Chengdu to Lhasa Flight

Flying into Tibet from Chengdu, the land of abundance, is currently the city with the most flights into Tibet at the most affordable price. The Chengdu to Lhasa (LXA) flight route covers 1262.9 kilometers (784 miles) and takes 2.5 hours. Currently, there are two airports in Chengdu, one is Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) and another is Tianfu International Airport (TFU).

When you fly to Lhasa, remember to check in as early as possible and choose a left window position. During the flight, you will cross the Tibetan Plateau and overlook the well-known places in western Sichuan and Tibet, such as Gongga Mountain, Meili Snow Mountain, Nyainqentanglha, Yarlung Zangbo, Himalayas, etc. 

Why Choose the Chengdu to Lhasa Flight?

Chengdu is the political, economic and cultural center of southwest China and an important city in the Yangtze River valley. Its airport connects to the world's 30 busiest airports. There are many reasons why Chengdu is your best choice when going to Tibet, and here are some of these reasons:

• First, it's convenient and affordable. Chengdu offers one of the shortest flights to Tibet by taking 2.5 hours or less. And Chengdu offers many flight options to Lhasa every day. On average, there are around 12-17 daily flights to Tibet from Chengdu. So, you will have flexible choices of flight schedules as well as cheaper fares.
• Second, there are myriads of international flights to Chengdu from cities like Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Bangkok, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Tokyo, and many more. Also, as a transport hub, there are many flights coming from other domestic cities of China like Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Kunming, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Xi'an, etc.
• Lastly, Chengdu is a thriving city that is also known for being a tourist destination on its own. You can enjoy tasty food, ancient buildings, and traditional cultures, as well as visit lovely pandas. So, if you choose it as your gateway to Tibet, you may allow a day or two to tour the different tourist destinations in Chengdu. 

Chengdu to Lhasa Flight Schedule

There are many direct flights from Chengdu to Lhasa every day. The earliest flight departs from six in the morning until ten in the evening, and the flight time is about two and a half hours. Here's the list of some major flights.

Chengdu to Lhasa Flights

Lhasa to Chengdu Flights

Note:

During the peak tourist season (July to September), there are fewer discounts on air tickets, usually about 20% off. You can also choose evening or morning air tickets, which will be relatively cheaper. Sometimes, if you book one to two months in advance, there's a bigger discount.

Necessary Permits

When you exchange your boarding pass and go through the airport security check, the airport staff will check your Tibet entry permit, so please make sure you have prepared the permit before taking the plane. To get a Tibet travel permit, you need to sign up with a reliable Tibet travel agency first. Then, you should send a photocopy or scanned copy of your passport and China visa to this agency. Afterward, this agency will apply for a Tibet Travel Permit on your behalf at the Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa. Once this permit is issued, your agency agency will send it to you by post. The process usually takes up to 10 working days so please book earlier.

Airports in Chengdu

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (IATA: CTU, ICAO: ZUUU) is located in the southwest of the central city of Shuangliu District, Chengdu, China, 16 kilometers away from downtown Chengdu. It is one of China's eight regional hub airports as well as aviation hubs for passenger and cargo distribution centers in inland areas of China. Shuangliu Airport is currently divided into two terminals, T1 and T2. Sichuan Airlines and all international/Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan flights take off and land at Terminal T1. All other flights take off and land at Terminal T2. You can walk between the two for about ten minutes. In addition, there is a shuttle bus between T1 and T2, which runs every five minutes, and the operating hours are from 7:30 in the morning to 10:00 in the evening.

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (IATA: TFU, ICAO: ZUTF) is located in Jianyang City, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China (belonging to the construction scope of the Eastern Chengdu New District), 50 kilometers north of the center of Chengdu. It is 50 kilometers away from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in the northwest and about 14.5 kilometers away from Jianyang city center in the northeast. It is a 4F-level international airport and the main hub of Chengdu International aviation hub.

Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

Lhasa Gonggar International Airport(LXA) is 62 kilometers from Lhasa and is located in Gonggar County, Shannan Prefecture. It is situated 11,710 ft above sea level and only Boeing 747 and Airbus A340 can lad in this airport.

This airport is serviced only by one international flight from Kathmandu. During peak season, there are one or two daily direct flights that fly the Kathmandu-Lhasa air route. These flights are operated by Sichuan Airlines and Air China.

Being the most important airport in Tibet, the Lhasa Gonggar Airport caters to many domestic flights from other cities of China including Chengdu, Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou, Kunming, Xining, Chongqing, Shangri-La, and many other domestic cities.

>>See more about Lhasa Airport

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ideal time to visit Tibet?

The recommended season for traveling to Tibet by plane is from April to October. The other months are more often very cold with heavy snowfall. Moreover, during these months, flights are more frequent, giving you more flight options at hand.

Tibet is also of high altitude. So, you will need some time to acclimate yourself to its weather. It's highly suggested that you go for an early flight to give your body more time to adjust to Tibet’s high-altitude weather during the day.

Is there any direct international flight to Tibet?

There is no direct international flight to Tibet currently. In the past, there was a flight coming from Kathmandu, Nepal but it has not yet resumed. It takes one and a half hours to reach Lhasa Gonggar Airport from Kathmandu. During peak travel season, there are around two daily flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa.

Are there tourist sites in Chengdu?

There are many natural, historical and cultural sites in Chengdu. You can visit Mount Qingcheng,  which is an important Taoist center in China. You can also visit Dujianyan Irrigation System known for being the oldest existing irrigation project in China. You should also never miss the Giant Panda Center, covering around 9,245 sq. miles. You can also visit the Kuanzhai Ancient Streets of the Qing Dynasty as well as the Jinli Pedestrian Street.

Are there other Airports in Tibet that have flights coming from Chengdu?

Tibet basically has 4 airports aside from Lhasa Gonggar Airport. These airports are Shigatse Peace Airport (RKZ), Nyingchi Mainling Airport (LZY), Qamdo Banda Airport (BPX), and Ngari Gunsa Airport (NGQ). Yet, only the Shigatse, Nyingchi, and Qamdo airports have flights from and to Chengdu.

Shigatse Peace Airport is around 46 km from Shigatse City which is the second-largest city in Tibet. The Nyingchi Mainling Airport is located in the Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley. It is known as one of the most difficult airports to reach for an aircraft. The Qamdo Bamda Airport is situated in Bamda village. It is a 2.5-hour drive from Qamdo, the country seat.