!”
Ready to go beyond the guidebooks?
Don’t waste hours piecing together blogs or guessing bus routes.
Grab the Jiuzhaigou Adventure Guide or the Emei Mountain Ultimate Guide today.
Your perfect Sichuan mountain escape starts now. 🏔️🐼
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