The most efficient way to travel from Chengdu to Lijiang is by direct flight, which typically takes between 1 and 1.5 hours and departs from either Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) or Tianfu International Airport (TFU). Major carriers such as Air China, Sichuan Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines offer daily nonstop services, with economy fares generally ranging from 300 to 1,100 CNY depending on how far in advance you book. For those who prefer traveling by rail, a direct high-speed train now operates between Chengdu South Railway Station and Lijiang Railway Station, completing the journey in approximately 9 hours for a second-class fare of about 376 CNY. Alternatively, travelers can take a faster bullet train to Kunming (about 6 hours) and transfer to a second high-speed train to Lijiang (about 2 to 3 hours), which offers more frequent daily departures. While long-distance buses and indirect routes via Panzhihua exist, they are significantly slower and generally less convenient than the modern flight and high-speed rail options.