Getting around Chengdu: Buses and subways are very convenient; recommend staying in a hostel.
Coming to Chengdu, it's very convenient to fly or take the train, and I chose the daytime train for a 9-hour journey to save money, but I disliked the airport hassle. When returning, I wisely chose the evening sleeper train. I had hoped to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way, but about two and a half hours later, most of the beautiful views were replaced by dark tunnels. On the return journey, I opted for the evening sleeper train, falling asleep within a few hours. In a state of half-awake, I arrived at the station, returning home in a flash that took only fifteen minutes – like a '' ( – 'Teng Yun Ju Wu' – 'Riding the Clouds') .
Therefore, for those who dislike transfers and prefer train travel, choosing the nighttime sleeper car is a good option, avoiding excessive fatigue and saving a night's accommodation. Perhaps this is a '' ('poor man's thinking') – Chengdu's local travel: buses and subways are very convenient. If you download '' ('Tian Fu Tong' – 'Chengdu Pass') on your phone, you can avoid the trouble of queuing for subway rides. Whether you're taking a bus or subway, open the software to pay with your QR code – a simple scan and you'll even get a small discount. I saw many people in line buying tickets, thankfully I saw someone recommend '' ('Tian Fu Tong' – 'Chengdu Pass') in one of the guides.
If traveling alone as a woman, I would recommend staying in a hostel. As it was my first time traveling alone, I felt I made the right choice. First, it's safe, with someone stationed in the lobby all night. Strangers had to enter the sleeping area after checking in with the staff. Each guest has an electronic room card and a locker card, which is convenient and secure. As I have a shallow sleep, I chose a four-bed room in the hostel, avoiding rooms without bed curtains. After checking in, the hostel gave me an eye mask and earplugs, but I didn't use them.
Perhaps due to the crowds, I felt a sense of security and my sleep quality was significantly better than during the company's previous group trip, where we stayed in a double room. However, a downside is that people returning late or waking up early can disturb others. There's a separate bathroom inside, making it convenient to go to the toilet and wash up. The air conditioning was running 24 hours a day, with an exhaust fan at the top of the room, keeping the interior cool and dry. I wanted to make friends and this hostel had a large living room with a billiard room, a chess and card room, a library corner, and a computer area – and every night they played movies on an entire wall.
I could easily find people to share meals for lunch and dinner, Sichuan local cuisine for fifteen yuan per meal. I wouldn't mention the name of this hostel, it sounds like an advertisement. I thought this hostel was great, but a roommate from Chongqing told me that the one in Chongqing was better – not only did each bed have a bedside lamp, but the bedside lamp could be adjusted, and there was a wooden table that could be pulled out to sit on the bed and write.
