Chengdu has two airports: Shuangliu (CTU, 16km southwest) and Tianfu (TFU, 50km southeast). Both serve extensive domestic and international routes. For Jiuzhaigou, fly to Huanglong Airport (JZH, 1 hour from Chengdu, 3,448m elevation) — book early as flights are limited. For Daocheng Yading, fly to Daocheng Yading Airport (DCY, 1 hour from Chengdu) — the world's highest civilian airport at 4,411m. Flights to Jiuzhaigou and Daocheng are weather-dependent and frequently delayed; have backup plans. Airport shuttle buses and metro connections serve both Chengdu airports.

Chengdu East Station is the high-speed rail hub, with trains to Xi'an (3-4h), Chongqing (1.5h), Leshan (1h), and Emeishan (1.5h). A high-speed line to Jiuzhaigou (Huanglongjiuzhai Station) opened in 2024, reducing travel time to 2 hours. For Daocheng, no train is available; fly or take a 2-day bus. The Chengdu-Lhasa train departs from Chengdu Station (43 hours). Book via 12306.cn. For Mount Emei, take the high-speed train to Emeishan Station (1.5 hours from Chengdu East), then a bus to the mountain base.

Buses to Jiuzhaigou depart from Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station (8-10 hours, 170 RMB) — the journey passes through earthquake recovery zones and mountain scenery. Buses to Daocheng depart from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station (2 days with an overnight stop). Buses to Mount Emei depart from Xinnanmen (2 hours, 50 RMB). Buses to Leshan depart from Xinnanmen (2 hours). For western Sichuan destinations (Tagong, Litang, Daocheng), buses are infrequent and slow; hiring a 4WD with a driver is recommended for the rugged mountain roads.

In Chengdu, the metro (13+ lines) covers all attractions. Taxis start at 8-9 RMB. Didi ride-hailing is widely available. For Jiuzhaigou, park buses inside the valley are included in the entrance ticket. For Mount Emei, mountain buses and cable cars are available (separate fees). For Daocheng Yading, park buses run from the entrance to the trekking start point. For inter-city travel in Sichuan, high-speed rail (Chengdu-Leshan-Emeishan) or flights (Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou, Chengdu-Daocheng) are the best options. Car hire with driver (500-800 RMB/day) is recommended for western Sichuan road trips.