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Voykit pocket guide · China
Xichang
西昌
One day covers the lake, ancient city and launch centre; add a half‑day for the wetland park if you have time.
Xichang is a small city in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, best known for its satellite launch centre, Qionghai Lake and the well‑preserved Jianchang Ancient City. The sights are close together, so a single day is enough for a quick overview, with optional extra time for the wetland park or nearby villages.
- Country
- China
- Local name
- 西昌
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (rainy)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CNY
- Money
- Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones are free), and per-payment and yearly caps apply — check the app. Keep a second way to pay.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥80–120 · Mid ¥120–200 · High ¥200+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- A roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire 119 · Ambulance 120
- Plugs
- Types A, C, I · 220 V · 50 Hz · Many sockets take flat two-pin (A), round two-pin (C) and angled three-pin (I) plugs; UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.; Taxis and DiDi: No tip.; Tour guides and drivers: Expected on organised tours: about ¥100–200 a day for a guide, ¥50–100 for a driver.; Hotel porters: Not expected; ¥10–20 in luxury hotels.
- Water
- Not for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5, and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms. Restaurants serve hot water or tea.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls. Carry tissues — many have no paper.
Get in
By air
- XIC · Xichang Qingshan Airport
- About 15 km (9.3 mi) south of the city; taxis and buses availableAbout 9.3 mi (15 km) south of the city; taxis and buses available
Typical fares
- Bus No.6 West Station → Yuecheng Square
- ≈¥5, 10 min (check)
- Taxi from station to hotel
- ≈¥30–50 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
City buses No.6, 108, 106 and 111 link the West Railway Station with the lake, ancient city and fishing villages. Taxis are available; schedules vary – check locally.
See and do
Known for
- Xichang Satellite Launch Center
- Qionghai Lake and Lushan Mountain
- Jianchang Ancient City
- Liangshan Yi Slave Society Museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lugu Lake | Bus from Xichang West Railway Station, about 6 h | ≈6 h |
Sleep
- Qionghai Hotel
- Garden‑style villas, lakeside rooms; price ¥622 per night.
- Mingren Hotel
- Central Xincheng district; price ¥500 per night.
- Xichang Minshan Hotel
- Near city centre; price ¥600 per night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | 对不起duìbuqǐ |
| Thank you | 谢谢xièxiè |
| How much is it? | 多少钱？duōshǎo qián? |
| Where is the bathroom? | 洗手间在哪里？xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? |
| Can I pay by card? | 可以刷卡吗？kěyǐ shuākǎ ma? |
| Help! | 救命！jiùmìng! |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and a nod; use surnames with a title; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses
- Face: Disagree privately and indirectly; avoid: Correcting or embarrassing someone in front of others
- Gifts: Give with two hands; expect the gift to be refused once or twice and opened later; avoid: Clocks, umbrellas, white flowers, sets of four
- Business cards: Present and receive with both hands, read it, keep it on the table; avoid: Writing on it or pocketing it at once
- Queues and crowds: Hold your ground politely in scrums at buses and lifts; avoid: Taking pushing personally
- Temples: Walk clockwise around Tibetan stupas and prayer wheels; remove hats; avoid: Touching statues or photographing where signs forbid
- Politics: Listen; follow your host's lead; avoid: Raising Tibet, Taiwan, Xinjiang, 1989 or the party leadership
- Numbers and colour: Red and 8 are lucky; red envelopes carry money gifts; avoid: Writing names in red; the number 4
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus timetables change seasonally; confirm departure times.
- Launch centre tours require advance booking – check the official site.
Xichang is generally safe; keep an eye on bus schedules and follow local guidance at the launch centre.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Xichang yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Xichang Satellite Launch Center
- Qionghai Lake and Lushan Mountain
- Jianchang Ancient City
- Liangshan Yi Slave Society Museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Xichang, revision 5198368 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5198368
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/xichang). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.