At the end of June 2020, Chengdu added a new direct train route: Dali! It is now possible to take a train directly to the old town via high-speed rail. The entire journey covers 1314 kilometers and takes just over 8 hours. Second-class tickets cost 645RMB each way. Given that a 2 hour flight costs around the same price, it will be interesting to weigh out the pros & cons between the 2 options.