Chengdu Airports to the City: Shuangliu & Tianfu

Chengdu has two airports, one near and one far, and knowing which you land at changes your plan. This guide covers Shuangliu (CTU) and Tianfu (TFU), with 2026 times and prices.

If this is your first landing in China, start with our airport arrival guide for the immigration, baggage and money walkthrough, then come back here for the ride into town.

The two airports

The two airports sit on opposite sides of the city, so your transfer plan depends entirely on where you touch down. CTU is the easy, near option; TFU is the far one you need to budget time for.

From Shuangliu Airport (CTU)

• Metro Line 10: to Taipingyuan and onward to Chunxi Road — about 25–50 minutes for ¥5–6. Runs roughly 6am–11pm. Most domestic flights arrive at T2, which has its own metro station.
• Night bus: a cheap option (¥2–3) from 9pm to 4:30am, at T2 Arrivals A.
• Taxi / ride-hailing: ¥60–100 to the center in 30–40 minutes — the easy pick with luggage or a group.

From Tianfu Airport (TFU)

• Metro Line 18: the express train reaches South Railway Station in about 37 minutes (regular ~50 min) for ¥10–11. Runs ~6am–11:30pm.
• Airport buses: five lines run 24 hours to Chunxi Road, Chengdu East station, Jinsha, Global Center and more — ¥15 day, ¥25 night, every ~30 min. Buy via the An Yi Bus or Chengdu Bus app, or at the counters.
• Taxi / ride-hailing: about ¥200 plus a toll and 60 minutes — worth it only for 3–4 people splitting the fare.
• High-speed rail: fast trains from Chengdu East toward the airport area suit travelers staying near that station.

Transferring between the airports

• Metro Line 19: about 30 minutes, ¥10, running 6am–11:30pm.
• Night bus 5: 0:00–5:00, ¥25, via Global Center.
• Taxi: 50–60 minutes, ¥150–200 — the airports are about 70km apart.

Which should you choose?

Step-by-step: Metro Line 18 express from Tianfu

If you are landing at TFU on an international flight, the Line 18 express is your fastest way into the centre. Here is the full walkthrough.

1. Find the station. Follow the bilingual “Metro” signs after baggage claim to the Line 18 platform.
2. Buy a ticket or scan. At the machines, tap the English button and buy a single-journey token (¥10–11 to central stops). Better still, set up Alipay before you fly and just scan your transit QR at the gate — see our Alipay guide.
3. Board the right train. The express reaches South Railway Station in about 37 minutes; the regular service is closer to 50. Check the platform display for which train is due and aim for the express.
4. Change and continue. From South Railway Station, change to the metro line that serves your hotel’s nearest stop. Check which stop is closest before you set off so you know your transfer in advance.

If you are tired or carrying bags, the 24-hour airport buses are a comfortable alternative that run all night and stop closer to several hotel clusters.

Whichever option you pick, give yourself a buffer at rush hour: Chengdu’s roads fill up in the mornings and evenings, while the metro’s fixed journey time does not change with traffic. If you are travelling with more than one large bag, the 24-hour bus or a taxi is more comfortable than wrestling luggage through a metro transfer.

Late-night arrivals

Chengdu handles late flights unusually well, because TFU’s buses never stop.

• TFU: all five airport bus lines run 24 hours (¥15 day, ¥25 night, every ~30 min) to Chunxi Road, Chengdu East, Jinsha, Global Center and more. Buy tickets via the An Yi Bus or Chengdu Bus app, or at the counters.
• CTU: the night bus runs 9pm to 4:30am (¥2–3) from T2 Arrivals A.
• Taxi / Didi: always available. From TFU expect about ¥200 plus toll (worth splitting 3–4 ways); from CTU ¥60–100. See our taxi guide before your first ride.

For very early departures, Line 18’s first trains start around 6am — or use the 5:55 express or a night bus. Stick to the official metro entrances, bus counters and taxi ranks — anyone approaching you inside the terminal is not an official channel.

Cost comparison at a glance

All prices are estimates and change with traffic, time of day and exact distance. The metro fares are fixed, which is why Line 10 and Line 18 are the default picks.

Practical tips

• Use official channels only — the metro, official bus counters and licensed ride-hailing; skip anyone who approaches you in the terminal.
• Set up payment first: Alipay transit codes cover the metro and buses — see our payments guide.
• Know your hotel area: most stays cluster around Chunxi Road/Taikoo Li — see where to stay in Chengdu.
• Budget time from TFU: it’s the far airport — leave 60–90 minutes more than you think for the ride in.
• Stay connected: install an eSIM for China before you fly, or set up the apps you’ll need — data before you leave the terminal makes the whole transfer easier.
• Metro help: our Chengdu guide covers the city’s transport.

Returning to the airport

The ride back is the same in reverse. For CTU, Metro Line 10 from the city is quick and cheap, but check whether your flight leaves from T1 or T2 — they are separate metro stations. For TFU, take the Line 18 express from South Railway Station (or a 24-hour bus if you are leaving at an odd hour) and allow plenty of time, since the airport is far from the centre. For very early flights, confirm the first-train times or book a taxi through a licensed app the night before.

Where this fits

Chengdu is the hub of the Sichuan route, a stop on the two-week route and the 10-day route.

Fares and times as of August 2026, based on official Chengdu transport announcements — confirm current schedules before you travel.