The line opened in 2017 through 130 km of tunnel, and it turned a ten-hour overnight journey into a three-hour morning. It also made the two most rewarding food cities in China into a single itinerary.
The practical details
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Journey time | 3h00–3h30 for G trains |
| Departure station (Xi’an) | Xi’an North (西安北) — not Xi’an Station |
| Arrival station (Chengdu) | Chengdu East (成都东) |
| Second class fare | Around ¥263 |
| First class fare | Around ¥421 |
| Frequency | Roughly every 30–40 minutes |
The scenic section
About 40 minutes after leaving Xi’an the train enters the Qinling range: a sequence of tunnels and viaducts through forested gorges. Sit on the right-hand side travelling towards Chengdu for the better views and the light.
What to do at each end
Xi’an: the city wall at dusk, the Terracotta Army in the morning (book the official mini-program ticket), and the Muslim Quarter in the evening — which is a food street rather than a monument. Two nights is right.
Chengdu: pandas at 08:00 when they are active, teahouses in the afternoon, hotpot at night. Three nights if you want a day trip to Leshan’s giant Buddha.