Sichuan Transportation Updates: Major Improvements to Metro, Rail, and Flights
Recently, Sichuan’s transportation system got a major upgrade. The Sichuan transportation updates include big news for the Chengdu Metro, bullet train services, and international flight routes.
• Line S3 of the Chengdu Metro, also known as Ziyang Line (Chinese: 资阳线) now connects the cities of Chengdu and Ziyang.
• New bullet train services are launched for destinations including Jiuzhaigou, and Huanglong, Mount Qingcheng, Lidui Park, Luzhou and Chongqing.
• And if ALL that transport news doesn’t get you going, there will be new international flight routes announced soon.
🚇 Chengdu – Ziyang Metro (Line S3)
Transportation updates have now been made to Line S3 of the Chengdu Metro, also called the Ziyang Line (Chinese: 资阳线). It now connects Chengdu and Ziyang. This new line is 38.7 km long and runs from Futian (connected to Line 18 and 19) in Chengdu to Ziyang North Station. It officially opened on 29 September 2024.
It uses 160 km/h Type-A trains and features both underground and above-ground sections. Chengdu paid 40% of the total 14.93 billion CNY investment. Ziyang paid relocation costs, while the remaining 54.1% came from a bank mortgage.
Ziyang is a growing city bordered by Chengdu, Deyang, Suining, Chongqing, and Neijiang. It’s near the new Chengdu airport and economic zone. As of the 2020 census, Ziyang has 2.3 million residents.
Line S3 Metro Stations:
S301 Futian 福田 1
S302 Lujia 芦葭
S303 Ziyang Airport Economic Zone 资阳临空
S304 Xingfu Avenue 幸福大道
S305 Changhong Square 苌弘广场
S306 Baotai 宝台
S307 Ziyang North Station 资阳北站
🌟 If you’re planning to use the new metro line or other public transport options in Chengdu, make sure you know how to get around efficiently. Here’s how to buy and top-up a public transport card in Chengdu.
🚄 New Bullet Train Services
As part of recent transportation updates in Sichuan, new bullet trains began operating on October 15 to major scenic destinations. These include Mount Qingcheng and Mount Emei, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Trains stop at key stations like Xipu, Chengdu East, Chengdu South, and Leshan.
*Mount Qingcheng → Mount Emei: with its departure at Mount Qingcheng, the train runs on the line with stops at Xipu, Chengdu East Railway Station, Chengdu South Railway Station, Leshan and ends at Mount Emei.*Mount Emei → Mount Qingcheng: starts at Mount Emei, runs on the line with stops at Meishan East Railway Station, Chengdu South Railway Station, Chengdu East Railway Station, Xipu and Dujiangyan, and ends at Mount Qingcheng.
Lidui Park 离堆公园 ⇋ Mount Emei 峨眉山
*Mount Emei → Lidui Park: starts at Mount Emei, runs on the line with stops at Leshan, Meishan East Railway Station, and Xipu, and ends at Lidui Park.
*Lidui Park → Mount Emei: starts at Lidui Park, runs on the line with stops at Yingbin Road, Ande, Xipu, Chengdu East Railway Station, Chengdu South Railway Station, Meishan East Railway Station, and Leshan, and ends at Mount Emei.
Luzhou 泸州 ⇋ Mount Emei 峨眉山
This daily line came in service to meet the demand of passengers from Luzhou and Zigong to Chengdu, Leshan and Meishan and to Tianfu International Airport.
*Luzhou → Mount Emei: starts at Luzhou, runs on the line with stops at Zigong, Ziyang West Railway Station, Tianfu International Airport, Chengdu South Railway Station, Shuangliu International Airport, Pengshan North Railway Station, Meishan East Railway Station and Leshan, and ends at Mount Emei.
*Mount Emei → Luzhou: starts at Mount Emei, runs on the line with stops at Leshan, Meishan East Railway Station, Shuangliu International Airport, Chengdu South Railway Station, Tianfu International Airport and Zigong, and ends at Luzhou.
Chongqing West Railway Station 重庆西 ⇋Leshan 乐山
*Chongqing West Railway Station → Leshan: starts at Chongqing West Railway Station, runs on the line with stops at Yibin and Yibin West Railway Station, and ends at Leshan.
*Leshan → Chongqing West Railway Station: starts at Leshan, runs on the line with stops at Yibin West Railway Station and Yibin, and ends at Chongqing West Station.
🏞️ New Line to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong
The section from Zhenjiang Pass to Huangsheng Pass of the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway (Chengdu-Xining) officially opened to traffic on August 30, 2024 upon the completion of its construction.
The operation of the line drastically reduces the running time of bullet trains from Chengdu to the scenic spots along the way. The departure from Chengdu East Railway Station will take 1 hour and 33 minutes to get to Songpan County, 1 hour and 39 minutes to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, 1 hour and 54 minutes to Huangsheng Pass.
The lowest ticket price for the second-class seat from Chengdu East Railway Station to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong is 128RMB. The operation also facilitate the transfer of passengers between Shuangliu Airport and Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Scenic Spots, reducing the running time between the two places to 2 hours and 36 minutes.
The section from Qingbaijiang Eastern Station to Zhenjiang Pass of the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway, runs through Maoxian County and Songpan County in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture and ends at Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Scenic Spots, along a route for tourists to experience the colorful ethnic cultures and local food while enjoying the sights of natural beauty.
The Songpan Station, Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Station, Huangsheng Pass Station, as the linking stations along the section from Zhenjiang Pass to Huangsheng Pass of the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway, are all in Songpan County, and tourist transfer services are put in place (taxis are also an option):
Bus service
Buses to scenic spots are available at the railway station. There are 3 lines from the Songpan Railway Station to Muni Valley, Huanglong (with a stop at Chuanzhu Temple along the way), and Songpan. Additionally, there are 3 lines from the Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Railway Station, to Muni Valley, Huanglong (with a stop at Chuanzhu Temple along the way), and the proper site of Songpan.
Sightseeing shuttle buses
Songpan County has put into operation 87 sightseeing shuttle buses at present, running on 10 routes from Songpan Station and Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Station to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Spot, Huanglong Scenic Spot and Yueliangwan Scenic Spot in Hongyuan County.
✈️ More International Flights from Chengdu
Starting late October, Sichuan Airlines increased flights to:
- Sydney & Melbourne (Australia)
- Moscow (Russia)
- Vancouver (Canada)
- Bangkok (Thailand)
Flights to Sydney, Melbourne, and Moscow increased to 7 days per week. Vancouver now has two weekly flights. Two chartered flights to the Republic of Seychelles are also planned for November.
🌟 Heading to the airport? The new 33-minute express metro to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport runs every hour, making international connections easier than ever.
🎫 New Train Ticket Rules
Now, passengers can change tickets after departure on the day of travel. The rescheduling fee depends on the timing:
- More than 24 hours before: 5% fee
- Within 24 hours before: 15% fee
- After departure: 40% fee
These Sichuan transportation updates will improve how residents and travelers move across the province. With better metro links, faster train services, and more flight options, it’s a great time to explore Sichuan.
Sources: 成都地铁, 成都发布, Home in Chengdu
