Xichang Railway Station

Station name and what to look for

Match the Chinese characters on your ticket to the characters above. English translations of Chinese station names vary between booking sites, but the Chinese name is the same everywhere.

About the station

Xichang is on the Chengdu–Kunming line in southern Sichuan, on the shore of Qionghai Lake and under some genuinely dark night skies — the area hosts major observatories for that reason.

The station serves conventional trains on a line that is slow and winding through the mountains, which is part of the appeal if you are not in a hurry.

The town has a large Yi ethnic population and the Torch Festival in summer is a substantial local event.

Getting to and from Xichang

The station is a short ride from the town centre and from Qionghai Lake. Taxis are cheap and plentiful.

The lake is walkable and cyclable in parts and makes a good half day without any organisation.

What catches travellers out here

• The Chengdu–Kunming conventional line is slow. Do not plan this route if time is short — the high-speed alternative goes a different way.
• The Torch Festival period fills accommodation across the region. Book well ahead if your dates coincide.

Other station guides in Sichuan

Before you travel

Tickets are issued against your passport and there is no paper ticket to collect for most domestic services. Read the booking guide if this is your first Chinese train, or the seat class guide if you are choosing between a hard sleeper and a soft sleeper. For the station itself, the general station guide explains how gates and boarding work at any Chinese station.