Transportation cost/time from Beijing to Chengdu/Wolong?

In early 2008 I%26#39;ll be traveling with my family to China to visit relatives and such in China, and since me and my sister haven%26#39;t been back since 2000.

I was really interested in going to Chengdu and Wolong to see the panda research bases, but I was wondering how much out of the way that would be? What%26#39;s the best transportation choices from Beijing (or Taiyuan, where my relatives live) to Chengdu, and approx what would be the cost and time frame? Thanks!

Transportation cost/time from Beijing to Chengdu/Wolong?

Is it those prices for round trip or one way?

Transportation cost/time from Beijing to Chengdu/Wolong?

The price is for one way.

Alternatively, if you want to save money and don%26#39;t mind spending time to see the scenery along the way, take train 1485 (1531--1918, 27h47min) from Taiyuan to Chengdu. Cost for hard sleeper is 176/183/190 RMB for upper/middle/lower bunk and 290/304 RMB for soft sleeper upper/lower bunk.

Do you think it%26#39;s worth it to go to Chengdu/Wolong to see the pandas? Is there anything else to do in that area?

Personally I%26#39;d highly recommend the Sanxingdui museum (http://www.sxd.cn) as the exhibits are really literally out-of-this-world. I think it%26#39;s a shame for travellers to miss it, but then again I%26#39;m sure others would disagree. Other highlights in the Chengdu area would be to see a Sichuan opera ';face-changing'; performance, eat spicy Sichuan hotpot and possibly take a stroll around Jinli Street. If you can manage the time and money, Jiuzhaigou would also be an excellent destination to visit in Sichuan province.

For the trains-

Do they serve food, or are there stops often to buy food/stretch legs?

How are their bathrooms?

Food is available on the train via trolleys (attendants wheel them around the carriages) or dining cars. However these tend to be rather overpriced and the food in dining cars is both overpriced and lousy. I prefer to stock up on a big bottle of water, any other beverages, pot noodles, bread/cakes, biscuits/cookies and other snacks at a supermarket before getting on a train. Boiling water is readily available from boilers in each train carriage for cooking pot noodles and making tea etc.

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