How do I get around Chengdu as a tourist?

Getting around Chengdu is usually straightforward once you stop trying to use one method for everything.

My default mix:
- metro first for big cross-city moves, daytime sightseeing, and avoiding traffic
- DiDi second for airport transfers, late evenings, heavy rain, or when your energy is low
- walking third inside areas like Chunxi Road, Tianfu Square, Wuhou, or around one attraction cluster

Why the metro works well:
- it is cheap, clean, and English signage is usually good enough
- it avoids Chengdu traffic, which matters more than the low ticket price
- it is best when you are going between major anchors, not for every tiny door-to-door move

When DiDi is the better choice:
- after a long flight
- when you are carrying luggage
- when the weather is wet or hot
- when a transfer-heavy metro route saves money but costs too much energy

What I would skip for most foreign visitors:
- buses, unless you are already comfortable with local transport apps
- random street taxis waiting outside major attractions or transport hubs
- bike sharing unless you already know the area and are comfortable in city traffic

What helps most in practice:
- keep your destination saved in Chinese
- make sure Alipay is working before you need a ride
- do not obsess over getting a transport card if your phone setup already works

The main mistake is overcommitting to the cheapest option every time. In Chengdu, the smoother plan is usually metro for structure and DiDi for friction.