Short answer
Chengdu has two airports on opposite sides of the city, roughly 50 to 60 km apart. Tianfu International (TFU) is the newer one, southeast of the centre, and takes most long-haul and international traffic. Shuangliu (CTU) is around 16 to 18 km southwest and still handles a lot of domestic flying. The airport code on your booking decides which transfer applies, so read it before booking ground transport.
The metro is the sensible way in from either. Line 18 runs from TFU to Chengdu South Railway Station in around 33 to 37 minutes on the express service, or roughly 45 to 55 minutes on the stopping service, for about ¥10 on that stretch. Line 10 runs from CTU to the centre in around 30 to 50 minutes, depending on your stop, for roughly ¥4-6.
The metro does not run all night, and trains from the airport stop around 23:30. A late landing means the 24-hour airport bus (roughly ¥15 by day, ¥25 at night), a taxi or DiDi (about ¥150-250 from TFU to the centre), or a pre-booked transfer. Set up the payment apps before you fly, not at a turnstile at midnight.
Two airports, and they are not close to each other
Tianfu International opened in June 2021 and became Chengdu's main gateway for long-haul routes. Shuangliu is a working domestic airport that also handles some international flights, and it has one advantage that matters: it is close to town.
| Airport | Code | Distance from the centre | Traffic | Metro to the centre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tianfu International | TFU | Around 50-60 km southeast | Most international and long-haul, plus many domestic | Line 18, roughly 45-55 min |
| Shuangliu International | CTU | Around 16-18 km southwest | Domestic, plus some international | Line 10, roughly 30-50 min |
A transfer between them takes roughly 70 to 90 minutes by road, with no direct metro line serving both terminal stations. Check a live map app rather than an older written transfer plan.
From Tianfu International (TFU) to the city
Metro Line 18, the default choice
Line 18 runs north from the airport to Chengdu South Railway Station, where you connect to Line 1 or Line 7. Two stations serve the terminals: 天府机场1号2号航站楼 (Terminals 1 and 2) and 天府机场北 (Tianfu Airport North).
Two train types share the line. The express stops at a handful of stations and covers the airport run in around 33 to 37 minutes. The regular service stops everywhere and takes roughly 45 to 55 minutes. The fare on the airport stretch is about ¥10, and there is no separate airport surcharge. Express and regular trains leave from different platforms, and the express platform is signed, so follow the overhead signs rather than the crowd.
Trains run from about 06:00 to roughly 23:30, with the last departure from the Terminal 1 and 2 station towards the city at around 23:33 on a normal day. Holiday timetables sometimes stretch later, so confirm on the Chengdu Metro app for your date. Line 19 also serves the airport, reaching the north of the city on a different route.
Airport buses and rail
Five dedicated bus lines serve TFU and all run around the clock, with pick-up points on Level 1 of both terminals. This is the practical option once the metro has closed.
| Option | Cost | Time to the centre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 18, express | Around ¥10 | 33-37 min | Fastest fixed price. Last train around 23:30 |
| Metro Line 18, regular | Around ¥10 | 45-55 min | More stops, same price band |
| Airport bus | Around ¥15 day / ¥25 night | 60-90 min | 24-hour. Routes include Chunxi Road, Jinsha, the zoo and Chengdu East |
| High-speed rail | Around ¥20-30 | 26-28 min | To Chengdu East. Infrequent, check the timetable |
| Taxi or DiDi | Around ¥150-250 | 60-75 min | Metered plus expressway toll. DiDi quotes before you confirm |
Taxi and ride-hailing
This is a long road journey. A taxi to Tianfu Square takes around 60 to 75 minutes and lands near ¥150-250 once the meter and the expressway toll are counted. Late at night the road is clearer. Use the official rank or order through DiDi, where the price appears before the car arrives, and ignore anyone in the arrivals hall offering a ride.
From Shuangliu International (CTU) to the city
Shuangliu is the easy airport. Metro Line 10 has a station at each terminal, 双流机场1号航站楼 and 双流机场2号航站楼, both below ground level and signed from arrivals. Most domestic flights use Terminal 2.
- Time and fare: around 30 to 50 minutes to central stations, roughly
¥4-6depending on where you get off. Trains every 6 to 8 minutes. - Hours: approximately 06:00 to 23:00, which makes the airport more forgiving than TFU for a late arrival.
- The key transfer: change at Taipingyuan (太平园). Line 3 from there heads into the centre and on towards the panda base, and Line 7 is the orbital ring that reaches all three main railway stations.
- Taxi: around 30 to 45 minutes and roughly
¥60-100to the centre, higher in the evening peak.
Chengdu has three railway stations, and they are far apart
The station on your ticket decides which metro line you take on arrival. They are not interchangeable.
| Station | Chinese name | Metro | What it serves | To Chunxi Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu East | 成都东站 / 成都东客站 | Line 2, Line 7 | Primary high-speed hub: Chongqing, Xi'an, Jiuzhaigou | Line 2 direct, roughly 22 min, around ¥3 |
| Chengdu South | 成都南站 | Line 1, Line 7, Line 18 | The Line 18 airport terminus, and trains towards Leshan and Mount Emei | Line 7 to Line 2, roughly 30-40 min |
| Chengdu Railway Station | 成都站 / 火车北站 | Line 1 | Conventional Z, T and K trains | Line 1 to Tianfu Square, roughly 20-25 min |
At Chengdu East the metro station sits directly under the rail concourse on level B1. Line 2 runs to Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li in about 22 minutes with no change. To reach TFU, the airport express bus leaves from the West Plaza and takes around 75 minutes for roughly ¥15. To reach CTU, take Line 7 to Taipingyuan and change to Line 10, roughly an hour for about ¥6.
Late arrivals, early departures and paying
The metro is not a night service. Last departures cluster between 22:30 and 23:30 and depend on the line, direction and station. Landing at TFU after 23:00 leaves the 24-hour buses at roughly ¥25, a car, or a pre-booked transfer. For a departure before 08:00, book a transfer or an airport hotel rather than gambling on the first train.
Ticket machines at every station have an English interface and mostly accept cash, Alipay, WeChat Pay and bank cards. Single-journey tickets come as a plastic token: tap it at the entry gate, insert it at the exit gate, and keep hold of it, because it is tied to the station and date of purchase. Contactless Visa and Mastercard work at the gates in a growing number of stations, but coverage is uneven. The reliable route is a QR code in Alipay or WeChat Pay with an international card linked, set up at home along with passport verification. The walkthrough is in paying in China with a foreign card.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chengdu airport do international flights use?
Most long-haul and international flights use Tianfu International (TFU), which opened in 2021. Shuangliu (CTU) handles the bulk of domestic traffic plus some international routes. The code is printed on your booking, and the two airports sit on opposite sides of the city, so read it before arranging anything.
How do I get from Tianfu Airport to the city centre?
Metro Line 18 to Chengdu South Railway Station, then a transfer to Line 1 or Line 7. The express takes around 33 to 37 minutes, the regular service around 45 to 55 minutes, and the fare is about ¥10. Buses run 24 hours at roughly ¥15 by day and ¥25 at night. A taxi or DiDi is around ¥150-250.
Is the metro still running if I land at midnight?
No. Services finish around 23:30 on most lines, and the last train from the TFU terminal stations is around 23:33 on a normal day. After that the options are the 24-hour airport buses, a taxi or DiDi, or a pre-booked transfer. Check the live last-train time on the Chengdu Metro app for your date.
How much is a taxi from Tianfu Airport to the centre?
Roughly ¥150-250 depending on destination and traffic, metered plus an expressway toll, over about 60 to 75 minutes. DiDi shows an estimated price before you confirm the ride, which is the simplest way to know what you are agreeing to.
Which is the main railway station in Chengdu?
Chengdu East (成都东站) is the high-speed hub and the one most visitors use, for Chongqing, Xi'an, Jiuzhaigou and the national network. Chengdu South (成都南站) handles the Line 18 airport trains and services towards Leshan and Mount Emei. Chengdu Railway Station in the north handles conventional trains. Check the Chinese characters on your ticket.
How long does it take to move between Chengdu's two airports?
Roughly 70 to 90 minutes by road. The two sit on opposite sides of the city with no direct metro link between the terminal stations, so a same-day airport change needs a buffer.
Can I pay for the Chengdu metro with a foreign bank card?
Contactless Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted at the gates in a growing number of stations, but the rollout is not complete, so it is worth having a fallback. A QR code in Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to an international card is more dependable. Ticket machines also take cash, and a single-journey token is cheap and simple.
Related reading
Metro journey times and fares follow Chengdu Rail Transit's published Line 18 and Line 10 service information and distance-based fare table. Airport bus routes, hours and fares follow the airports' published transport guidance. Taxi figures are approximate. Timetables, last-train times and bus routes change between seasons and around public holidays, so confirm them on Chengdu Metro's app or the airport's own transport page before relying on them.