Chengdu - Kunming Train

At present, nearly 10 pairs of trains run between Chengdu and Kunming, including a few pairs of high speed trains taking around 6.5 hours and over 5 pairs of normal speed trains taking as long as 17 - 22.5 hours. 

Direct flights are also available between the two cities. Duration is about 2 hours. When good discounts are offered in low seasons, the ticket fare can be low to CNY 400 or so. In this case, flight can be a more favorable choice.
 

Open Date: Jan. 25th, 2018

Distance: 1,112 kilometers (691 miles)

Duration: 6.5 hours or so

Operated at: Chengdu East Railway Station, Kunming South Railway Station 

Stations along the way: Zizhong North, Neijiang North, Longchang North, Rongchang North, Dazu South, Yongchuan East, Bishan, Chongqing West, Qijiang East, Tongzi North, Tongzi East, Zunyi, Zunyi South, Xifeng, Guiyang North, Anshun West, Pu'anxian, Panzhou, Fuyuan north, Qujing North
 

Chengdu Schedule
(Last Update on Feb 21, 2019)

Kunming Schedule
(Last Update on Feb 21, 2019)

Totally 5 or so pairs of normal rides run for this route. Their running length is around 1,100 – 1,171 kilometers (684 - 728 miles) and the duration is 17 – 22.5 hours with a top speed of 120km/h only.
 

(Last Update on Feb 21, 2019)

(Last Update on Feb 21, 2019)

 K1139, K853: Jianyang, Ziyang, Neijiang, Zigong, Yibin, Shuifu, Yanjin, Daguan, Zhaotong, Caohai, Liupanshui, Xuanwei, Qujing

 K145, K113: Meishan, Emei, Yangang, Hanyuan, Ganluo, Puxiong, Yuexi, Xichang, Dechang, Panzhihua, Yuanmou, Heijing, Guangtong North, Lufeng South
 

1. It is advised to choose K146, K986, K166, or K985 which depart in the late afternoon or in the evening and arrive in the next morning or the next early afternoon. Traveling by these overnight sleeper trains can save some day time and one-night accommodation fee.
2. A soft or hard sleeper is highly recommended for this long-distance journey. And sleeper tickets should be purchased in advance as they are always in great demand.
 

Currently, the running speed of normal trains is 120 km/h (75 mph), while a new railroad is under construction and the designed speed is 160 km/h (99 mph). This project is expected to finish before 2020, by then duration between Chengdu and Kunming by normal speed train may be shortened to 6 hours.
 

As one of 8 most scenic train rides in China, Chengdu – Kunming Railway run southwestward from Sichuan Basin to Yungui Plateau. Along this way, tourists can see flat ground, high mountains, raging rivers, terraced fields and quiet villages, which are like a painting scroll. This provides tourists a chance to experience the various natural sceneries of different cities. Accompanied by those sceneries, this long-distance journey won’t be boring anymore, but full of surprises.