Chengdu Airport to City Center — How to Get There

Chengdu has two international airports. Which one you land at changes your options. This guide covers both.

First: Which Airport Are You Landing At?

• Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) — the older airport, closer to the city center, used by most international and domestic flights
• Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) — newer airport in the south, opened 2021, now handles a growing share of flights

Check your flight booking to confirm which one. They are in opposite directions from the city center and the transfer process is different.

From Shuangliu Airport (CTU) to City Center

Option 1 — Metro (Recommended for most travelers)

Line 10 connects Shuangliu Airport directly to the city center.

• From the airport: follow signs to the metro inside the terminal
• Ride Line 10 inbound (toward Taipingsi / Chengdu East or connection points)
• Transfer at Taipingsi station to Line 1 or Line 7 depending on your destination
• Total journey to central areas: 40–55 minutes
• Cost: ¥6–10 depending on destination

This is the right option if:

• You're traveling light (metro has stairs and can be crowded at peak hours)
• You're arriving outside rush hour
• Your hotel is near a metro station (most central hotels are)

Pay with: WeChat Pay, Alipay, or a transit card (交通卡). Some stations accept foreign bank cards at the machine — if not, WeChat Pay is the fallback. Sorting out payment before you leave arrivals makes this smoother.

Option 2 — Taxi

From: The official taxi rank outside arrivals (follow signs, not the touts approaching you inside).

• Journey to city center: 30–50 minutes in normal traffic, longer during rush hour (7–9am, 5–7pm)
• Cost: approximately ¥60–100 depending on destination and traffic
• The meter runs from the moment you get in. There is no fixed airport rate.

Use the taxi if:

• You have heavy luggage
• You're arriving late at night when metro service is reduced
• Your hotel is in an area not well-served by metro

Practical note: Not all taxi drivers speak English. Have your hotel address written in Chinese characters. Most hotels have a printable address card — ask in advance or screenshot the hotel's Chinese address from the booking app.

Option 3 — DiDi (Chinese ride-hailing)

DiDi is China's equivalent of Uber. You can book from the app after clearing customs.

• Journey time and cost similar to taxi
• Easier for non-Chinese speakers because you enter your destination in the app
• Setup required in advance: Download the DiDi app before landing, create an account, and ideally link a payment method. Some foreign Visa/Mastercard cards work. If yours doesn't, you'll need WeChat Pay.

Tip: DiDi pickups at the airport are from a designated area (not the same as taxis). The app will show you where to go.

Option 4 — Airport Shuttle Bus

Official airport buses run to several city center locations.

• Cheaper than taxi (¥16–20 for most routes)
• Slower and less predictable — depends on traffic
• Good option if you're staying near a specific bus stop (hotels can advise)
• Not ideal for most first-timers who don't know the city yet

From Tianfu International Airport (TFU) to City Center

Option 1 — Metro Line 18 (Recommended)

Line 18 runs directly between Tianfu Airport and the city center.

• Ride toward Shijia station (世纪城) and then transfer to Line 1 for most central destinations
• Some direct services run further into the city — check the in-station map
• Journey to city center: 35–50 minutes
• Cost: approximately ¥14–20 depending on destination

Line 18 is newer and more comfortable than Line 10. The transfer at Shijia station connects you to the broader metro network.

Option 2 — Taxi or DiDi

TFU is farther from the city center than CTU — about 50km south.

• Journey time: 50–70 minutes in normal traffic (can be significantly longer during rush hour)
• Cost: ¥120–180 by taxi or DiDi

Given the distance, the metro is meaningfully faster and cheaper here unless you have a strong reason to take a car.

What to Do First at the Airport (Checklist)

Before leaving arrivals:

1. Get a SIM card — there are telecom stalls in the arrivals area of both airports (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom). A tourist data SIM runs ¥50–100 for 7–30 days. Do this before anything else — you'll need internet for DiDi, maps, and translation.
2. Get cash if you need it — ATMs are available at both airports. Many places in Chengdu accept WeChat Pay and Alipay, but cash is accepted everywhere. ¥500–1000 is enough for a few days of street food and transport.
3. Screenshot or write down your hotel address in Chinese — you'll need this for taxi drivers.

→ See Chengdu SIM Card and WiFi Guide for more on staying connected.

→ See Chengdu Payment Guide for what actually works for foreign tourists.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Taking the first offer from a driver inside the terminal.

Unofficial drivers and touts operate in arrivals. They charge inflated rates and have no obligation to use a meter. Go to the official taxi rank outside.

Mistake 2: Assuming the metro runs 24 hours.

Chengdu metro stops around 11pm–midnight. If you're arriving late, plan for taxi or DiDi.

Mistake 3: Not knowing which airport you're at.

Both CTU and TFU are "Chengdu Airport." They are 60+ km apart. Getting this wrong is a significant problem.

Mistake 4: Trying to sort out WeChat Pay and DiDi at the airport for the first time.

These setups take longer than expected, especially if you run into issues linking a foreign card. Do as much setup as possible before you land.

Quick Decision Guide