Chengdu to Lhasa Flight

Flights from Chengdu to Lhasa are one of the most popular ways to get to Tibet from mainland China. As one of the major airports in China - not to mention the main hub for air transport in Western China - Chengdu’s airport is undoubtedly one of the best airports in China from which to get flights to Tibet. And with more than a dozen daily flights to the Tibetan capital, you can almost be guaranteed that you will be able to get a flight to coincide with the time and date you want to travel.

Chengdu to Lhasa Flight Schedule

Covering a distance of around 1,286 kilometers (768 miles) the flights to Lhasa from Chengdu take from 2 hours 15 minutes to around 2 hours 25 minutes to reach the plateau airport of the Tibetan capital.

Tibetan Airlines offers the most flights from Chengdu to Lhasa

Currently, there are 15 non-stop flights that run daily from Chengdu to Lhasa. These flights are offered by Air China, Sichuan Airlines, and Tibet Airlines, and the flights cost from around US$294 per person for an economy one-way flight.

Chengdu to Lhasa Flight Schedule

Notice: The flight schedule (updated in March, 2021) is just for your reference. Please contact us for detailed flight timetable on your preferred travel date.

Flights to Lhasa Gonggar International Airport from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in Sichuan Province depart early in the morning, with the first flight leaving daily at 6:00am and arriving in Lhasa at 8:30am. The last flight of the day departs from Chengdu at around 22:10pm, and arrives in Lhasa at around 12:35am.

Since there is a great range of choices, Tibet tours from Chengdu are also popular among travelers from both home and abroad, during which tourists can not only explore the holy land in Tibet, but also witness the lovely giant pandas, and taste the delicious Sichuan cuisine before they reaching to Tibet.

In winter seasons, when it is a low season for Tibet tourism, there are fewer scheduled flights from Chengdu to Lhasa. So if you plan to visit Tibet during that period, it is suggested to check the flight schedule in advance.

Lhasa to Chengdu Flight Schedule

The return flights from Lhasa to Chengdu also run 15 times a day, and take around 2 hours from Lhasa Gonggar Airport to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

The flights are offered by Air China, Sichuan Airlines, and Tibet Airlines, and several flights are connecting flights from Kathmandu that stop in Lhasa en route to Chengdu.

Lhasa to Chengdu Flight Schedule

Notice: The flight schedule (updated in March, 2021) is just for your reference. Please contact us for detailed flight timetable on your preferred travel date.

The first departure from Lhasa leaves the airport at 7:15am, arriving in Chengdu at around 9:15am. The last flight out of Lhasa Gonggar International Airport leaves at 10:10pm, and arrives in Chengdu at around 12:10am the following day.

More Chengdu to Tibet Flights

Flights to Lhasa are not the only flights into Tibet from Chengdu. Flights are also available for travelers to fly from Chengdu to both Shigatse Peace Airport and Nyingchi Mainling Airport.

Chengdu to Nyingchi Flight

The flight from Chengdu to Nyingchi is a busy route for tourists to start their Tibet tours at a lower altitude in eastern Tibet, which is one of the most stunning parts of Tibet plateau region with outstanding natural landscapes.

Chengdu to Nyingchi Flight Schedule

Notice: The above flight schedule (updated in March, 2021) is just for your reference. Please contact us for detailed flight timetable on your preferred travel date.

There are four non-stop flights from Chengdu to Nyingchi, which are offered by Air China, Sichuan Airlines, and Tibet Airlines. It takes from 2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes to cover the 938 kilometer distance.

You could see snow-capped mountains from the airplane to Nyingchi

All Chengdu Nyingchi flights depart from Chengdu in the morning, starting at 5:55am for the first flight, which arrives in Nyingchi at around 8:15am. The last flight of the day departs at 8:15am, and arrives in the Nyingchi airport at around 10:15am, still giving you the whole day to explore.

Chengdu to Shigatse Flight

The second largest city in Tibet, Shigatse is home to one of the world’s highest airports, Shigatse Peace Airport (3,783m asl), which lies in Jiangdang Township, 43 kilometers (27 miles) from Shigatse city. The latest airport in Tibet to open for commercial domestic flights, it takes around 2 hours 40 minutes to cover the 1,459 kilometers from Chengdu to Shigatse. Recently, there is only one daily flight from Chengdu to Shigatse, which is offered by Tibet Airlines.

Chengdu to Shigatse Flight Schedule

Notice: The above flight schedule (updated in March, 2021) is just for your reference. Please contact us for detailed flight timetable on your preferred travel date.

About Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

Located around 16 kilometers from Chengdu city center, Tianfu Square, Shuangliu International Airport lies in the south of the city, in the Shuangliu District of Chengdu. The main airport serving Sichuan Province, it is one of the main international airports for flights into China, and a major aviation hub in Western China.

The airport has two terminals, with 74 boarding bridges, 64 security channels, and over 200 check-in counters. Terminal 1 offers mainly international flights to more than 50 destinations around the world, including North America and Europe, as well as hosting the domestic flights for Sichuan Airlines. Terminal 2 is reserved for the domestic flights around China, with the exception of Sichuan Airlines, and is more than twice the size of Terminal One.

How to get to the Airport from Chengdu Downtown

The easiest way to get to the airport from Chengdu downtown is on the Chengdu Metro, which covers almost the entire city and has a dedicated Metro line to the airport. Metro Line 10 starts from Taipingyuan Station on Line 3 and runs to both terminals. The trip from Taipingyuan to Terminal Two only costs around 4 yuan.

Shuttle buses also run to the airport from five locations across the city, including the City Center, Chengdu North Railway Station, Chengdu East Railway Station, Century City New Convention and Exhibition Center, and the Xipu Bus Station in Pidu District.

Travelers can also take a taxi to the airport. Furthermore, there are high-speed trains running to the airport from South Railway Station and East Railway Station. It takes from 10 minutes to 16 minutes to arrive.

About Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

The main airport in Tibet and the only international airport for the plateau region, Lhasa Gonggar International Airport is located in Gonggar County of Lhoka Prefecture, to the south of the Tibetan capital. Lying around 64 kilometers from Lhasa, it takes around 1 hour 14 minutes to drive from the airport to Lhasa downtown.

We offer Pick-up Service at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

For many tourists traveling to or from the airport, there are shuttle buses that run between the airport and downtown Lhasa, which leave around every 30 minutes from both ends. The buses take around 60 minutes to transfer to or from the airport, and cost just 25 yuan per person. Taxis also run the route between the airport and the capital, though they are more expensive at between 130 and 200 yuan per trip.

Travel Documents Required for Taking a Chengdu to Lhasa Flight

Valid Passport with Chinese Visa

For all tourists to Tibet, a valid passport and Chinese Entry Visa is required before you can even book your trip to Tibet. You will need to show your passport with visa stamp when you check in for your flight, at the security gate, and at the boarding gate to the flight. Your passport and visa will also be used for applying for all the other documents that you will need.

Tibet Travel Permit

The main permit for travel into and around Tibet, the Tibet Travel Permit is required for all international tourists to Tibet, and is obtained once you have booked your trip by us on your behalf. The permit is required for you to book flights to Tibet, as well as to board the flights when you travel.

Will I Get Altitude Sickness When Taking Flight to Lhasa from Chengdu

Lhasa lies at an altitude of around 3,656 meters above sea level. Conversely, Chengdu lies at an average altitude of just 500 meters. Altitude sickness usually occurs when travelers ascend to high altitudes within a short period of time. As the aircraft are all pressurized when flying to Tibet, you will transition from the pressure of the altitude at Chengdu to the lower atmosphere in Lhasa within seconds, instead of in hours or days.

While there is no guarantee of getting or not getting altitude sickness, whether you travel fast or slowly, it is highly likely that you will experience the effects and symptoms of altitude sickness once you land.

>> See the best way to avoid high altitude sickness in Tibet.

Where Else Can I Take Flight to Tibet in Sichuan Province

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is not the only airport in Sichuan Province from where you can get a flight to Tibet. Flights are also offered from five other domestic airports to Lhasa with Tibet Airlines.

Five Airports Offering Flights to Tibet in Sichuan

Dazhou Heshi Airport (DAX), which is located at Dazhou Prefecture-level city in northeast Sichuan;
Hongyuan Airport (AHJ), located in the Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan province, around 48 kilometers from county seat of Hongyuan County;
Mianyang Nanjiao Airport (MIG), which is located in the southern suburbs of Mianyang City in northeast Sichuan Province, around 10 kilometers from the city center;
Nanchong Gaoping Airport (NAO), which serves the northeastern Sichuan city of Nanchong, and lies around 4 kilometers from the outskirts of the city;
and Yibin Caiba Airport (YBP), located in the southeast of Sichuan Province, in the Cuiping District of Yibin City.

Conclusion

Flights from Chengdu to Lhasa are an ideal way to travel to the plateau capital, and with so many direct flights every day, it is one of the most popular locations from which to fly to Tibet. And with flights to other airports in Tibet from Chengdu, as well as five other airports in Sichuan Province providing flights to Lhasa, there is no doubt that this popular tourist destination in southwest China is one of the best departure locations for Tibet.