Airports and transfers
Tianfu International Airport remains the farther of Chengdu's two airports, and the transfer into central Chengdu still takes roughly 60–90 minutes by metro with a transfer, or 50–80 minutes by car depending on traffic. Shuangliu is closer and faster to reach. Check which airport your ticket uses before booking a hotel, and allow at least two hours from landing to hotel at Tianfu.
For departures, arrive three hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic one. If you are connecting from a high-speed train to a flight, leave a generous buffer; the metro transfer between Chengdu East or South and Tianfu Airport takes time.
Metro and payments
The metro remains the most predictable way to cross the city. Fares are distance-based and usually under CNY 10. Alipay and WeChat Pay QR codes work at the gates, but foreign card setup can fail; test your app before your first journey and keep a single-journey ticket or cash as backup.
We have refreshed the payment and airport guides with clearer setup steps. If your card is declined, try the other app or a different card before assuming the metro is broken. Station staff can help with ticket machines but may not speak English.
What to check before you travel
Transport schedules, app rules, and airport services change. Verify the current metro last-train time, your airline's terminal, and whether your hotel offers an airport shuttle. For high-speed rail, check the station name on your ticket; Chengdu has several stations and they are far apart.
This note is a planning aid, not a live timetable. Use official apps and your booking confirmation for the final word.
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