Seoul to Chengdu (Jianyang) (ICN–TFU) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

South Korean passport holders can enter China visa-free for up to 15 days under China's expanded transit visa exemption policy (renewed through 2025, confirm validity before booking). This applies to tourism, business, and transit purposes at major ports of entry. For stays beyond 15 days, apply for a visa at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in South Korea. A single-entry L (tourist) visa costs KRW 60,000 (about $45) and takes 4 working days. Express processing (2 days) costs KRW 90,000.

Passport must be valid for at least 6 months with two blank pages. For the visa-free entry, you need a return or onward ticket and proof of accommodation. For a visa application, submit the completed form from cova.mfa.gov.cn, a passport photo (48mm x 33mm, white background), flight itinerary, hotel bookings, and bank statements. Group tourist visas are available through authorized Korean travel agencies for organized tours.

Direct flights from Seoul Incheon to Beijing (2 hours), Shanghai (2 hours 15 minutes), and dozens of other Chinese cities run daily on Korean Air, Asiana, Air China, China Eastern, and budget carriers like T'way and Jin Air. China uses the Chinese yuan (CNY), trading at roughly 190 KRW per CNY 1. Cash is nearly obsolete in Chinese cities. Alipay now allows foreign passport holders to link Visa/Mastercard for mobile payments. No mandatory vaccinations. A VPN is needed for Google, KakaoTalk, and most Korean apps inside China.

AREX (Airport Railroad Express) runs two services from Seoul Station: the Direct Train (43 min, ₩11,000, reserved seats) and the All-Stop train (66 min, ₩4,550, unreserved). Both trains serve T1 first, then T2; confirm which terminal your airline uses before boarding.Limousine buses depart from major Seoul neighborhoods and hotels (₩16,000–18,000, 60–90 min depending on traffic). KAL and LIMOUSINE services are reliable. Taxis from central Seoul cost ₩65,000–80,000 and take 60–90 minutes. Deluxe (black) taxis are pricier but English-speaking drivers are more common.

Follow signs to the Metro Line 18 station inside the terminal. The express service reaches Chengdu South Railway Station in 35 minutes (CNY 10), where you can transfer to Lines 1, 7, or 18 local stops for the rest of the city. To reach Tianfu Square, transfer at Century City and take Line 1 north (total about CNY 30, 55-65 minutes).

Airport buses depart from the ground transport center outside arrivals. Line 1 to Chunxi Road takes 60-80 minutes (CNY 15 daytime, CNY 25 after 23:30). Taxis queue at the designated rank and use meters; budget CNY 180-260 to central Chengdu. DiDi pickup is on the east side of arrivals and runs cheaper than taxis at CNY 90-130 to city center destinations.

Chengdu sits in the Sichuan Basin with a humid subtropical climate. Summers (June-September) hit 22-29 degrees C with heavy monsoon rain. Half the annual 1000mm of rainfall lands in these four months, arriving as afternoon thunderstorms. Winters (December-February) average 3-8 degrees C and stay overcast. Frost is rare but the persistent cloud cover and dampness make it feel colder than the numbers suggest.

Chengdu is one of the cloudiest cities in China with roughly 200 overcast days per year and only 1000 hours of annual sunshine. Spring warms unevenly with cold snaps into April. Autumn (late September-November) is the most comfortable stretch with clear-ish skies and mild temperatures. Pack layers and rain gear regardless of season; an umbrella earns its place year-round here.