Chengdu vs Xi'an

Xi'an leads Chengdu by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 71 to 70. Chengdu grades better on 3 measures, Xi'an on 3; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Chengdu 70, Xi'an 71
• OECD: Chengdu 64, Xi'an 65
• UN Tourism: Chengdu 81, Xi'an 79
• UNDRR: Chengdu 64, Xi'an 66

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Chengdu 58, Xi'an 60
• Economy and jobs: Chengdu 75, Xi'an 75
• Climate and hazards: Chengdu 40, Xi'an 35
• Water and environment: Chengdu 94, Xi'an 88
• Community and housing: Chengdu 100, Xi'an 100
• Access and continuity: Chengdu 63, Xi'an 71

Where Chengdu is stronger

• Extreme heat days: 15.2 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 15 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.

Where Xi'an is stronger

• Average length of stay: 3.4 nights per visitor (Xinhua Net / Xi'an Datang Everbright City / Culture and Tourism Authorities, Spring Festival 2025). Between 2.8 and 3.5: grade 3/4.
• Tropical nights: 80.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 60 and 100: grade 1/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (CCTV News (央视网), 2024). Grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• China: #8 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• China: #8 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Chengdu in full · Xi'an in full

The CIRA Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · CIRA Studio · Put your city in the pilot