How do I get around Chengdu as a tourist?

Getting around Chengdu as a tourist is easy - it's a modern city with great infrastructure:

🚇 Metro (Recommended)
- 12 lines covering all major tourist attractions
- Cheap: 2-10 RMB ($0.30-1.40 USD) depending on distance
- Signs and announcements in English
- Runs 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Buy a ticket from the vending machine (takes cash and card) or use Tianfu Tong card
- Perfect for tourists - clean, modern, avoids traffic

🚌 Bus
- Extensive network covering the whole city
- Cheap (2 RMB per ride)
- Can be slow in traffic
- Less convenient for tourists since most signs only in Chinese
- Good if you have the app with offline maps

🚕 Taxis & DiDi
- Plentiful and affordable
- Flag fall: 8-9 RMB ($1.10-1.30 USD) starting
- DiDi app works in English - very convenient
- Most taxi drivers don't speak English - have your destination written in Chinese
- Cheaper than taxis in Western countries - most trips within city are 10-20 RMB

🚲 Bicycle Sharing
- Very popular with locals
- Hellobike and Mobike have apps
- Great for short distances on nice days
- Only if you're comfortable cycling in Chinese traffic

💳 Getting a Tianfu Tong Card
- If you're staying more than 3 days, get this rechargeable card
- Works on metro and buses
- Available at any metro station
- 20 RMB deposit + load whatever amount you want
- Very convenient

Summary:
- Use metro for getting between major attractions
- Use DiDi for shorter trips or when metro doesn't go there
- Everything is very affordable compared to Western cities
- Have your hotel address written in Chinese for taxi drivers

Chengdu is very easy to get around as a tourist. The metro system is modern and tourist-friendly.