Chengdu has two international airports, and the one you use changes your transfer plan significantly. Shuangliu (CTU) is close to the city center; Tianfu (TFU) is far southeast and can take over an hour to reach. This guide covers the realistic transfer times, the metro routes, taxi and DiDi costs, and the luggage considerations that matter more than the map distance.
Which airport are you using?
Shuangliu International Airport is about 15–20 kilometers southwest of central Chengdu. Metro Line 10 connects the airport to Taipingyuan, where you can transfer to Lines 3 and 7. A taxi or DiDi to Chunxi Road typically takes 30–45 minutes and costs roughly CNY 80–130, depending on traffic and tolls.
Tianfu International Airport is about 50 kilometers southeast of the center. Metro Line 18 connects the airport to Chengdu South Railway Station, and Line 19 also serves the airport; transfers are needed for most central destinations. Allow 60–90 minutes by metro or 50–80 minutes by car, and expect a taxi fare of roughly CNY 180–260. Verify current routes and fares before you travel.
- Shuangliu: closer, cheaper transfer, Line 10
- Tianfu: farther, longer transfer, Lines 18/19
- Always check which airport your ticket actually uses
Metro vs taxi vs airport bus
The metro is the most predictable option during rush hour, but it involves walking, stairs, and a transfer with luggage. Lines are clean and signed in English, and fares are low. If you have large bags or arrive late at night, a taxi or DiDi is easier.
Airport buses are cheaper than taxis but slower and less frequent. They can be useful if your hotel is near a bus stop, but for most visitors the metro or a DiDi is simpler. Do not use unlicensed drivers who approach you inside the terminal; book through the official taxi queue or the DiDi app.
Luggage, timing and arrival tips
Allow 90 minutes from landing to hotel for Shuangliu, and 2 hours for Tianfu, especially if you need to clear immigration and collect bags. For departures, arrive 3 hours before an international flight and 2 hours before a domestic one. Tianfu is large; security and gate walks take time.
If you have an early flight, consider staying near the airport for the last night, especially from Tianfu. Otherwise, book a hotel with easy metro access and leave extra buffer. Keep your passport and booking confirmation accessible; some hotel check-in desks and metro security staff may ask for identification.
- Allow 90 minutes from Shuangliu landing to hotel
- Allow 2 hours from Tianfu landing to hotel
- Arrive 3 hours early for international departures
Arrival logistics that save time
At both airports, the taxi queue is outside the terminal and signed in English; ignore anyone who approaches you inside arrivals offering a car. DiDi pickup points are usually in a designated garage or roadside zone, not at the curb outside baggage claim, so follow the app's walking directions and allow five to ten extra minutes. If you land after the metro's last train, usually around 11 p.m. but earlier on some lines, plan on a taxi or DiDi rather than a transfer that assumes the metro is running.
Set up your metro QR code before you reach the gate; the airport station is a bad place to troubleshoot a declined foreign card with luggage. At Tianfu, the walk from some gates to the metro can take 15–20 minutes. Confirm whether your flight uses Terminal 1 or 2 and check the transfer route when you book, because the two airports are not interchangeable and a wrong assumption can cost you a two-hour detour.
- Ignore drivers soliciting inside arrivals
- Follow the app to the designated DiDi zone
- Check the last metro time for your line
Best for
- First-time visitors planning their arrival
- Travelers choosing between the two airports
Honest notes
- Tianfu is much farther than many visitors expect.
- Metro transfers with large luggage can be tiring.
- Traffic can double transfer times during rush hour.
Not for
- Travelers with a private pre-arranged transfer
- Anyone staying at an airport hotel
Keep planning
